You can’t get far in the world of Apple products and services without an Apple ID. You’ll use it to access a plethora of services, such as iCloud, Find My iPhone, iTunes Match and Apple Music, as well as make purchases from iTunes and download Podcasts. For a taste of what it can do, see How to use an Apple ID.
An Apple ID is a single login used across Apple devices – often your name followed by iCloud.com, me.com, or mac.com – and a password. If you forget those login details you are going to find yourself a bit stuck. Below we’ve outlined what to do if you forget your Apple ID. We have more advice about How to reset a forgotten Apple ID password here.
There’s another reason why you might be having problems with the Apple ID on your Mac – if you have bought a Mac and the old owner’s Apple ID is still on it, alternatively, you may want to stop using your Apple ID. We cover these scenarios here
What to do if you’ve forgotton your Apple ID password
The quickest way to rectify things if you have forgotten your Apple login, ID or password on any Apple device is to find another device you own that is already signed into your Apple account (and signs in by default with Face ID or Touch ID).
It doesn’t matter if you have forgotten your password, if that device logs into your Apple ID automatically, you can reset your password from that device.
On an iPhone/iPad
- Go to Settings and click on the area at the top with your name.
- Click on Password & Security.
- Click on Change password.
- Enter your phone passcode.
- Now type in the new password and verify it.
On a Mac
- Open System Preferences.
- Click on iCloud.
- Click on Security.
- Click on Change Password.
What to do when you’ve forgotten your Apple ID
If you don’t even know what email address you used for your Apple ID, here’s what to do.
- You will probably see the email address you used to sign up for Apple ID at the top of the Apple ID page. Go to Settings and click on the area at the top where you can, presumably, see your name.
- You may be able to find the email address associated with your account on your iPhone/iPad via Settings > iTunes & App Stores. You’ll see it at the top of that page.
If you can’t see this information we have more ideas of what to do below.
- Visit the iForgot page on Apple’s website and click the Forgot Your Apple ID? link. You’ll then be prompted to provide your first and last names, and the email address you think you used for the account (as well as older email addresses you might have also registered with your Apple ID, which can be useful if you’re also unable to access your email). A password reset email will then be sent to the email addresses used for the account (so you could try different accounts until you get a match).
If you have two-factor verification enabled then you’ll need to provide a code sent or texted to one of your devices.
What to do if your Apple ID is locked
If you find your account is disabled or locked for security reasons – perhaps you’ve tried too many incorrect passwords – then following the steps above to change your password via iForgot will also have the effect of unlocking the account. However, note that Apple sometimes locks accounts for 24 hours if too many unsuccessful password attempts are made, and the only option is to wait.
Again, if you have two-factor verification enabled then you’ll need to provide a code sent or texted to one of your devices.
For more tips on this, see What to do if your Apple ID is locked or disabled.
How to remove someone else’s Apple ID
What if the iPhone, iPad or Mac is logged into someone else’s Apple ID. The problem is that the Apple ID can’t be reset without that person’s password or access to their email, if you wanted to reset it…
How to reset or delete your Apple ID
In light of ongoing privacy concerns, many people are starting to rethink having so many different accounts. Apple is much more careful about when it shares information with other services, as this open letter from Tim Cook makes clear. But if you’ve decided that you don’t want to leave an account in Apple’s hands then this guide will help.
Can I use an iPhone or other Apple device without an Apple ID?
You don’t need an Apple ID to use any Apple device. Your Mac computer will continue to work, as will your iPhone and iPad.
However, any content that you’ve downloaded from Apple requires your Apple ID to work, so you won’t be able to play movies you’ve bought from the iTunes Store. You won’t be able to use apps downloaded from the App Store, or install new apps on an iOS device. But you can still install and run programs in macOS downloaded outside of the App Store.
You can’t actually delete your Apple ID, as this Apple discussion post explains in detail. But what you can do is remove all of your information from Apple. So if you’ve decided that enough is enough, and you want to get rid of all your Apple ID completely, keep reading.
Delete your Apple ID from your computer
The first step is to remove your Apple ID from your Mac computer. Follow these steps:
- Open iTunes on the Mac.
- Choose Store > View Account.
- Enter your password.
- Click Manage Devices under iTunes in the Cloud.
- Click Remove next to each device associated with your account.
- Click Done.
- Choose Store > Deauthorize This Computer.
Delete Apple ID from your iOS devices
Now you need to remove your Apple ID from all of your iOS devices. You’ll need to follow these steps for each Apple iOS device (iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch) using your Apple ID:
- Open Settings.
- Tap your account name at the top.
- Scroll down, tap on each of the listed devices and choose Remove from Account. (This won’t work on the device you’re currently using.)
- If you’ve got it set up, tap Family Sharing (just above the listed devices), tap each member of your family and then tap Remove [Name].
- Go back to the Apple ID page and tap Sign Out at the bottom.
- Tap iTunes & App Store. Tap Apple ID at the top, then Sign Out.
- Now go to Settings > Music.
- Scroll to the bottom and tap the Apple ID under Home Sharing. Tap Sign Out.
- Finally, go to Settings > Messages > Send & Receive. Tap the Apple ID and Sign Out.
How to get Apple to delete your account
The answer seems to be that you currently can’t get Apple to delete your accounts (please let us know in the comments if you know otherwise).
What you can do, however, is edit your personal information to make it a little less personal. Once you’ve removed your Apple ID from all your devices you can change your name, address and other personal details.
How to reset your Apple ID information
- Visit appleid.apple.com.
- Enter your Apple ID and Password.
- Click Manage your Apple ID.
- Click Unlock Account if requested (and answer security questions).
- Tap Edit next to Account.
- Change your name and tap Save.
- Tap Edit next to Payment.
- Remove your Address and card details. Tap Save.
- Tap Phone Number, enter a new area code and number and tap Save.
- Tap Sign Out in the top-right corner.
You should now have removed your Apple ID from all your devices, and changed all of your permanent information. That Apple ID is now toasted.
Remember that you won’t be able to access or use any purchases or apps connected to that Apple ID without authorising it on your devices again.
How to edit Apple ID
Changing most of the details attached to your Apple ID account is as simple as clicking the Manage Your Apple ID button on the Apple ID web page, logging in, and clicking Edit alongside whatever detail you’d like to chance.
You can also do this on a Mac by clicking the Account Details button within the iCloud section of System Preferences. On an iOS device, open the Settings app and tap your name at the top of the screen; then tap ‘Name, Phone Numbers, Email’ or ‘Password & Security’ depending on what you want to edit.
How to change the email address associated with your Apple ID
Apple recommends you change your Apple ID to your current, working email address. This will not create another Apple ID, it will only change the associated email address. Go to My Apple ID, click ‘Manage your Apple ID’ and sign in.
With the Name, ID, and Email Address drawer selected, click Edit next to Apple ID and Primary Email Address. Now enter your new email address. Make sure that the new address you enter isn’t already associated with another Apple ID.
Note: Apple IDs that use email addresses ending in @icloud.com, @me.com, or @mac.com cannot be changed to another email address. If you no longer use an email address of this type, be sure to add your valid email address as an additional email address. Apple even goes so far as to recommend that you don’t use an address that ends in @mac.com. @me.com, or @icloud.com as your Apple ID.
How to change Apple ID payment details
Should you attempt to buy something, or even download something that’s free, you’ll be walked through the process of adding a payment card – either a debit or credit card.
If you don’t want to add a card then simply click or tap the None entry in the list of possible payment types. For most everyday tasks there isn’t a mandatory requirement to have a payment card associated with your Apple ID.
There’s no strict requirement to enter associate a credit or debit card with your Apple ID, and if asked you can simply click None
However, you can add a card in the following ways:
On iOS devices open the iTunes Store app, then scroll to the bottom and tap your Apple ID. Tap the Payment Information entry in the list, and input the details.
On Mac or Windows open iTunes, tap the Music icon at the top left, then tap the Account entry under the Music Quick Links heading at the right. Tap the Edit entry alongside the Payment Information link, and input the details.
For more details on this process, see How to change Apple ID payment information.
How to change your Apple ID password
If you forget your Apple ID password, visit Apple’s iForgot website and enter your Apple ID username.
If you haven’t activated two-step verification then you’ll be able to choose to reset your password by either responding to an email sent to the addresses you provided when you signed up for the Apple, or by providing answers to the three security questions you were asked when creating the Apple ID.
You’ll also need to provide your date of birth when using the latter option.
As its name suggests, the iForgot website lets you reset your password, or discover your Apple ID
When choosing the email reset option, note that you only have three hours to respond before the reset request is cancelled.
If you have two-step verification activated then you’ll be prompted to enter the recovery key created during activation of two-step verification. Once you do, a verification code will subsequently be sent to one of your trusted devices, or texted to your phone. Without both this code you can’t reset your password.
If you’ve lost your two-step verification code as well as forgetting your password then you’re out of luck. Apple says the only way forward is to start from scratch with a new Apple ID. Even Apple’s support network is unable to verify a user’s identity.