Where to change your password depends on which email service you use
You cannot change your email password directly in the iPhone Mail app. Instead, you change it through the email provider's website or app — Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, or whoever hosts your account. Once you change the password there, you then update it in the iPhone Mail settings so the phone can still receive and send mail.
The steps differ slightly depending on whether you use Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, or another provider, but the pattern is the same: change the password at the source, then tell your iPhone the new one.
Key Takeaways
- Change your email password through your email provider's website or app first — not through iPhone Mail settings.
- After changing your password, go to iPhone Settings, find Mail, select your email account, and enter the new password.
- If you use two-factor authentication, you may need to generate an app-specific password instead of using your regular password.
- The iPhone will verify the new password and may take a few minutes to reconnect to your email.
How to change a Gmail password and update it on iPhone 13
Open a web browser on any device and go to myaccount.google.com. Sign in with your Gmail address and password. On the left side, click Security. Scroll down to "Your Google Account" and click Password. Enter your current password, then type your new password twice and click Change Password.
Now go to your iPhone. Open Settings, scroll down and tap Mail, then tap Accounts. Tap your Gmail account, then tap Account (not Mailbox Behaviors). Tap the email address at the top, then tap Password. Delete the old password and type the new one. Tap Save in the top right. The iPhone will verify the password — this may take a minute or two.
If you have two-factor authentication turned on for Gmail, you cannot use your regular password. Instead, you need to create an app-specific password. Go back to myaccount.google.com, click Security, scroll to "App passwords," and follow the prompts. Google will generate a 16-character password — use that one in your iPhone Mail settings instead.
How to change an Outlook or Hotmail password and update it on iPhone 13
Go to account.microsoft.com in a web browser. Sign in with your Outlook or Hotmail address. Click Security on the left, then click Change your password. Enter your current password, then type your new password twice and click Next.
On your iPhone, open Settings, tap Mail, then Accounts. Tap your Outlook account, then tap Account. Tap the email address, then tap Password. Delete the old password, type the new one, and tap Save. The iPhone will verify it within a minute or two.
If you use two-factor authentication with Outlook, you will need an app password instead. Go back to account.microsoft.com, click Security, then click App passwords. Select Mail and iPhone from the dropdowns, and Microsoft will generate a password to use in your iPhone settings.
How to change a Yahoo password and update it on iPhone 13
Go to login.yahoo.com in a web browser and sign in. Click your account icon in the top right, then click Account info. Click Security on the left. Under "Password," click Change password. Enter your current password, then type your new password twice and click Change password.
On your iPhone, open Settings, tap Mail, then Accounts. Tap your Yahoo account, then tap Account. Tap the email address, then tap Password. Delete the old password, type the new one, and tap Save. Wait a minute for the iPhone to verify the connection.
Yahoo also uses app passwords if you have two-factor authentication enabled. From login.yahoo.com, go to Account info, click Security, then click Generate app password. Select Mail and iPhone, and Yahoo will create a password to use instead of your regular one.
What to do if the iPhone says the password is wrong after you change it
Wait a few minutes. The iPhone sometimes takes time to sync with the email provider's servers. If it still shows an error after five minutes, go back to your email provider's website and confirm the password you entered is correct — check for extra spaces or capital letters you may have typed by mistake.
If you use two-factor authentication and forgot to create an app password, that is the most common reason the iPhone rejects the new password. Go back to your email provider's security settings and generate an app password, then use that in iPhone Mail instead of your regular password.
If the password is definitely correct and you still get an error, try removing the account from your iPhone and adding it again. Open Settings, tap Mail, tap Accounts, tap your email account, scroll to the bottom, and tap Delete Account. Then tap Accounts again, tap Add Account, select your email provider, and sign in with your email address and new password.
Why you should change your email password regularly
Your email account is the key to everything else — password resets for other accounts, account recovery, and proof of identity all go through email. If someone gains access to your email, they can reset passwords on your bank account, social media, and other services. Changing your email password every few months, or whenever you suspect someone may have seen it, reduces the window of time a stolen password remains useful.
Change your password when ready if you used the same password on multiple websites and one of those websites was breached. You can check whether your email address appears in a known breach at haveibeenpwned.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my email password directly in the iPhone Mail app?
No. The Mail app only stores your password — it does not change it. You must change your password through your email provider's website or app first, then update it in iPhone Mail settings so the phone can sign in again.
What is an app password and why do I need one?
An app password is a separate, temporary password that email providers create for apps like Mail when you have two-factor authentication turned on. Your regular password would require you to enter a code from your phone every time Mail tries to connect, which is not practical. The app password lets Mail sign in without that extra step.
How long does it take for the iPhone to recognize the new password?
Usually one to five minutes. The iPhone needs to contact the email provider's servers to verify the new password. If it takes longer than ten minutes, the password may be incorrect, or you may need to use an app password instead of your regular one.
What happens to my old emails if I change my password?
Nothing. Your old emails stay in your account. Changing your password only affects whether new devices and apps can sign in — it does not delete or move any messages you have already received.
Do I need to change my password on other devices too?
Yes, if you use Mail on a computer, iPad, or other phone. Each device stores the old password and will show an error until you update it. Go to Mail settings on each device and enter the new password the same way you did on your iPhone 13.