Change Your Password From Account Settings

To change your eBay password, sign into your account, go to Account settings, select Password and security, and click Change password. eBay will ask you to enter your current password once, then your new password twice. After you submit, you are done — the change takes effect when ready.

You do not need to sign out and back in. Your session stays active, and the next time you sign in on a different device, use the new password. If you have saved your password in a browser or password manager, those tools may prompt you to update the saved version.

Key Takeaways

  • Change your password by signing in, opening Account settings, selecting Password and security, and clicking Change password.
  • eBay requires your current password before you can set a new one, so you must remember it to make the change yourself.
  • A strong password includes uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols, and should not contain your username or common words.
  • If you cannot remember your current password, use the password reset option on the sign-in page instead of the Account settings route.

What Makes a Strong eBay Password

eBay requires passwords to be at least 8 characters long and recommends mixing uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Avoid using your eBay username, your real name, or dictionary words that appear in common word lists. A password like BlueSky#2024Tree is stronger than ebay2024 because it combines character types and does not rely on predictable patterns.

The longer your password, the harder it is to guess. If you struggle to remember a complex password, consider using a password manager — a tool that stores passwords securely and fills them in for you. Popular options include Bitwarden, 1Password, and Dashlane, though your browser may also have a built-in password manager.

Where to Find Password and Security Settings

Sign into eBay and look for your username or profile icon in the top right corner of the page. Click it to open a dropdown menu. Select Account settings. On the left side of the page, you will see a menu with several options. Click Password and security. This section shows your password settings and also displays your active sign-in sessions — useful if you want to see which devices are currently logged into your account.

If you are on the eBay mobile app, the location is slightly different. Tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the bottom right, then tap your username at the top. Scroll down and tap Account settings, then Password and security. The steps to change your password are the same.

If You Forgot Your Current Password

If you do not remember your current password, you cannot use the Account settings route because eBay will ask you to enter it first. Instead, go to the eBay sign-in page and click Forgot your password? below the password field. eBay will send a reset link to the email address on your account. Click the link in that email, and you can create a new password without entering the old one.

Check your spam or junk folder if you do not see the reset email within a few minutes. The email comes from an address like noreply@ebay.com. Reset links usually expire after 24 hours, so if you wait too long, you may need to request a new one.

Signing Out of Other Devices After a Password Change

When you change your password, eBay does not automatically sign you out on other devices. If you want to force a sign-out on all devices except the one you are currently using, go back to Password and security in Account settings and look for Active sessions or Where you are signed in. You can see a list of devices and locations and remove any session you do not recognize.

This is useful if you think someone else may have access to your account or if you have left eBay signed in on a device you no longer use. Removing a session signs that device out when ready, and the person using it will need your new password to sign back in.

Two-Factor Authentication as Extra Protection

Beyond changing your password, eBay offers two-factor authentication (also called two-step verification). This means that even if someone learns your password, they cannot sign in without a second form of proof — usually a code sent to your phone or generated by an authenticator app. To turn this on, go to Password and security in Account settings and look for the two-factor authentication option.

eBay can send codes by text message or email, or you can use an authenticator app like Google Authenticator or Microsoft Authenticator. Authenticator apps are slightly more find because they do not rely on text messages, which can be intercepted. If you enable two-factor authentication, keep your phone number and email address up to date in your account.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take for a password change to take effect?

A password change takes effect when ready. You can use your new password the next time you sign in on any device. Your current session stays active, so you do not need to sign out and back in right away.

Can I change my password on the eBay mobile app?

Yes. Tap the menu icon at the bottom right, tap your username, scroll to Account settings, and select Password and security. The process is the same as on a computer.

What should I do if I do not recognize a device in my active sessions?

Remove that session when ready from the Active sessions section in Password and security. This signs out whoever is using that device. If you think your account has been compromised, also change your password and enable two-factor authentication.

Does eBay have any rules about reusing old passwords?

eBay does not prevent you from reusing an old password, but security experts recommend against it. Each account should have a unique password, and changing to a completely new one reduces the risk if your old password was ever exposed in a data breach elsewhere.