Change your Yahoo password from the Account Info page

Open Yahoo Mail and click your account icon in the top right corner. Select Account Info from the menu. On the left side, click Security, then find the Password section and click Change password. Yahoo will ask you to sign in again to confirm your identity — enter your current password. Then type your new password twice and click Change password. The change takes effect when ready.

If you use Yahoo Mail on your phone or tablet, the steps are the same: tap your account icon, go to Account Info, select Security, and change your password. You will need to sign back into the Yahoo Mail app on any device after you change it.

Key Takeaways

  • You change your Yahoo password through Account Info under the Security section, not from within the email itself.
  • Yahoo requires you to enter your current password before setting a new one as a security check.
  • The new password takes effect right away on all devices, but you may need to sign back in to the Yahoo Mail app.
  • A strong password uses at least 12 characters and mixes uppercase letters, numbers, and symbols.

What makes a strong Yahoo password

Yahoo requires passwords to be at least 8 characters long, but longer is better. Use a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols like ! @ # $ % ^ & *. Avoid using your name, birth date, or common words that appear in the dictionary. Do not reuse a password you have used before on Yahoo or on other websites.

If you have trouble remembering a complex password, consider using a password manager like Bitwarden, 1Password, or KeePass. These tools store your passwords securely and fill them in automatically when you sign in.

If you forget your current password

You cannot change your password without entering the current one. If you have forgotten it, click Can't sign in? on the Yahoo Mail login page. Yahoo will ask you to verify your identity using a recovery email address or phone number you set up earlier. Once verified, you can create a new password without entering the old one.

If you no longer have access to your recovery email or phone number, Yahoo's account recovery process takes longer. You will answer security questions about your account history and may need to wait while Yahoo reviews your request.

Signing back in after you change your password

On your computer, you will usually stay signed in to Yahoo Mail after changing your password. On phones and tablets, the Yahoo Mail app may ask you to sign in again within a few hours. Open the app, tap Sign in, enter your email address, and use your new password.

If you use Yahoo Mail with other apps — like Outlook, Apple Mail, or Gmail's forwarding feature — those apps will not automatically know your new password. You will need to update the password in each app's settings separately. Look for a Password or Account Settings section in each app and enter your new Yahoo password there.

Two-factor authentication adds an extra security layer

After you change your password, consider turning on two-factor authentication. This means Yahoo will send you a code by text or email every time you sign in from a new device. Even if someone learns your password, they cannot access your account without that code.

To turn on two-factor authentication, go to Account Info, select Security, and look for Two-step verification. Choose whether you want codes sent by text message or to a recovery email address. Yahoo will send you a test code to confirm it works.

What to do if you think your account was hacked

If you suspect someone else accessed your Yahoo Mail, change your password when ready using the steps above. Then check your Account Activity page in the Security section to see where and when your account was signed in. Look for sign-ins from places you do not recognize or at times you were not using your account.

Review your Connected apps and websites in the Security section. These are third-party services you gave permission to access your Yahoo account. Remove any that you do not recognize or no longer use. If your account was compromised, also change the passwords on any other websites where you used the same password as Yahoo.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I change my Yahoo password?

Change it if you think someone else knows it, if you used it on a website that was hacked, or if you have not changed it in over a year. You do not need to change it every month unless your workplace or school requires it.

Can I use the same password on Yahoo and other websites?

No. If one website is hacked, attackers will try that same password on your other accounts. Use a unique password for Yahoo and for every other important account like banking and email.

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

Wait a few minutes — the change can take time to spread across Yahoo's servers. Clear your browser's cache and cookies, then try again. If you still cannot sign in, use the Can't sign in? link to verify your identity and reset your password again.

Do I need to change my password if I only use Yahoo Mail on my computer?

No, but you should still change it every year or two. Even if you only sign in from one device, your password could be exposed in a data breach at another company.