iPhone (iOS) · Accounts & Family
Manage Your Apple ID Password and 2FA
Sign-In & Security is where you change your Apple ID password, view your two-factor authentication trusted phone numbers, and manage which devices are trusted to approve sign-ins.
How to open Sign-In & Security
- Open Settings → tap your name → Sign-In & Security.
- Tap Change Password to update your Apple ID password.
- Tap Two-Factor Authentication to review or add trusted phone numbers.
- Review the list of devices under 'Devices You Trust' and remove any you don't recognize.
What you should know
- Change Password updates your Apple ID password directly from the device.
- Two-Factor Authentication shows and lets you add or remove trusted phone numbers for verification codes.
- Get Verification Code generates a login code for signing in on another device or browser.
- Legacy Contact lets you designate someone who can access your account after you pass away.
You need at least one working trusted phone number or trusted device at all times, or you risk losing access to two-factor verification codes entirely.
Why it matters
Your Apple ID password protects your photos, backups, payment methods, and often your primary email account, making it one of the highest-value credentials to keep secure. Two-factor authentication is what stops someone who's guessed or leaked your password from actually getting in, since they'd also need physical access to a trusted device.
Best practices
- Use a unique, strong password for your Apple ID rather than reusing one from another site.
- Keep at least two trusted phone numbers on file in case you lose access to one.
- Review the trusted devices list occasionally and remove anything you no longer own.
Common problems and fixes
- Not receiving the two-factor verification code by text or call
- Check that the trusted phone number is current under Sign-In & Security, and try 'Get Verification Code' from a trusted device instead of waiting on SMS.
- Forgot the Apple ID password and can't sign in
- Use 'Forgot Password' on the sign-in screen to reset it via a trusted device, trusted phone number, or your recovery key if one is set up.
Tips and tricks
- Set up a Recovery Key for extra protection — just be aware it puts full responsibility for account recovery on you, since Apple can't bypass it.
Frequently asked questions
Can I turn off two-factor authentication once it's enabled?
On most accounts created in the last several years, two-factor authentication is mandatory and can't be disabled since it's core to Apple ID security.
What happens if I lose my only trusted device?
You can still verify using a trusted phone number, or use Apple's account recovery process, which may take a waiting period for security reasons.
Related settings
- Apple ID & iCloudThe account panel at the top of Settings is where your Apple ID lives on iPhone — your name, phone numbers, email addresses, and every iCloud service (Photos, Backup, Drive, Mail, and more) that's currently syncing to your account.
- Face ID & PasscodeFace ID (or Touch ID) and Passcode settings control how you unlock your iPhone, authorize purchases, and protect sensitive data with biometric or code-based security.
- Find MyFind My helps you locate a lost or stolen iPhone on a map, remotely play a sound, mark it as lost, or erase it, and it can also share your location with family members or locate AirTags and other Apple accessories.
More Accounts & Family guides for iPhone (iOS)
- Screen Time & FamilyScreen Time shows how you (or your family) use your devices and lets you set app limits, downtime schedules, and content restrictions — especially useful when set up through Family Sharing for a child's device.
- Family SharingFamily Sharing lets up to six people share App Store and iTunes purchases, an Apple Music or Apple One subscription, iCloud+ storage, and a shared photo album — plus parental controls for kids' accounts.
- Mail, Contacts, Calendars AccountsThis Accounts list is where you add Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, or other third-party accounts so their mail, contacts, and calendars sync into the built-in Mail, Contacts, and Calendar apps alongside iCloud.
- App Limits & DowntimeApp Limits and Downtime, part of Screen Time, let you cap daily time spent in app categories and schedule periods when only phone calls and allowed apps remain available.
- Apple Cash & Family PaymentsApple Cash Family lets an organizer set up Apple Cash for a family member under 18, issue a virtual or physical debit card, fund their balance, and monitor or limit their transactions.
- Ask to BuyAsk to Buy requires children in a Family Sharing group to send a purchase or download request that an organizer approves or declines from their own device before it completes.