Change your password from the Yahoo Account Info page

To change your Yahoo Mail password, sign into your account, go to Account Info, select Security, and choose Change Password. Yahoo will ask you to enter your current password, then type your new password twice. The change takes effect when ready across all devices and apps that use your Yahoo account.

You can do this on any device — computer, phone, or tablet — as long as you can sign in. If you cannot sign in because you forgot your password, use Yahoo's account recovery process instead, which asks you to verify your identity through a backup email address or phone number.

Key Takeaways

  • Sign into Yahoo Mail, open Account Info, go to Security, and select Change Password to update your password in one step.
  • Your new password must be at least 8 characters long and should include uppercase letters, numbers, and symbols to be harder to guess.
  • The password change applies to Yahoo Mail and any other Yahoo services tied to the same account within minutes.
  • If you are signed out of all devices after changing your password, sign back in with the new password on each one.
  • If you forgot your current password and cannot sign in, use the "Forgot password?" link on the Yahoo sign-in page instead.

What makes a strong Yahoo password

Yahoo requires passwords to be at least 8 characters long. A stronger password uses a mix of uppercase letters (A–Z), lowercase letters (a–z), numbers (0–9), and symbols (!@#$%^&*). Avoid using your name, birth date, or common words that appear in a dictionary, because those are the first things someone trying to break in will try.

Do not reuse a password you have used for other accounts. If one website is hacked, attackers will try that same password on your email, bank, and social media. A password manager like Bitwarden or 1Password can store unique passwords for each account so you only have to remember one master password.

Where to find the password change option

Open Yahoo Mail and sign in if you are not already signed in. Look for your profile picture or initial in the top right corner and click it. A menu will appear with several options. Select "Account Info" — this opens a page with your account settings.

On the Account Info page, look for the "Security" section on the left side. Click "Security" to expand it. You will see "Change Password" as one of the options. Click that link, and Yahoo will ask you to confirm your identity by entering your current password before letting you set a new one.

Steps to enter and confirm your new password

After you click Change Password, Yahoo shows a form with three fields. The first field asks for your current password — type it exactly as you use it to sign in. The second field is for your new password. The third field asks you to type the new password again to make sure you did not make a typo.

Yahoo will tell you if your new password is too short or does not meet its requirements. Once you enter a password that passes those checks and both copies match, click the button to save. Yahoo will confirm that the change was successful and sign you out of the account.

What happens after you change your password

You will be signed out of Yahoo Mail on the device you used to make the change. Sign back in with your new password. On other devices — your phone, tablet, or another computer — you may stay signed in for a while, but Yahoo will eventually sign you out there too. When that happens, sign in again with the new password.

If you use Yahoo Mail with an email app on your phone (like the Mail app on iPhone or Gmail app on Android), you will need to update the password in that app as well. Go to the app's settings, find the account, and enter the new password. The app will not work with the old password.

If you cannot sign in to change your password

If you forgot your password and cannot sign into Yahoo Mail, go to the Yahoo sign-in page and click "Forgot password?" Yahoo will ask you to enter your email address, then offer ways to prove who you are. You can use a backup email address Yahoo has on file, or a phone number linked to your account.

Yahoo will send a code to that email or phone. Enter the code on the next screen, and Yahoo will let you set a new password without needing the old one. This process usually takes a few minutes. If you no longer have access to your backup email or phone number, Yahoo has additional recovery options, but they may take longer.

Changing your password on mobile devices

On an iPhone or Android phone, open the Yahoo Mail app and sign in. Tap the menu icon (usually three horizontal lines) in the top left or bottom right, depending on your phone. Look for "Account Info" or "Settings" and tap it. Find the Security section and tap "Change Password." The process is the same as on a computer — enter your current password, then your new password twice.

If you use a different email app on your phone instead of the official Yahoo Mail app, you will not be able to change your password from within that app. Use a web browser to go to mail.yahoo.com, sign in, and follow the steps above. Then update the password in your email app's settings so it can still receive mail.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

The password change takes effect when ready on Yahoo's servers. You can sign in with the new password right away on any device. However, email apps on your phone may take a few minutes to recognize the change, and you may need to manually update the password in the app's settings.

Will changing my password delete my emails?

No. Changing your password does not affect any of your emails, folders, contacts, or other account data. It only changes how you sign in. All your messages stay in your account.

What if I change my password but still cannot sign in?

Make sure you are typing the new password exactly as you created it, including uppercase and lowercase letters. If you are still stuck, use the "Forgot password?" link on the sign-in page to reset it again. If the problem continues, Yahoo's account recovery page has additional troubleshooting steps.

Can I change my password on someone else's computer?

Yes, but make sure you sign out completely when you are done. After you change your password, click "Sign out" or "Log out" to end your session. Do not just close the browser, because the other person could still access your account if they reopen it.

Do I need to change my password regularly?

You do not need to change it on a schedule, but change it if you think someone else knows it, if you used the same password on another site that was hacked, or if you have not changed it in several years. A strong, unique password that only you know is more important than how often you change it.