Why is Apple forcing me to change my Apple ID password?

Apple does not in any force anyone to periodically change their passwords.

If you are getting prompted to do so on your device every so often it may be a profile from a corporate email account or management software from a school or office that requires this.

What happens if you click on the cancel button?

It would seem iCloud is saying your password is no longer strong enough, or you followed a link or shortcut specifically meant to change the password.

Outside of that, it's weird that it would be requesting this change.

@Phil0124 I don’t think your answer is accurate, as I have the same issue as the OP, and my profile is not using a corporate email or any of the other scenarios you suggested. I am trying to log into iCloud.com, where I enter my correct Apple ID, correct password, correct answers to security questions. It then gives the option to move to two-factor authentication which I don’t want so I choose “other options” instead. Then it takes me to a page saying to set up a strong password - even through my current password meets all the password criteria they list on the page and is not one I use with any other account etc. I don’t want to change my password and get signed out of all of my devices - the reason I am trying to log into iCloud is because of an issue with my iPhone (not password related) and the last thing I want to do is be signed out of iCloud on that device in the middle of trying to sort it out. But there isn’t any option I can see to continue further into iCloud.com if I don’t. I don’t know why Apple does stuff like this.

Hi, if I click cancel it just takes me back to the screen I started on and the whole process repeats again - there is no way I can see to avoid the choose a stronger password screen (at least not if opting not to turn on two-factor) or move past it. I also don’t see why my current password would be considered not strong as it meets (and exceeds) the requirements for a ‘strong’ password that are set out on that screen. I wonder if Apple is trying to push everyone onto two-factor, but the irony is that it’s things like this that makes me not want to turn on two-factor authentication on my Apple devices - I’m too worried that I’ll end up getting locked out of my account if strange scenarios like this one crop up. Plus Apple won’t help out if your device is over a certain age - even if you are paying $$ every month for extra iCloud storage, and then info online often tells you that the problem you are having isn’t possible, even though you know it is because you are having it! Anyway, thanks for trying to help.

That is a different issue altogether.

The Passcode I was referring to before, is the device unlock passcode on an iPhone, iPad or iPod touch.

If you are logging in to the iCloud website it would have nothing to with any corporate email or profile installed pin your device.

Beyond that, I'm unsure where it asks you to setup a strong password.

Can you post a screen shot of the screen asking for this, blacking out any sensitive info on the page please.

Thanks for your reply. I just posted the screenshot above. Some extra info, in case it is relevant: a) I was using safari on my partner’s iPad Pro to go to iCloud.com and then using my Apple ID and password. b) I know my password is working fine because I used it along with my Apple ID to log into this support site yesterday and create a profile (and log back in today), with no problems and no request to change to a stronger password.