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 your messages.

The reason for this two-step process is that your email provider controls your actual account security. The Mail app on your iPhone just stores a copy of that password to log in. Changing the password in Mail alone would lock you out of your email everywhere else.

This guide walks you through both steps for the most common email providers. If you use a less common service, the principle is the same: change the password on the provider's website first, then update it in Mail on your iPhone.

Key Takeaways

  • Change your password on your email provider's website or app first — Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, or another service — not in the iPhone Mail app.
  • After changing your password with the provider, go to iPhone Settings, find Mail, select your email account, and update the password there.
  • If you forget to update the password in Mail, the app will stop downloading new messages and show an error.
  • Use a password that is at least 12 characters long and includes uppercase letters, numbers, and symbols for stronger security.

Change your password on Gmail

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, tap Security. Scroll down to the section labeled How you sign in to Google and tap Password. Google will ask you to sign in again to confirm it is really you.

Enter your current password, then type your new password twice to confirm it. Make sure your new password is something you have not used before. Google will show you a list of devices that are signed into your account — this is normal. Tap Change Password at the bottom. You will see a message that says your password has been changed.

Write down your new password or save it in a password manager before you move to the next step. You will need it in a few minutes when you update Mail on your iPhone.

Change your password on Outlook or Microsoft

Go to account.microsoft.com in a web browser. Sign in with your Outlook email and current password. Look for Security on the left side and tap it. Find the section called Password and tap Change password.

Microsoft will ask you to enter your current password first. Then type your new password twice. Your new password must be at least eight characters long. Tap Next, and Microsoft will confirm the change. Save your new password somewhere safe before continuing.

Change your password on Yahoo Mail

Go to login.yahoo.com in a web browser and sign in with your Yahoo email address and current password. Look for your account icon or profile picture in the top right corner and tap it. Select Account info. On the left side, tap Security.

Find Password and tap Change password. Yahoo will ask for your current password first. Then enter your new password twice to confirm it. Tap Finish. Yahoo will send you a confirmation email — you do not need to do anything with it, but it confirms the change went through. Save your new password before moving on.

Update the password in Mail on your iPhone 14

Now that you have changed your password with your email provider, you need to tell your iPhone about the change. Open the Settings app on your iPhone. Scroll down and tap Mail. Tap Accounts. You will see a list of email accounts set up on your phone — tap the one you just changed the password for.

Tap the email address at the top of the screen. You will see a field that says Password with dots or asterisks covering what is stored there. Tap in that field and delete everything. Type your new password exactly as you created it on the provider's website — passwords are case-sensitive, so uppercase and lowercase letters matter. Tap Done in the top right corner.

Your iPhone will try to connect to your email account with the new password. If it works, you will see a checkmark or a message saying the account is verified. If you see an error message, double-check that you typed the password correctly — spaces and special characters count.

What to do if Mail shows an error after you update the password

If Mail shows a message like "Cannot Get Mail" or "The password for [your email] is incorrect," the most common reason is a typing mistake. Go back to Settings > Mail > Accounts, tap your email account, tap the email address, and carefully re-enter the password. Make sure you did not accidentally add a space at the beginning or end.

If you are not sure what password you set, go back to your email provider's website and change it again. Write it down this time before you enter it into your iPhone. If the error persists after you have tried the password twice, sign out of the account in Mail and sign back in: go to Settings > Mail > Accounts, tap your email, scroll to the bottom, and tap Delete Account. Then go back to Mail > Accounts > Add Account and sign in again with your email address and new password.

Create a strong password you can remember

A strong password is harder for someone else to guess or crack. Use at least 12 characters. Mix in uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols like exclamation marks or dollar signs. Avoid using your name, birthdate, or common words. Do not use the same password for multiple accounts — if someone gets one password, they should not be able to access everything.

If you have trouble remembering passwords, use a password manager like iCloud Keychain (built into iPhone), 1Password, or Bitwarden. These apps generate strong passwords and store them securely so you only have to remember one main password. Your iPhone can also suggest a strong password when you change it — if you see that option, use it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my email password sign me out of other apps on my iPhone?

Apps that use your email to sign in — like social media or banking apps — will not automatically sign out. They use a different kind of login token, not your actual email password. However, if an app is directly connected to your email account and you do not update the password there, it may stop working.

Do I need to change my password on my computer too?

No. Once you change your password with your email provider, it takes effect everywhere at once. Your computer, tablet, and any other device will need the new password to access email, but you do not have to change anything on the provider's website again.

What if I change my password and then forget it?

Go back to your email provider's website and use the "Forgot password" link. They will send a recovery link to a backup email address or phone number you set up. Follow that link to create a new password, then update it in Mail on your iPhone the same way you did before.

Can I use the same password for Gmail and Outlook?

You can, but it is not recommended. If someone figures out one password, they can access both accounts. Using different passwords for each account means a breach at one service does not compromise the others.

Why does Mail keep asking for my password even after I updated it?

This usually means the password you entered in Mail does not match what you set on the provider's website. Go back to Settings > Mail > Accounts, tap your email account, and re-enter the password carefully. If it still does not work, change the password again on the provider's website and try once more.