How do I set up a new iPhone when I forgot the Apple ID password and the old phone is broken?
Answer
Reset the Apple ID password on Apple’s official iforgot.apple.com page from another device or computer, then sign into iCloud on the new iPhone. Avoid repeatedly guessing the password on the phone—that can delay recovery. Without the old phone, use trusted email, phone number, or recovery options Apple offers online.
Before you start: stop right away if…
- Stop if a site or popup asks you to pay to unlock an Apple ID or install unknown software.
- Without the old phone or an iCloud backup, some local data may not be recoverable even after you regain the Apple ID.
Follow these steps
Stop repeated wrong password attempts
On the new iPhone, do not keep retrying an incorrect Apple ID password. Repeated failures can trigger a longer wait before Apple allows another reset or sign-in.
You should see: You pause on the password screen instead of locking the account into a longer delay.
Reset the Apple ID online
On a computer or another phone, open Apple’s official iforgot.apple.com page, enter the Apple ID email or phone number, and follow the recovery steps using a trusted email, phone number, or other options Apple shows.
You should see: You receive a reset path and can set a new Apple ID password.
Sign in on the new iPhone
After the new password works online, enter that same Apple ID and password on the new iPhone setup or Settings screen when asked for iCloud or Apple ID.
You should see: The new iPhone accepts the Apple ID and continues setup.
Restore from iCloud if a backup exists
If setup offers Restore from iCloud Backup, choose the most recent backup for the old phone. If no backup appears, continue as a new iPhone and check iCloud.com later for photos or other synced data.
You should see: Either a restore starts, or you finish setup knowing which data is still available in iCloud.
Use Apple Account recovery if reset options fail
If trusted contacts or email are unavailable, start Apple Account recovery from the iforgot flow and wait for Apple’s stated recovery period before trying again on the new iPhone.
You should see: You have a clear recovery timeline instead of being stuck guessing the password.
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Extra tips
What to look for: Prompts for Apple ID password during setup, Activation Lock, iCloud backup restore options, and any message about a security delay after failed attempts.
Before you change anything: Use only Apple’s official iforgot.apple.com or Settings on the device. Have access to the trusted email or phone number on the Apple ID. Do not keep entering wrong passwords repeatedly on the new iPhone. Never share your Apple ID password or one-time codes with unexpected callers.