Change your Gmail password from any device in under five minutes
Open your web browser and go to myaccount.google.com. Sign in with your current Gmail address and password. On the left side, click Security. Scroll down to the section labeled How you sign in to Google and click Password. Enter your current password once more, then type your new password twice — once in each box. Click Change password at the bottom. Gmail will sign you out of all your devices and you'll need to sign back in with your new password.
The entire process takes about three minutes. You do not need to change your password regularly unless you suspect someone has accessed your account or you've used the same password on multiple websites.
Key Takeaways
- Go to myaccount.google.com, click Security, then Password to reach the password change screen.
- Gmail will ask you to enter your current password before you can create a new one, as a security check.
- After you change your password, you will be signed out everywhere and must sign back in on each device.
- A strong password has at least 12 characters and mixes uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.
- If you cannot remember your current password, use the "Forgot password?" link on the Gmail sign-in page instead.
Why you might need to change your password
Change your password if you think someone else knows it or has accessed your account. Signs include emails you don't remember sending, recovery phone numbers or backup email addresses you didn't add, or login notifications from places you've never been.
You should also change your password if you've used the same one on other websites and one of those sites had a data breach. When one website leaks passwords, attackers try those same passwords on Gmail and other major services. Using a unique password for Gmail means a breach at another site won't put your email at risk.
If you share a device with someone else — a family computer, a work laptop you're leaving, or a phone you're selling — change your password before you hand it over. This signs you out of Gmail on that device and prevents the next person from accessing your account.
Creating a password that's hard to guess
A strong Gmail password has at least 12 characters. Mix uppercase letters (A–Z), lowercase letters (a–z), numbers (0–9), and symbols (!@#$%^&*). Avoid passwords based on your name, birthday, or words from the dictionary. Do not use patterns like "123456" or "qwerty" — these are the first things attackers try.
A passphrase often works better than a random string. For example, "BlueCat-Sleeps-On-Shelf-7!" is both strong and easier to remember than "Kx9#mL2@pQ". Write your new password down somewhere safe — a notebook in a drawer, a password manager like Bitwarden or 1Password, or a locked safe. Do not email it to yourself or text it to anyone.
What happens after you change your password
Gmail signs you out of your account on every device — your phone, tablet, laptop, and any other place you were signed in. You will see a notification that says "Your Google Account password was recently changed" and you'll be returned to the sign-in screen.
Sign back in on each device with your new password. This is normal and expected. If you see a sign-in request from a place you don't recognize, do not approve it — this may mean someone else is trying to access your account. Instead, go back to myaccount.google.com, click Security, and look at your "Your devices" section to see where you're currently signed in.
If you forget your new password
Go to the Gmail sign-in page at gmail.com and click Forgot password? Google will ask you to enter the last password you remember. If you can't remember any password, click Can't access your account? instead.
Google will ask you to verify your identity using a recovery email address or phone number you added to your account earlier. If you set those up, you can regain access in a few minutes. If you didn't add a recovery method, the process takes longer and may require you to answer security questions about your account history.
Changing your password on a phone or tablet
You can change your Gmail password from your phone or tablet, but the steps are slightly different. Open the Gmail app, tap your profile picture in the top right corner, then tap Manage your Google Account. Tap the Security tab at the top. Scroll down and tap Password, then enter your current password. Type your new password twice and tap Change password.
On an iPhone, you may see a prompt asking if you want to save your new password to iCloud Keychain. You can choose to save it or skip this step — either way, your Gmail password has been changed. You'll need to sign back in on any other devices you use.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to change my Gmail password every month or every year?
No. Change your password only when you suspect someone has accessed your account, when you've reused it on another website that had a breach, or when you're handing over a shared device. Regular password changes don't make your account more find if your password is already strong and unique.
What if I change my password and still can't sign in?
Wait a few minutes — sometimes it takes a moment for the change to take effect across Google's servers. Make sure you're typing your new password correctly, including capital letters and symbols. If you're still stuck, use the "Forgot password?" link to reset it again.
Will changing my password affect my Gmail on my phone?
Yes. After you change your password, the Gmail app on your phone will sign you out. Open the app, tap your profile picture, and sign back in with your new password. You may also need to update your password in other apps that connect to Gmail, like Outlook or Apple Mail.
Can I change my password if I'm using a Google account at work?
If your Gmail is through a work or school domain, your IT department may have restrictions on password changes. Try the steps above first. If you see a message saying you don't have permission, contact your IT support team — they may require you to change your password through a different system.
What should I do if someone else changed my Gmail password?
Go to gmail.com and click "Forgot password?" You'll need to verify your identity using a recovery email or phone number. If you can't access those, click "Can't access your account?" and follow Google's account recovery process. This usually takes a few hours to a few days depending on how much information you can provide about your account.