Forgot Apple ID, now what?

An Apple ID is an account for all kinds of Apple services. For example, store files in iCloud and download apps from the App Store. An Apple ID consists of an email address and a password of your choice. Most users of an Apple device, such as iPhone, iPhone, or Mac, create an Apple ID while installing the device. Are you going to sign in on a new device or are you using a new Apple service and have forgotten your credentials? Those can be found.

If you are no longer sure which email address is associated with the Apple ID, you can look it up on a device that has previously been signed in. Provided you are still logged in.

• On an iPhone or iPad, tap the app Institutions. Tap your name at the top. Below the name is the email address.
• On a Mac, click the Apple logo in the top left menu > System Preferences. Then click Apple ID. A window opens with the e-mail address on the left.

No longer logged in? Then you have to find out the e-mail address in a different way. Try your email address(es) or verify that an Apple ID has been created with a particular email address:

• Go to appleid.apple.com
• click on Login.
• Click on under the login screen Forgot your Apple ID or password.
• Click on the blue link To look up.
• click on First Name and type your first name.
• click on last name and type your last name.
• click on e-mail address and enter an email address.
• click on Continue.

Apple will indicate if an Apple ID was found with that email address. If necessary, repeat this with other e-mail addresses.

Is the Apple ID email address known, but forgot the password? Then follow the steps below:

• Go to appleid.apple.com
• click on Forgot your Apple ID or password?
• Click in the field below “Enter your Apple ID to get started.”
• Type the email address associated with the Apple ID and click Continue.
• When prompted, enter the phone number you use with your Apple ID and click Continue.
• Make sure the option I need to reset my password is checked.
• click on Continue.
• Check the option with which you want to reset the password. This can be done with an email to the associated email address, by answering the security questions you provided when creating the Apple ID, or in some cases with two-step verification. We choose Receive an email.
• click on Continue.
• Apple sends an email. Open this email and click on the link Reset now.
• click on New password and type in a newly chosen password.
• click on Confirm password and enter the password again.
• Finally click Reset password.

The password has been reset.

If you have not been able to retrieve your data using the steps above, you can request a new Apple ID. How to do this is explained in the tip ‘Create an Apple ID’.