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i have my apple id and password but i cant change my icloud email password help as i have forgotten it

i have my apple id and password but i cant change my icloud email password help as i have forgotten it

Windows, Windows 6

Posted on May 4, 2020 12:01 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on May 4, 2020 1:52 AM

Your iCloud email ID - and so the ID/passeord for the email - is an Apple ID, though it may not be the same ID as your normal one. Have you tried signing in with the normal ID?


If that doesn't work, go to https://iforgot.applecom, enter the ID you use for iCloud and reset the password.

6 replies

May 12, 2020 8:05 AM in response to Stu_J

It's nothing to do with it being the @me.com version of your address, you will have the same issue on a PC with the @icloud.com one.


As you are using a non-Apple app to access your email or other facilities using apps, you are now required to use an 'app-specific' password in place of your normal iCloud password. In order to do this you need to set up two-factor authentication for your Apple ID, and for this you need to have either a Mac running El Capitan or above, or an iOS device running iOS9 or above.


Two-factor authentication for Apple ID - Apple Support


Using app-specific passwords - Apple Support


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If you are unable to set up two-factor authentication you should set up 2-step verification and use that to create an app-specific password (see link below) . Then go to https://appleid.apple.com , select 'Password and Security'; click 'Generate an App-Specific Password' and follow the instructions. Once you have the password, copy it and paste it into the password field in the application instead of your usual iCloud password. You should also keep a note of it (though you can generate a new one if required).


Two-step verification for Apple ID - Apple Support


You will need to nominate a 'trusted device' - any phone capable of receiving SMS messages. There will be a 2-day wait before you can complete the process.

(A particular caveat (about 2-step only) - you will be issued with a 'Recovery Key' in case you lose your 'trusted device'. Make sure to write this down and keep it in a safe place; if you lose both it and your trusted device you will be permanently locked out of your ID. You'd be surprised at the number of people who've posted here that they've got themselves into just that position.)

May 12, 2020 2:53 PM in response to Stu_J

The 'position' I referred to was the specific caase where peopls had set up two-step verification and failed to keep a note of the rescue code: then lost the password. That situation is not retrievable: but it does not apply to two-factor authentication, and it isn't a problem for people who make a note of the code. I include this as a caveat in case it arises, it probably doesn't apply to you (but people have been caught by it).


If you have an @icloud.com address and also an @me.com address with the same text before the '@' they are in effect the same address, belong to the same account, and use the same password. However, as I explained above, this password will not work in Windows, and you have to generate a password specific to the Windows device.

i have my apple id and password but i cant change my icloud email password help as i have forgotten it

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