You cannot recover a password you set yourself, but you can reset it through your email provider
If you forgot the password you created, the email provider does not store it in a way that lets them show it back to you. Instead, they let you reset it — which means creating a new one. This works whether you use Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, or another provider, though the exact steps differ slightly.
The reset process proves you own the account by sending a link to a backup email address, a phone number you registered, or by answering security questions you set up earlier. Once you verify your identity through one of these methods, you can create a new password and log in when ready.
If you do not have access to your backup email or phone number, the process takes longer and may require you to prove who you are in other ways — like uploading a photo of your ID or answering detailed questions about your account history.
Key Takeaways
- Go to your email provider's login page and look for "Forgot password" or "Can't access your account" — do not search for password recovery in a browser, as scam sites rank high.
- You will be asked to verify your identity using a backup email, phone number, or security questions you set up when you created the account.
- If you have none of those, your provider will ask you to upload a photo ID or answer questions about your account activity to prove ownership.
- Once you reset your password, write it down in a password manager like Bitwarden or 1Password so you do not lose it again.
How to reset your password on Gmail
Go directly to accounts.google.com/signin/recovery — do not search for it, as fake recovery pages rank in search results. Enter the email address you use to log in.
Google will ask you to enter the last password you remember. If you cannot remember any part of it, click "Try another way." Google will then offer you options: receive a code by text to a phone number you registered, or use a backup email address you added to your account. Choose whichever one you still have access to.
Enter the code or click the link in the backup email. You will then be taken to a page where you create a new password. Make it at least 12 characters long and use a mix of uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols — something like BlueMoon#2847 rather than a word from the dictionary.
If you do not have access to a backup phone or email, click "I do not have my phone" or "I cannot use my backup email." Google will ask you to verify your identity by uploading a photo of your ID or by answering questions about your account, such as "What was the name of the first contact you emailed?" or "When did you create this account?"
How to reset your password on Outlook or Hotmail
Go to account.live.com/password/reset. Enter your email address. Microsoft will ask you to verify your identity by sending a code to a backup email or phone number you registered.
If you have a backup email set up, Microsoft sends a link there. Click the link and you will be taken to a page to create a new password. If you registered a phone number, Microsoft texts a code to that number — enter it on the screen and then create your new password.
If you do not have a backup email or phone number, or if you no longer have access to them, click "I do not have this information." Microsoft will ask you to answer security questions or upload a photo of your ID. The process can take a few hours to a few days while Microsoft reviews your identity proof.
How to reset your password on Yahoo
Go to login.yahoo.com and click "Trouble signing in?" Enter your email address. Yahoo will ask you to verify your identity using a backup email, phone number, or security questions.
If you have a backup email, Yahoo sends a link there. If you have a phone number registered, Yahoo texts a code. Enter the code or click the link, then create your new password on the next screen.
If you do not have access to either method, click "I do not have access to these." Yahoo will ask you to answer the security questions you set when you created the account — questions like "What is your mother's maiden name?" or "What was the name of your first pet?" If you cannot answer those, Yahoo may ask you to upload a photo ID or wait while they review your account history.
What to do if you cannot verify your identity
If you do not have a backup email, phone number, or security questions set up, and you cannot upload a photo ID, your email provider may not be able to confirm you own the account. This is a security feature — it prevents someone else from taking over your email by pretending to be you.
In this case, contact your email provider's support team directly. Gmail support is available through support.google.com, Outlook through support.microsoft.com, and Yahoo through help.yahoo.com. Explain that you cannot access your account and do not have a backup email or phone. They may ask you to provide additional information, such as the date you created the account, the names of people you email regularly, or details about purchases you made using that email address.
This process can take several days or weeks. In the meantime, if you use that email to log into other accounts — like your bank, social media, or work email — you will not be able to access those either. See if you can reset those passwords using a different method, such as a security key or a backup phone number registered with those services.
How to prevent this from happening again
Once you reset your password and regain access to your email, take these steps when ready:
- Add a backup email address to your account. In Gmail, go to myaccount.google.com, click "Security" on the left, scroll to "How you sign in to Google," and click "Recovery email." In Outlook, go to account.microsoft.com, click "Security," and add a backup email under "Recovery options." In Yahoo, go to account.yahoo.com, click "Account security," and add a backup email.
- Add a phone number for recovery. Use the same process as above — it takes two minutes and can save you hours of frustration later.
- Set up security questions if your provider offers them. These are questions only you should know the answer to — not information someone could find on your social media or public records.
- Write your new password in a password manager. Bitwarden, 1Password, Dashlane, and KeePass are all programs that store passwords securely and fill them in automatically when you log in. This way you do not have to remember it, and you will not lose it again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get my old password back instead of resetting it?
No. Email providers do not store passwords in a way that lets them retrieve them — they store only a scrambled version. This is intentional: it means that even if someone hacks the provider's database, they cannot read your password. Resetting is the only option.
What if someone else is using my email account?
Reset your password when ready using the steps above. Then go to your security settings and check what devices are signed in. In Gmail, go to myaccount.google.com, click "Security," scroll to "Your devices," and click "Manage all devices." Sign out any devices you do not recognize. In Outlook, go to account.microsoft.com, click "Security," and review "Recent activity." Do the same in Yahoo at account.yahoo.com.
How long does password recovery take?
If you have a backup email or phone number, you can reset your password in minutes. If you need to upload a photo ID or answer account history questions, it usually takes a few hours to a few days while the provider reviews your information. In rare cases, it can take up to two weeks.
Is it safe to use the same password for multiple accounts?
No. If one service gets hacked and your password is exposed, someone can use that same password to log into your email, bank, social media, and other accounts. Use a unique password for each important account — your email, banking, and work especially. A password manager makes this straightforward because it remembers them all for you.
What should my new password look like?
At least 12 characters long, with a mix of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Avoid words from the dictionary, names, birthdates, or anything someone could guess from your social media. Something like Sunrise$Maple47 or Guitar#Pencil92 works well. A password manager can generate random ones for you automatically.