How to Change Your iCloud Mail Password

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by Heinz Tschabitscher
An independent writer who has reviewed hundreds of email programs and services since 1997.
Updated September 27, 2018

Your Apple ID password is your iCloud Mail password, and it is the first line of defense against hackers. If it's easy to guess, your account could be compromised, but if it's too hard to remember, you might find yourself needing to reset it often.

You should change your iCloud password regularly for security reasons or if you find it difficult to remember. If you need to change your password because you don't remember it, you'll need to recover your iCloud password first.

How to Change Your iCloud Password

  1. Go to the Apple ID page.

  2. Log on to your account with your Apple ID email address and current password. (If you forgot your Apple ID email address or password, click Forgot Apple ID or password and follow the instructions until you have the correct login information.)

  3. In the Security area of your account screen, choose Change Password.

  4. Enter the current Apple ID password that you want to change.

  5. In the next two text fields, enter the new password you want your account to use. Apple requires that you choose a secure password, which is important so that it's harder to guess or hack. Your new password must have eight or more characters, upper and lower case letters, and at least one number. 

  6. Click Change Password at the bottom of the screen to save the change.

The next time you use any Apple services or features that require an Apple ID, you'll need to sign in with your new password. Don't forget to update this new password everywhere you use your Apple ID, such as on your phone, iPad, Apple TV, and Mac desktop and laptop computers. If you use your iCloud mail account with an email service other than Apple Mail or iCloud, change your password in the other email account, too.

If you save your Apple ID on a mobile device, set up a passcode lock on the device for additional security. Anyone with your Apple ID email address and your password can make purchases that bill to your account. If should be closely guarded information.