The fastest way to reset your password on iPhone

Open the Settings app on your iPhone, tap Mail, then tap Accounts. Select the email account you need to fix, tap Account, then tap Password. Enter your new password and tap Save. If you do not remember your current password at all, you will need to reset it through your email provider's website first — iPhone cannot reset a password you have completely forgotten.

The process takes about two minutes if you know your password. If you do not, you will need to use a computer or another device to visit your email provider's password reset page, answer security questions or verify your identity, and create a new one. Only then can you update it on your iPhone.

Key Takeaways

  • If you remember your current password, you can change it directly in iPhone Settings under Mail > Accounts > your email > Account > Password.
  • If you have completely forgotten your password, you must reset it through your email provider's website before you can update it on iPhone.
  • Common email providers like Gmail, Outlook, and Yahoo each have their own password reset page, and you will need to verify your identity before creating a new one.
  • After you reset your password on the provider's website, return to iPhone Settings and enter the new password in the same location.
  • If your iPhone still will not accept the new password after you update it, sign out of the account completely and sign back in with the new password.

Resetting a password you remember through iPhone Settings

This is the simplest path if you still know your current password. Open Settings, scroll down and tap Mail, then tap Accounts. You will see a list of all email accounts on your iPhone. Tap the account you want to change.

On the account details screen, tap Account near the top. Scroll down until you see the Password field. Tap it, delete the old password, and type your new one. Tap Save in the top right corner. iPhone will verify the new password when ready and update your account settings.

If you see an error message saying the password is incorrect, double-check that you typed it exactly right — passwords are case-sensitive, and spaces or special characters matter. If you are certain the password is correct but iPhone still rejects it, move to the section below about signing out and back in.

Resetting a password you have completely forgotten

You cannot reset a forgotten password on iPhone itself. Instead, you need a computer, tablet, or another phone to visit your email provider's password reset page. The exact steps depend on which provider you use.

For Gmail: Go to accounts.google.com/signin/recovery in a web browser. Enter your email address, then click Next. Google will ask you to enter the last password you remember. If you cannot remember any password, click "Try another way" and verify your identity using a recovery email address or phone number. Follow the prompts to create a new password.

For Outlook or Hotmail: Go to account.live.com/password/reset in a web browser. Enter your email address and the characters shown in the image. Microsoft will send a code to your recovery email or phone number. Enter that code, then create a new password.

For Yahoo: Go to login.yahoo.com and click "Trouble signing in?" Enter your email address, then click Next. Yahoo will ask you to verify your identity using a recovery email or phone number. After you verify, you can create a new password.

For other providers: Search "[your provider name] password reset" in a web browser. Look for a link that says "Forgot password" or "Reset password" on the provider's login page. You will typically need to verify your identity using a recovery email, phone number, or security questions.

Updating your new password on iPhone after you reset it online

Once you have created a new password through your email provider's website, return to your iPhone. Open Settings, tap Mail, tap Accounts, select your email account, tap Account, and tap Password. Delete the old password and enter the new one you just created. Tap Save.

Wait a few seconds for iPhone to verify the new password. If it accepts it, you are done. If you see an error, make sure you typed the new password exactly as you created it — including capital letters, numbers, and special characters.

What to do if iPhone still rejects your new password

Sometimes iPhone caches the old password and does not when ready recognize the new one. The fix is to sign out of the account completely and sign back in. Open Settings, tap Mail, tap Accounts, select your email account, scroll to the bottom, and tap Delete Account. Choose "Delete from My iPhone" (not "Delete from iCloud" — that removes it from all your Apple devices).

Now open Settings again, tap Mail, tap Accounts, tap Add Account, and select your email provider. Enter your full email address and your new password. iPhone will verify the credentials and re-add the account. This usually takes 30 seconds to a minute.

Why your email password on iPhone might stop working

If your password worked before but suddenly does not, your email provider may have reset your password for security reasons, or you may have changed it on another device and not updated it on iPhone. Check your email on a computer or another phone to confirm the account still works. If it does, follow the steps above to update the password on iPhone.

If your email does not work anywhere, your account may have been compromised. Visit your email provider's security page when ready, change your password again, and review recent login activity. Most providers show you which devices and locations have accessed your account recently.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I reset my email password directly on iPhone without using a computer?

No. If you remember your current password, you can change it in iPhone Settings. If you have forgotten it completely, you must use another device to visit your email provider's website and reset it there first. iPhone cannot reset a password you do not know.

What should I do if I do not remember the answer to my security questions?

Most email providers offer multiple ways to verify your identity — usually a recovery email address or phone number. If you set those up when you created your account, use them instead. If you did not set up recovery options and cannot answer security questions, contact your email provider's support team for help.

Why does my iPhone keep asking for my password after I update it?

This usually means iPhone did not accept the new password. Sign out of the account completely in Settings, then sign back in with the new password. This forces iPhone to re-authenticate and often fixes the problem. If it continues, make sure you are typing the password exactly as you created it.

Will resetting my email password delete my emails on iPhone?

No. Changing your password does not delete any emails. Your messages stay on your iPhone and on your email provider's servers. The password change only affects how your iPhone connects to your email account going forward.

What if I use two-factor authentication on my email account?

Two-factor authentication does not change the password reset process. You still reset your password through your email provider's website the same way. On iPhone, you enter the same password you just created. Some providers may ask you to verify your identity a second time during the reset, which is normal.