Change your Yahoo password from the account settings page

To change your Yahoo password, sign into your account, go to Account Info, select Security, and click Change Password. You will need your current password to confirm the change. Yahoo will ask you to enter a new password that is at least 8 characters long and includes uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. The change takes effect when ready across all devices and apps connected to your Yahoo account.

If you cannot remember your current password, use the "Forgot password?" link on the Yahoo sign-in page instead of trying to change it from Account Info. Yahoo will send a recovery code to your backup email or phone number, and you can set a completely new password without needing the old one.

Key Takeaways

  • Sign into Yahoo, open Account Info, select Security, and click Change Password to update your password from your account settings.
  • Your new password must be at least 8 characters and contain uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.
  • The password change applies to all devices and apps using your Yahoo account within minutes.
  • If you forget your current password, use the Forgot Password link on the sign-in page and verify your identity through your backup email or phone.
  • Change your password when ready if you suspect someone else has accessed your account or if you have reused the same password on multiple websites.

Step-by-step instructions for changing your password

Open a web browser and go to mail.yahoo.com. Sign in with your Yahoo email address and current password. Once you are logged in, look for your account icon or profile picture in the top right corner of the page and click it to open a dropdown menu.

From the dropdown menu, select Account Info. On the Account Info page, click the Security tab on the left side. Scroll down until you see the Password section and click Change Password. Yahoo will ask you to enter your current password again to confirm your identity, then enter your new password twice to make sure you typed it correctly.

After you submit the new password, Yahoo will show a confirmation message. Sign out of all your devices and sign back in with your new password to make sure it works. If you use Yahoo Mail on your phone or in an email client like Outlook or Apple Mail, you may need to update the password in those apps as well.

What makes a strong Yahoo password

Yahoo requires passwords to be at least 8 characters long and to include all four of these types of characters: uppercase letters (A–Z), lowercase letters (a–z), numbers (0–9), and symbols (!@#$%^&*). A password like "BlueSky2024!" meets these rules. A password like "password123" does not, because it lacks uppercase letters and symbols.

Avoid using your name, your email address, or common words that appear in the dictionary. Do not reuse a password you have used on other websites, because if one website is breached, attackers can try that same password on your Yahoo account. If you have trouble remembering a strong password, consider using a password manager like Bitwarden, 1Password, or KeePass, which can generate and store passwords securely.

Updating your password on connected devices and apps

When you change your Yahoo password, you will be signed out of Yahoo Mail on all your devices within a few minutes. On your phone, tablet, or computer, open the email app or browser where you use Yahoo Mail and sign in again with your new password.

If you use Yahoo Mail in the Mail app on iPhone or iPad, go to Settings, scroll to Mail, tap Accounts, select your Yahoo account, and tap Account. Tap Password and enter your new password. On Android, open Gmail or your email app, tap your account, select Manage Your Google Account or the equivalent option, go to Security or Account settings, and update your Yahoo password there. On Windows Mail or Outlook, right-click your Yahoo account, select Account Settings, and update the password in the incoming and outgoing server settings.

Recovering access if you forget your new password

If you change your password and then forget it, go to the Yahoo sign-in page and click Forgot Password. Yahoo will ask you to enter your email address, then offer two ways to verify your identity: sending a code to your backup email address or sending a code to your phone number on file.

Choose whichever method you can access right now. Yahoo will send a six-digit code that you enter on the next screen. After you verify your identity, you can create a new password. This process usually takes less than five minutes. If you no longer have access to your backup email or phone number, you can answer security questions instead, though Yahoo may ask for additional information to confirm you own the account.

When to change your Yahoo password

Change your password when ready if you notice unusual activity on your account, such as emails you did not send, folders you did not create, or sign-in notifications from places you have never been. Also change it if you receive a message from Yahoo saying your account was compromised or if you used the same password on another website that was breached.

If you have not changed your Yahoo password in more than a year, consider updating it as a precaution. If you share your Yahoo account with someone else or gave your password to someone who no longer needs access, change it right away. You do not need to change your password on a regular schedule if your account shows no signs of unauthorized access, but doing so every 6 to 12 months is a reasonable practice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my Yahoo password from my phone?

Yes. Open the Yahoo Mail app or go to mail.yahoo.com in your phone's browser, sign in, tap your profile icon, select Account Info, go to Security, and tap Change Password. The steps are the same as on a computer, though the layout may look slightly different on a smaller screen.

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

Wait a few minutes for the change to take effect across Yahoo's servers. Make sure you are typing your new password correctly, including uppercase and lowercase letters. If you still cannot sign in, use the Forgot Password link to reset your password again. If the problem continues, contact Yahoo Support through their help page.

Will changing my password delete my emails?

No. Changing your password does not affect your emails, contacts, or any other data in your Yahoo account. It only changes how you sign in. All your messages and folders remain exactly as they were.

Do I need to change my password if I change my recovery email or phone number?

No, changing your backup email or phone number does not require you to change your password. However, updating your recovery information is a good idea so you can regain access if you forget your password in the future.