How do I find my Apple App Store Password?

Finding your Apple App Store password can be tricky, especially if you don’t remember setting one up in the first place. The App Store uses your Apple ID for purchases and downloads, so your Apple ID password essentially serves as your App Store password as well. There are a few different methods you can use to recover or reset your Apple App Store password, depending on your situation.

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Check your keychain

The first step is to check your keychain to see if your password is saved there. The keychain is Apple’s password management system that saves passwords across devices signed into your Apple ID. Here’s how to check your keychain:

Go to Settings > Passwords on your iPhone or iPad.

Tap Website & App Passwords.
Look for an entry called Apple ID, iCloud, or App Store. Tap to view the saved password.

If you have the Keychain First Aid utility on your Mac, you can also check for saved passwords there.

Use password autofill

If your password is not saved in your keychain, you may still be able to access it through autofill. When you attempt to sign into the App Store or update an app, your device will prompt you to enter your Apple ID password. At this time, tap the Password field and select the autofill option, if available.

On iPhone and iPad, you will see an option to autofill from iCloud Keychain. On Mac, the autofill menu will include any saved login information from your keychain.

Selecting autofill will enter your Apple ID password for you if it’s stored in your keychain.

Check your email

If autofill doesn’t work, your next step is to check your email. When you originally created your Apple ID and set a password, Apple would have sent you a verification email confirming your new account details.

Go back through your inbox and search for any emails from Apple during the timeframe when you first set up your Apple ID. The verification email should list your Apple ID (which is usually your email address) along with the password you used when creating the account.

Use account recovery

If you still can’t locate your password, you will need to use Apple’s account recovery process to reset your password.

Go to iforgot.apple.com and enter your Apple ID address. Select that you want to reset your password. You’ll be given a few different options for recovering and resetting your password:

Security questions: If you set up security questions on your account, you can answer those questions to verify your identity and reset your password.
Email verification code: A verification code will be emailed to your Apple ID address which you can use to create a new password.

Trusted phone number: Enter a trusted phone number associated with your account to receive a verification code via text message.

Following the prompts will lead you through resetting your password to something new. Your new password will then work going forward to access your App Store account.

Reset password on device

If you have access to one of your Apple devices already signed in to your Apple ID, you can reset your password directly on the device:

On iPhone/iPad: Go to Settings > [your name] > Password & Security. Tap Change Password.
On Mac: Click the Apple menu > System Preferences > Apple ID > Password & Security. Click Change Password.

This will walk you through updating your Apple ID password. Enter a new password and confirm it to reset your existing App Store password.

Contact Apple Support

If none of the above options work, your last resort is to contact Apple Support directly. An Apple Support advisor can assist in verifying your identity and gaining access to your account and password.

You can contact Apple Support by phone, chat, email, or scheduling an appointment at an Apple Store. Be prepared to provide proof that you are the owner of the Apple ID account.

Create a new Apple ID

In some cases, if you are unable to verify your identity or recover your current Apple ID and password, you may need to create an entirely new Apple ID and App Store account instead. This should be a last resort, as you will not have access to any of your previous App Store purchases or downloads.

Here are the steps to create a brand new Apple ID:

Go to appleid.apple.com and click Create Your Apple ID.
Enter your name, birthdate, email, password, and security questions as prompted.

Verify your email address through the confirmation email sent to you.
On your device, sign out of your existing Apple ID account under Settings.
Sign in with your newly created Apple ID account and password.

You will essentially have a blank slate with your new account. Any app purchases or downloads will need to be reacquired under your new Apple ID.

Prevent future password issues

Once you have successfully recovered or reset your Apple App Store password, there are some steps you can take to avoid repeating this issue in the future:

Enable two-factor authentication for added account security.

Save your password in your keychain on all devices.
Use a password manager to store account details securely.
Create password hints to help you remember complex passwords.

Update your security questions with truthful and memorable answers.
Use a consistent but complex password that you can easily recall.

Taking preventative measures allows you to avoid getting locked out of your account if you forget important login details again down the road.

Forgot your Apple ID email address

If you don’t even remember the email address associated with your Apple ID, recovering your account can be much more challenging. Here are a few ways to try determining or recovering your Apple ID email address:

Check any old emails or correspondence from Apple for your Apple ID email.
Try logging in with any emails you may commonly use.

Try going through account recovery with potential email addresses.
View account details on any synced devices which are currently logged in.
Contact Apple Support and provide proof of device ownership.

Without being able to verify the email address on your account, it is very difficult for Apple to give you access or help you reset your password. Provide as much verifying information as you can when contacting Apple Support about a forgotten Apple ID address.

Reasons you may need your App Store password

There are a variety of different reasons you may suddenly need access to your App Store password. Here are some of the most common scenarios:

Installing or updating apps – You need to enter your App Store login to download apps and app updates.

Making new purchases – Any new app downloads or in-app purchases require your password.
Viewing previous purchases – You need to sign in to the App Store to view your purchase history.
Restoring apps on new device – When setting up a new iOS device, you’ll need your App Store login to restore your apps.

Changing account information – Updating any billing, account, or security details for your account requires signing in.
Syncing between devices – Password is needed to sync app data across multiple devices.
App Store issues – Apple may require you to sign in again to troubleshoot any App Store problems.

Essentially any time you need to access or make changes to your Apple ID account details, your App Store login and password will be required for verification. That’s why it’s crucial to maintain access to that important login information.

Forgotten security questions

Apple allows users to set up security questions on their account for password recovery purposes. If you don’t remember the answers to those questions, you won’t be able to use them to reset your password. Here are some tips for dealing with forgotten security question answers:

Try common password recovery questions like mother’s maiden name, city you were born, etc. even if you didn’t set them.

If you have multiple questions, answering just one correctly may allow password reset.
You may be able reset questions/answers by verifying account ownership to Apple Support.
Use trusted phone number or email verification code instead to recover your account access.

Setup new security questions immediately after resetting your password.

The more verification options you have on your account – trusted phone, alternate email, security key, etc. – the more ways you have to recover access without relying solely on security questions and answers.

Dealing with an incorrect password

If you continually enter an incorrect password when trying to access your App Store account, here are some tips:

Be sure you are using the correct Apple ID email address on file for the account.
Double check that caps lock is not accidentally enabled on your device.
Try typing the password instead of copy/paste if needed.

Attempt password recovery or reset if you are sure the current one is incorrect.
Don’t repeat the same incorrect password attempt multiple times, as this can lock you out of the account temporarily.
Verify the password saved in your keychain or password manager matches what you are typing.

Entering an incorrect Apple ID password several times triggers a security lockout, so be cautious. Use Apple’s recovery options or contact Apple Support for help accessing your account if you become locked out.

Conclusion

Recovering and resetting your forgotten Apple App Store password is straightforward when utilizing the right resources. Check your personal records, account recovery tools, and Apple’s customer service for assistance getting back into your important Apple ID account. Enabling extra security options can help avoid future password predicaments.