How to Recover a Forgotten Password on iPhone and Android in Australia

Everyone forgets a password sooner or later. The account still exists, your photos and emails are still there, and in most cases you can get back in within a few minutes. Use the official recovery path for that account, not a search result or a message that offers to help for a fee.

This guide covers the accounts Australians lose most often, Google, Apple ID, and Microsoft, plus bank apps and social accounts, and what to do when your recovery details are out of date.

Before you start: one rule that saves time

First, only use the official recovery page or app. Type the address yourself or open the app you already have. Never follow a link from a text, email, or search ad that promises password help, because those pages are a common way to steal accounts.

Recovering a Google account

On your iPhone or Android, open the Google app, Gmail, or Chrome and go to the sign-in page. Enter your email address, then tap "Forgot password?" on the password screen.

Google will ask for the last password you remember. If you cannot recall one, tap "Try another way". It may offer to send a code to your recovery email or phone, or ask you to confirm a prompt on a device where you are still signed in, which is usually the fastest route back.

Answer as best you can. Google uses your answers, your device, and your location to judge whether you are the owner, so try from a device and a place you have used the account from before, such as your home Wi-Fi.

Recovering an Apple ID

On an iPhone, open Settings, tap your name at the top, then tap Sign-In and Security and choose Change Password. If you are signed out, go to iforgot.apple.com in Safari and enter your Apple ID email address.

Apple may send a code to a trusted device or phone number. If you have another Apple device signed in with the same Apple ID, the code appears there. Enter it and you can set a new password straight away.

If you have no trusted device or number, Apple offers account recovery, which can take a few days while it reviews your request. You can also set up a recovery contact in advance, a trusted person who can give you a code if you ever get locked out.

Recovering a Microsoft account

Go to account.live.com in your browser and enter your email address, then choose "Forgot password?" on the password screen. Microsoft will offer to send a code to your recovery email or phone number.

If those details are out of date, choose the option that says you do not have any of those. Microsoft will ask questions about the account, such as recent email subjects or contacts. Answer as fully as you can. Microsoft reviews these requests and usually replies within a day.

A Microsoft account is also the key to Outlook, OneDrive, and many Windows computers, so getting it back can unlock several services at once. If you use the Microsoft Authenticator app, check it is still working on your phone, since it can approve a sign-in even when you have forgotten the password.

Bank apps and social accounts

For a bank app, the reset path is inside the app itself, usually on the login screen under "Forgot password" or "Reset password". Banks often verify you with a code sent by text, or with security questions you set when you opened the account. If the app will not let you reset, call the bank on the number on the back of your card. Never use a number from a text message claiming to be your bank.

For Facebook, Instagram, or WhatsApp, use the "Forgot password?" link on the official app's login screen. These services usually send a code by text or email, or let you log in through a connected account. If you have two-factor authentication on and you have lost the authenticator app, look for the backup codes you were given when you set it up. If you never saved them, the service may offer recovery through a trusted contact or a photo ID check, which can take a few days.

When your recovery email or phone is out of date

This is the hardest situation, and it is common. People change phone numbers and forget to update their accounts. If your recovery number belongs to someone else now, do not ask that person to read you the code. The safest path is the provider's own recovery form.

For Google, Apple, and Microsoft, the recovery form asks questions only the owner can answer. Take your time, give as much detail as you can, and try from a familiar device and location. If the first attempt fails, wait a day and try again with more detail rather than guessing repeatedly.

How to make sure this never locks you out again

Once you are back in, spend ten minutes on prevention. Turn on two-factor authentication for your main accounts and save the backup codes somewhere safe, such as a password manager or a piece of paper kept at home.

Consider a password manager. It remembers your passwords, generates strong ones, and works on both iPhone and Android. If you use one, remember its master password and write down its recovery key, since it is the only password you truly need to memorise.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does Google account recovery take?

It depends on how much proof you can give. If you can confirm a code on a device where you are still signed in, recovery can take a few minutes. If Google cannot verify you, it may ask you to wait 24 to 48 hours and try again.

What if I changed my phone number and cannot get the recovery code?

Use the provider's own recovery form and answer the questions about the account. Do not ask the new owner of your old number to read you the code, and never pay a third-party site that claims it can unlock the account.

Is it safe to use a password manager?

Yes, a reputable password manager is safer than reusing one password across many sites. It stores your passwords in an encrypted vault that only your master password opens. Choose a well-known manager and keep a copy of its recovery key safe at home.