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FAQ Friday – how do I change my Apple ID number?

Here at TapSmart, we get asked a lot of tech questions each week – and many of the questions crop up time and time again. So each Friday, we’ll be answering a Frequently Asked Question right here in a bid to help a bunch of you in one fell swoop!

Today’s question: I can’t remember my Apple ID password and I’ve changed my phone number since signing up. How can I get back in?

If you’re still having the issue with your Apple ID, rest assured that your phone number and Apple ID are not linked. Changing your mobile number, SIM card, or anything like that won’t affect your ability to log in and use the same Apple ID as before.
Apple ID accounts – which also control your iCloud files and your iTunes and App Store purchases – are registered to an email address, not a phone number.
If you’ve forgotten your login details (email and/or password) you can reset them by speaking to Apple Support on the phone, or by visiting iforgot.apple.com and answering the security questions.
Although your phone number is not directly associated with logging into your Apple ID account, you’ll still want to update your contact details so people can reach you on the new number via Apple services such as iMessage and Facetime.
The best way to do this is to open the Settings app on your device and tap your name at the top of the menu to access your Apple ID details. Then press Name, Phone Numbers, Email and look for the Contactable At section. Here you can use the Edit button to remove an old number and add a new one.