Change your password from the Yahoo Account Info page

The fastest way to change your Yahoo password is to go to account.yahoo.com, sign in, and use the Account Info section. This takes about three minutes and works whether you remember your current password or not. You will need access to the email address or phone number linked to your account.

Open a web browser and go to account.yahoo.com. Click Sign in and enter your Yahoo email address. If you remember your password, enter it. If you do not remember it, click Trouble signing in? and Yahoo will send a code to your recovery email or phone number — enter that code to proceed.

Once you are signed in, look for Security in the left menu. Click it, then find Password and click Change password. Yahoo will ask you to enter your current password one more time for security. If you do not remember it, click I don't know my password and Yahoo will verify your identity using your recovery email or phone instead.

Type your new password twice to confirm it matches. Yahoo requires at least eight characters and recommends mixing uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Click Change password when you are done. Yahoo will sign you out of all devices and sessions for security. You will need to sign back in on each device using your new password.

Key Takeaways

  • Go to account.yahoo.com, sign in, click Security, then click Change password to update your password in one session.
  • If you do not remember your current password, Yahoo can verify your identity using your recovery email or phone number instead.
  • Your new password must be at least eight characters and should include uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.
  • After you change your password, Yahoo signs you out everywhere, so you will need to sign back in on your phone, tablet, and computer.
  • If you cannot access your recovery email or phone, use the Account Recovery form at yahoo.com/account/recovery to prove your identity another way.

What to do if you cannot sign in to account.yahoo.com

If you cannot sign in at all, you cannot use the Account Info page. Instead, go to yahoo.com/account/recovery and enter your Yahoo email address. Yahoo will ask you to verify your identity by entering a code sent to your recovery email or phone number.

If you do not have access to your recovery email or phone, Yahoo offers other ways to prove who you are. You can answer security questions you set up earlier, provide the last four digits of a credit card on file, or upload a photo of your ID. The process takes longer — sometimes several hours or a day — but it works when your recovery methods are not available.

Change your password on your phone or tablet

If you use Yahoo Mail on your phone or tablet, you can change your password through the app settings. Open the Yahoo Mail app, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines), and scroll down to Settings. Tap your email account name, then look for Account info or Security.

The exact steps vary depending on whether you use an iPhone, Android phone, or tablet, but all versions let you reach the same Account Info page you would see on a computer. Tap Password and follow the same process as above. After you change it, the app will ask you to sign in again with your new password.

Why you should change your password regularly

Changing your password every few months makes it harder for someone to use an old password if they somehow obtained it. If you use the same password across multiple websites, changing it on Yahoo does not protect your other accounts — you should use a different password for each site.

If you suspect someone else has accessed your account, change your password right away and check your Account Security page for any unfamiliar sign-in activity. Yahoo shows you the devices and locations where your account has been signed in recently. If you see a sign-in you do not recognize, click it and select This wasn't me to sign that session out and flag it as suspicious.

What happens after you change your password

Yahoo signs you out of your account on all devices when ready after you change your password. This includes your phone, tablet, computer, and any other place where you were signed in. You will see a message asking you to sign in again.

On your phone or tablet, the Yahoo Mail app will ask for your new password the next time you open it. On your computer, you will need to sign in again the next time you visit mail.yahoo.com. If you use Yahoo Mail with another email program like Outlook or Apple Mail, you will need to update the password in that program's settings as well — the old password will no longer work.

Create a strong password you can remember

A strong password is hard to guess but straightforward enough for you to remember. Avoid using your name, birthday, or common words. Instead, try a phrase you know well and use the first letter of each word, then add a number and a symbol. For example, "My dog loves to play fetch" becomes MdltpF#2024.

If you have trouble remembering passwords, consider using a password manager like Bitwarden, 1Password, or Dashlane. These programs store your passwords securely and fill them in automatically when you sign in. You only need to remember one strong password to unlock the manager itself.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take for my new password to work everywhere?

Your new password works when ready on account.yahoo.com and mail.yahoo.com. On your phone or tablet, the Yahoo Mail app will ask for your new password the next time you open it. If you use Yahoo Mail in Outlook or another email program, update the password in that program's settings right away, or it will stop working.

Can I change my password if I do not remember the old one?

Yes. Go to account.yahoo.com and click Trouble signing in? Yahoo will send a code to your recovery email or phone. Enter that code, and you can set a new password without knowing the old one. If you do not have access to your recovery email or phone, use yahoo.com/account/recovery to verify your identity another way.

What if I change my password and then forget the new one?

Go to account.yahoo.com and click Trouble signing in? Yahoo will send a code to your recovery email or phone number. Use that code to sign in and set a new password. You do not need to know your previous password to do this.

Will changing my Yahoo password affect my other email accounts?

No. Changing your Yahoo password only affects your Yahoo account. If you use the same password on Gmail, Outlook, or other email services, those accounts still use the old password. You should change the password on each account separately if you think someone has accessed any of them.

Do I need to change my password if I just want to add a recovery phone number?

No. Adding a recovery phone number and changing your password are two separate things. Go to account.yahoo.com, click Security, then click Recovery options to add a phone number without changing your password. You should do both — add a recovery phone number so you can get back in if you forget your password, and change your password regularly for security.