Change your password from the Yahoo Account Info page
The fastest way to change your Yahoo password is to go to account.yahoo.com, sign in with your current email and password, and look for the "Account Info" or "Security" section. Click on "Password" or "Change password" — the exact wording shifts depending on which Yahoo service you use, but it is always in the security area. Yahoo will ask you to confirm your current password, then type your new password twice.
Your new password takes effect when ready. Any device where you stayed signed in will stay signed in, but the next time you sign in anywhere — your phone, your computer, an email client like Outlook or Apple Mail — you will need to use the new password. If you use Yahoo Mail on your phone, you may need to re-enter the new password in the app settings after you change it.
Key Takeaways
- Go to account.yahoo.com, sign in, and find the Password option under Account Info or Security to change your password in one step.
- Your new password works right away, but devices that use Yahoo Mail will need the new password the next time you sign in.
- If you use Yahoo Mail in an email app like Outlook or Apple Mail, update the password in that app's settings after you change it on Yahoo.
- Write down or save your new password in a password manager before you close the page, so you do not lock yourself out.
What makes a strong Yahoo password
Yahoo requires passwords to be at least 8 characters long. A strong password uses a mix of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols — for example, BlueMoon#2024 or Coffee$Sunrise7. Avoid using your name, your email address, or words that appear in a dictionary, because those are the first things someone trying to break in will try.
The easiest way to create and remember a strong password is to use a password manager like Bitwarden, 1Password, or the password manager built into your browser or phone. These tools generate random passwords and store them so you only have to remember one master password. If you write your password down, keep the paper in a safe place — not on a sticky note on your monitor.
If you forgot your current password
If you cannot remember your current password, you cannot use the account.yahoo.com method because Yahoo will ask you to confirm the old one first. Instead, go to login.yahoo.com, click "Forgot password?", and Yahoo will send a recovery link to the backup email address or phone number you set up when you created your account.
Click the link in that email or text message, and Yahoo will let you create a new password without knowing the old one. This process usually takes a few minutes. If you did not set up a backup email or phone number, or if you no longer have access to it, you will need to contact Yahoo support — go to help.yahoo.com and look for "Contact us" to reach their support team.
Update your password on devices and apps
If you use Yahoo Mail on your phone through the Yahoo Mail app, the app will usually ask you to update your password the next time you open it. Tap "Update password" or "Sign in again" and enter your new password.
If you use Yahoo Mail through a different email app — like Gmail's app, Outlook, Apple Mail, or Thunderbird — you need to update the password in that app's settings. Open the app, go to Settings or Accounts, find your Yahoo account, and look for a Password field. Delete the old password and type in the new one. The exact steps depend on which app you use, but the principle is the same: the app stores a copy of your password and needs the updated version to keep working.
Why you might want to change your password
Change your Yahoo password if you think someone else knows it, if you used the same password on another website that was hacked, or if you have not changed it in over a year. You should also change it if you shared your password with someone and no longer want them to have access, or if you used a weak password when you first created your account.
If you suspect someone has already broken into your account, change your password right away and then check your account recovery options — make sure the backup email and phone number are ones only you can access. Look at your recent account activity to see if anyone signed in from an unfamiliar location or device.
Keep your new password find
Once you have changed your password, do not share it with anyone — not even Yahoo support staff, who will never ask for it. Do not type it into a website unless you are sure you are on the real Yahoo login page (check that the web address starts with yahoo.com or login.yahoo.com, not something like yahooo.com or yahoo-security.com).
If you use the same password on multiple websites, change those passwords too. Using the same password everywhere means that if one website is hacked, someone can use that password to break into all your other accounts. A password manager makes it straightforward to use a different strong password on every site.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take for my new password to work everywhere?
Your new password works on account.yahoo.com right away. Devices and apps that use Yahoo Mail will ask for the new password the next time you sign in or open the app — usually within a few minutes. If a device stays signed in, it will keep working until you sign out.
Can I change my password from the Yahoo Mail app on my phone?
The Yahoo Mail app does not have a password-change option inside it. You have to go to account.yahoo.com on a web browser to change your password. After you change it, the app will ask you to sign in again with the new password.
What if I change my password and then forget the new one?
Go to login.yahoo.com, click "Forgot password?", and Yahoo will send a recovery link to your backup email or phone number. You can then create another new password without knowing the old one.
Do I need to change my password if I change my recovery email address?
No. Changing your backup email or phone number does not require a password change. Your password and your recovery options are separate — you can update one without touching the other.