Change your Gmail password from your account settings

Open Gmail and click your profile picture in the top right corner. Select "Manage your Google Account," then click the "Security" tab. Scroll down to "How you sign in to Google" and click "Password." Google will ask you to sign in again — enter your current password. Then type your new password twice to confirm it, and click "Change Password."

Your new password takes effect when ready on all your devices. If you're signed into Gmail on a phone, tablet, or computer, you'll need to sign back in with the new password the next time you open the app or refresh the page. Gmail will not sign you out automatically, but the old password stops working right away.

Key Takeaways

  • You change your Gmail password through your Google Account security settings, not through Gmail itself.
  • Google requires you to enter your current password before you can set a new one.
  • Your new password works on all your devices when ready, but you'll need to sign in again on apps and browsers that were already logged in.
  • A strong password has at least 12 characters and mixes uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols.
  • If you forget your new password right after changing it, you can reset it using your recovery email or phone number.

What makes a strong password you won't forget

A strong password is at least 12 characters long and includes uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols like ! @ # $ % or &. Avoid passwords based on your name, birthday, or common words that appear in the dictionary. "MyDog2024!" is weaker than "Tr0pic@lSunset#89" because it uses predictable information.

The easiest strong passwords are phrases only you would remember. "ILived!InBoston@1995" is both strong and memorable because it combines something personal with numbers and symbols. Write your new password down on paper and store it somewhere safe — a locked drawer, not a sticky note on your monitor — until you're confident you'll remember it.

Use a recovery email and phone number so you can reset if needed

Before you change your password, make sure your Google Account has a recovery email address and phone number on file. If you forget your new password, Google will send a reset link to your recovery email or text a code to your recovery phone. Without these, you may not be able to get back into your account.

To add or update your recovery information, go to your Google Account security settings and scroll to "How you can recover your account." Add a recovery email (ideally one you check regularly and that you don't use for anything else) and a phone number where you can receive text messages. Update these if your phone number changes or if you stop checking your recovery email.

Change your password on all your devices after you update it

If you use Gmail on your phone or tablet, the Gmail app may stay signed in for a few days even after you change your password. When you open the app, it will eventually ask you to sign in again. Enter your new password at that prompt. Do not ignore the sign-in request — if you do, the app will stop working when Gmail finally logs you out.

On a computer, refresh your Gmail tab or close and reopen your browser. If Gmail doesn't ask you to sign in again, you're still logged in with your old session. Sign out manually by clicking your profile picture and selecting "Sign out," then sign back in with your new password. This ensures your browser isn't storing your old credentials.

Why you might want to change your password regularly

You should change your Gmail password if you think someone else knows it, if you used the same password on another website that was hacked, or if you haven't changed it in over a year. You don't need to change it every month — that's unnecessary and often leads to weaker passwords because people reuse variations.

If you suspect your account has been compromised, change your password when ready and then check your account activity. In your Google Account security settings, scroll to "Your devices" and look for sign-ins from places you don't recognize. If you see suspicious activity, you can sign out all other sessions by clicking "Sign out all other sessions" on the password change page.

What to do if you can't remember your current password

If you've forgotten your current password and can't sign into Gmail, you'll need to use Google's account recovery process instead of changing your password through settings. Go to the Google sign-in page, click "Forgot password?", and follow the steps. Google will ask you to enter the last password you remember, or it will send a recovery code to your recovery email or phone.

This process takes longer than a regular password change — sometimes 24 to 48 hours if Google needs to verify your identity. That's why having a recovery email and phone number on file matters. If you don't have access to either, Google may ask you security questions about your account history to confirm you own it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my password sign me out of Gmail on all my devices?

No. Gmail will keep you signed in on devices that were already logged in, but you'll need to sign in again the next time you open the app or refresh the page. You can force a sign-out on all devices by clicking "Sign out all other sessions" when you change your password.

Can I change my password if I'm using a Google account through work or school?

It depends on your organization's settings. Work and school accounts sometimes restrict password changes to a specific system or require administrator approval. Try changing it through your Google Account settings first. If you get an error, contact your IT department or school tech support.

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

Use Google's account recovery process. Go to the sign-in page, click "Forgot password?", and Google will send a reset code to your recovery email or phone. You don't need to remember your old password to reset it this way.

Does changing my Gmail password also change my password for other Google services?

Yes. Your Gmail password is your Google Account password, which controls access to YouTube, Google Drive, Google Photos, and any other Google service you use. Changing it affects all of them at once.

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

Your new password works when ready on the Google sign-in page and in Gmail's web version. Apps on your phone or tablet may take a few minutes to an hour to ask you to sign in again, depending on how often they refresh.