Change Your Password From Your Email Provider's Website

The fastest way to change your email password is to log into your email account on the provider's website and look for account settings. The exact steps depend on whether you use Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, or another provider, but they all follow the same pattern: sign in, find the security or password section, enter your current password, type your new password twice, and save.

Before you start, think of a new password that is at least 12 characters long and mixes uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Avoid using words from a dictionary, your name, your birthday, or anything someone who knows you could guess. A password like Tr0pic@lSunset#2024 is stronger than Password123.

After you change your password, you will be logged out of your email on all devices. This is normal and a security feature. You will need to sign back in with your new password on your phone, tablet, computer, and any other place you use that email account.

Key Takeaways

  • Log into your email account on your provider's website, go to account settings or security settings, and look for a password or security option.
  • Your new password should be at least 12 characters long and include uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.
  • After you change your password, you will be signed out everywhere and must sign back in with the new password on each device.
  • If you forget your new password when ready after changing it, use your recovery email or phone number to reset it.
  • Change your password if you suspect someone else knows it, if you used the same password on multiple sites, or if a website you use was hacked.

Gmail Password Change Steps

Go to myaccount.google.com in your web browser and sign in if you are not already signed in. On the left side of the page, click Security. Scroll down until you see Password and click it. Google will ask you to sign in again to confirm it is really you.

Type your current password in the first box. In the second box, type your new password. In the third box, type your new password again to make sure you did not make a typo. Click Change Password at the bottom. A green checkmark will appear when the change is complete.

Outlook and Hotmail Password Change Steps

Go to account.microsoft.com in your web browser and sign in. Click Security at the top. Under the Password section, click Change Password. Microsoft will ask you to sign in one more time.

Type your current password, then type your new password twice. Click Next. You will see a message that says your password has been changed. If you have Outlook on your phone or computer, you will need to sign back in there with your new password within a few days, or those apps will stop working.

Yahoo Password Change Steps

Go to account.yahoo.com in your web browser and sign in. Click Account Security on the left side. Find the section that says Password and click Change Password. Yahoo will ask you to sign in again.

Type your current password in the first box. Type your new password in the second box and again in the third box. Click Change Password. Yahoo will show you a confirmation message. Like Gmail and Outlook, you will be signed out everywhere and must sign back in on each device.

What to Do If You Forget Your New Password Right Away

If you change your password and then when ready forget it, do not panic. Every email provider lets you reset your password using a recovery email address or a phone number you set up earlier. Go to the sign-in page for your email, click Forgot Password or Can't Sign In, and follow the steps to verify you own the account.

You will be asked to enter a code that was sent to your recovery email or phone number. Once you enter that code, you can create a new password. This is why it is important to keep your recovery email and phone number up to date — if someone else has access to those, they can reset your email password and lock you out.

When to Change Your Email Password

Change your password if you think someone else might know it, even if you are not sure. This includes situations where you typed your password on a computer that was not yours, you used the same password on a website that was hacked, or someone was looking over your shoulder when you signed in. You should also change it if you have not changed it in over a year.

If you get an email from your provider saying there was suspicious activity on your account, change your password when ready. Do this from a device you trust — ideally a computer or phone that only you use. If you cannot sign in at all, use the recovery email or phone number to reset your password, then change it to something new.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my password delete my emails?

No. Changing your password does not delete anything. Your emails, contacts, and files stay exactly where they are. The only thing that changes is the password you use to sign in.

Do I need to change my password on my phone after I change it on the website?

Your phone will sign you out automatically after you change your password. The next time you open your email app, it will ask you to sign in again. Type your new password and you will be back in. You do not need to do anything special — just sign in again when prompted.

What if I use the same email password for multiple websites?

Change your password on all of those websites as soon as you can. Using the same password everywhere means that if one website is hacked, someone could use that password to get into all your other accounts. Each account should have its own unique password.

Can I change my password from my phone or tablet?

Yes. Open your email app or go to your provider's website in a web browser on your phone, sign in, and look for account settings or security settings. The steps are the same as on a computer, though the buttons and menus may be in slightly different places.

How often should I change my email password?

If nothing suspicious has happened, changing your password once a year is reasonable. If you suspect someone has access to your account, change it right away. If you reuse passwords across multiple sites, change your email password whenever one of those other sites is hacked.