Why won't Forgot Password work on a new iPhone 16 Plus?
Answer
This usually means the phone is not fully signed in yet, account recovery is blocked by a security delay, or the wrong Apple Account email is being used. Starting recovery from iforgot.apple.com on another device, or from Settings on the iPhone, is the usual path.
Before you start: stop right away if…
- Never share your Apple Account password, recovery key, or one-time codes with anyone who calls, texts, or messages you unexpectedly.
- Forcing a device erase to remove Activation Lock can permanently lose data if you do not know the correct Apple Account password.
Follow these steps
Check what Settings shows for the Apple Account
Open Settings and look at the name or Sign in prompt at the top. Note whether you are already signed in, asked to sign in, or shown a locked/unavailable state.
You should see: You can tell whether the phone is signed out, partly signed in, or blocked from account changes.
Confirm the correct Apple Account email
Try the email you use for iCloud and App Store purchases. If you have more than one Apple email, check old purchase receipts or device backups for the one that matches this account.
You should see: You identify the most likely Apple Account email before starting a reset.
Start Forgot Password from Apple's official recovery page
On a computer or another device, open iforgot.apple.com in a browser, enter the Apple Account email, and follow the on-screen reset steps using a trusted phone number or recovery method.
You should see: Apple sends a verification code or shows the next recovery step instead of a dead Forgot Password button on the new phone.
Retry sign-in on the iPhone after the reset
After the password is changed successfully, return to Settings on the iPhone 16 Plus and sign in with the new password. Complete any two-factor prompts that appear.
You should see: Settings shows your name at the top and Apple services such as iCloud become available.
Wait and retry if Apple shows a security delay
If Apple says to try again later or account recovery is pending, stop repeated attempts and wait for the stated time, then continue only through the official recovery page or Settings.
You should see: The lockout or delay clears and the reset or sign-in options become available again.
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Extra tips
What to look for: Whether Settings shows an Apple Account name at the top, any lockout or try-again-later message, and the exact email address tied to the account.
Before you change anything: Confirm the Apple Account email you normally use for iCloud, App Store, and iMessage. Have access to a trusted phone number or recovery contact if one was set up earlier. Use only appleid.apple.com or iforgot.apple.com, or the Settings app on the iPhone—not links from texts or pop-ups. Never share your Apple Account password or verification codes with anyone who contacts you unexpectedly.