How to Recover a Forgotten iCloud Mail Password?

Find out what steps to take if you have lost your iCloud Mail password or iCloud Mail recovery key.

Have You Forgotten… How to Remember?

We have, in some ways, forgotten how to remember. Paper and silicone are the brains in our hands and pockets on which we readily rely; if they, too, get lost or lose their memory, the accounts that do remember and ask for the passwords that were forgotten just as readily lock us out.

Forgot your iCloud Mail Password?

Forgetting the password to an email account is not only frustrating, of course, and annoying – but is painful to boot.

Fortunately, a few steps in the right direction can get you to a new – and working – iCloud Mail password with little time and effort. You do not even have to remember them or their order; just remember how you got to this page.

Recover a Forgotten iCloud Mail Password

To restore access to an iCloud Mail account when you have forgotten the password:

1. Visit My Apple ID.
2. Go to Sign in and follow the Forgot Apple ID or password? Link.
3. Type the email address for the iCloud Mail account whose password you have lost over [email protected] under Enter your Apple ID to get started.
4. Click Continue.

1. • If you use 2-step authentication:
     1. Enter the recovery key for your Apple ID under Enter Recovery Key.
        • See below if you have lost your Recovery Key, though note that you will need at least your iCloud Mail password and access to a trusted device, your recovery key and iCloud Mail password or a trusted device and your recovery key to get back into your account.
     2. Click Continue.
     3. Select the device where you want to receive the verification code for 2-step authentication under Send verification code.
     4. Click Continue.
     5. Type the four-digit code you received under Enter verification code.
     6. Click Continue.
   • If you do not use 2-step authentication with your iCloud Mail account:

1. • • To have a link for resetting your password sent to the recovery email address (different from your iCloud Mail address):

1. • • • Under select your authentication method, select email authentication.
       • Click Continue.
       • Open the email from Apple with the subject “How to reset your Apple ID password” you received at the recovery email address.
       • Within three hours, follow the reset now > link in that email.
     • To authenticate answering the security questions you selected for your account with the replies you chose:
       • Select Answer security questions under Select your authentication method.
       • Click Continue.
       • Select your birthday under Please verify your birth date to continue.
       • Click Continue.
       • Now type the replies to your security questions under Please answer your security questions.
       • Click Continue.

1. Type the desired new password to your iCloud Mail account under Choose a new password.
2. Enter the password again over confirm the password.
3. Click Reset Password.

Recover a Lost iCloud Mail 2-Step Authentication Recovery Key

To create a new Recovery Key for an iCloud Mail account protected with 2-step authentication:

1. Visit Manage your Apple ID.
2. Type the email address for the iCloud Mail account over Apple ID.
3. Type the password to the account over Password.
4. Click the arrow pointing to the right (➜).
5. Select one of the trusted devices listed under Verify Your Identity.
6. Type the verification code from the device under Enter Verification Code.
7. Follow the Edit link in the Security Section.
8. Click Replace Lost Key… under RECOVERY KEY.
9. Click Continue.
10. Print the recovery key.
11. Click Continue.
12. Type the recovery key you just printed.
13. Click Activate.