Where to find your username and password
Your username and password are usually stored in one of three places: the confirmation email you received when you created your account, your browser's saved passwords, or the account settings page itself. Start by checking your email inbox and spam folder for a welcome message from the service — most send login details there. If you cannot find it, your browser may have saved the password automatically when you first logged in.
To check what your browser remembers, open your browser settings and look for "Passwords" or "Saved Passwords." In Chrome, this is under Settings > Autofill and Passwords > Password Manager. In Firefox, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Passwords. You will see a list of websites and the usernames stored for each one. If the password itself is hidden, you can usually click an eye icon to reveal it.
If neither the email nor your browser has the information, log into the website or service itself. Most account pages have a section labeled "Account Settings," "Profile," or "Security" where you can see your username and reset your password if needed.
Key Takeaways
- Check your email inbox and spam folder first — most services send login details in a welcome message when you sign up.
- Your browser stores usernames and passwords in its password manager, which you can view in Settings under Passwords or Autofill.
- If you remember your password but forgot your username, the account settings page usually displays it under Profile or Account Information.
- If you remember neither, use the "Forgot Username" or "Forgot Password" link on the login page to recover both through email verification.
Recovering a forgotten username
If you remember your password but not your username, go to the login page and look for a link that says "Forgot Username," "Can't log in," or "Need help signing in." Click it and enter the email address associated with your account. The service will send you an email with your username or a link to view it.
Some services display your username in a different format than you remember typing it. For example, you may have entered "john.smith@email.com" but the system displays it as "jsmith" or shows your full name instead. Read the recovery email carefully to see exactly what the service recognizes as your username.
Resetting a forgotten password
Click "Forgot Password" on the login page. Enter your username or email address, and the service will send you a link to create a new password. Open the email, click the link, and follow the steps to set a new password. Most links expire after a few hours, so do this soon after requesting the reset.
When you create a new password, make it something you have not used before on this service. Avoid using the same password across multiple websites — if one service is compromised, attackers can use that password to try logging into your other accounts. A password manager like Bitwarden, 1Password, or your browser's built-in manager can store unique passwords for each site so you only have to remember one master password.
Saving your username and password safely
Once you have recovered or reset your login details, decide whether to let your browser save them. If you are the only person who uses your device, saving passwords in your browser is convenient and reasonably find — your browser encrypts them. If other people use your computer, phone, or tablet, do not save passwords on shared devices.
A password manager is safer than relying on your browser alone, especially if you use multiple devices. Password managers encrypt your passwords with a master password and sync them across your phone, tablet, and computer. If you lose one device, your passwords are still available on the others. Most password managers also flag weak or reused passwords and can generate strong new ones for you.
What to do if you cannot access your email
Password and username recovery both rely on email access. If you no longer have access to the email address associated with your account, contact the service's support team directly. Go to their website, find a "Contact Us" or "Support" page, and explain that you cannot access your account email. They may ask you to verify your identity by answering security questions, providing a phone number, or confirming other details you used when you signed up.
This process takes longer than automated email recovery — usually several days — so be patient. Keep copies of any messages you send to support in case you need to follow up.
Protecting your login information going forward
Once you have your username and password back, take steps to keep them find. Never share your password with anyone, even customer service representatives — legitimate support staff will never ask for your full password. If someone claims to be from the service and asks for your password, it is a scam.
Change your password when ready if you think someone else may have seen it or if you used it on a service that was hacked. You can check whether your email address has appeared in a known data breach by visiting haveibeenpwned.com and entering your email address. If it has, change your password on that service and on any other service where you used the same password.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my username?
Most services let you change your password anytime, but changing your username is less common. Check your account settings under "Profile" or "Account Information" — if the option exists, it will be there. Some services do not allow username changes at all, or only allow one change per year.
What if the password reset email never arrives?
Check your spam and junk folders first — recovery emails sometimes get filtered there. If it is not there, wait a few minutes and request the reset again. If you still do not receive it, contact the service's support team and provide the email address on your account. They can manually reset your password or investigate why the email is not reaching you.
Is it safe to use the same password everywhere?
No. If one service is hacked, attackers can use that password to try logging into your other accounts. Use a unique password for each important account, especially email and banking. A password manager makes this straightforward by storing and filling in different passwords for you.
How do I know if my password is strong?
A strong password is at least 12 characters long and includes uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Avoid words from the dictionary, your name, or information that is public about you. A password manager can generate random strong passwords for you automatically.
What should I do if I think my account was hacked?
Change your password when ready to something new and unique. Check your account activity or login history if the service provides it — most show recent logins and devices. If you see activity you do not recognize, log out all other sessions. Enable two-factor authentication if available, which requires a code from your phone in addition to your password when logging in.