Change your password from your email provider's settings

The steps to change your email password depend on which service you use — Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, or another provider — but they all follow the same basic path: log in, find the password or security settings, enter your current password to verify it's really you, then create a new one. You do this directly on the email provider's website or app, not through a third-party tool.

The reason you need to verify your current password is a safety check. If someone else has access to your account, they can't change the password without knowing the old one. This gives you a window to lock them out before they do damage.

Key Takeaways

  • You change your email password in your account settings on your email provider's website, not in any other app or service.
  • Your email provider will ask you to enter your current password before letting you set a new one, as a security check.
  • A strong password is at least 12 characters long and mixes uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.
  • If you can't remember your current password, use the "Forgot password" link on your email provider's login page to reset it first.
  • After you change your password, you may need to sign back in on your phone, tablet, or other devices that use that email account.

Steps for Gmail

Go to myaccount.google.com and sign in. On the left side, click Security. Scroll down to the section labeled How you sign in to Google and click Password. Google will ask you to sign in again to confirm it's you. Enter your current password, then type your new password twice to make sure you didn't make a typo. Click Change password.

If you use Gmail on your phone or tablet, you'll need to sign back in after you change your password. The app will prompt you to enter your new password the next time you open it.

Steps for Outlook or Microsoft accounts

Go to account.microsoft.com and sign in. Click Security at the top. Under Password and security info, click Change my password. Enter your current password, then type your new password twice. Click Next, then Finish.

Microsoft may ask you to verify your identity using a phone number or backup email before you can change your password. If you see this step, follow the prompts — it's another safety check to make sure the account belongs to you.

Steps for Yahoo Mail

Go to login.yahoo.com and sign in. Click your account icon in the top right corner, then click Account info. Click Security on the left side. Under Password, click Change password. Enter your current password, then type your new password twice. Click Change password.

Yahoo may send you a code to your phone or backup email to verify the change. This is normal — enter the code when prompted.

What makes a strong password

A strong password is at least 12 characters long and includes uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols like !, @, #, or $. An example would be BlueSky#2024Tree or Coffee!Mornings99. Avoid passwords based on your name, birthday, or words that appear in the dictionary — these are the first things someone trying to break in will guess.

You don't need to memorize your new password. If you use a password manager like Bitwarden, 1Password, or the password manager built into your browser, it can store your new password securely. The password manager fills it in automatically when you log in, so you only need to remember one strong master password.

What to do if you forgot your current password

If you can't remember your current password, click Forgot password? on your email provider's login page. You'll be asked to verify your identity — usually by entering a code sent to a phone number or backup email address you set up earlier. After you verify, you can create a new password without needing to know the old one.

This process takes a few minutes but is the only way to regain access if you've truly forgotten. If you can't verify your identity because you no longer have access to your phone number or backup email, contact your email provider's support team — they have other ways to confirm you own the account.

Sign back in on your other devices

After you change your password, any device that uses your email account — your phone, tablet, laptop, or smart speaker — will need the new password the next time it tries to connect. You'll see a prompt asking you to sign in again. Enter your new password and the device will sync back up.

If a device doesn't prompt you to sign in, you may need to manually remove the account and add it again. On an iPhone, go to Settings > Mail > Accounts, tap the account, and tap Delete Account. Then tap Add Account and sign in with your new password. On Android, go to Settings > Accounts, tap your email account, tap the menu icon, and choose Remove account. Then add it again with your new password.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I change my email password?

You don't need to change it on a schedule if you use a strong password and no one else has access to your account. Change it if you think someone may have seen it, if you used the same password on another service that was hacked, or if you haven't changed it in several years. Once a year is a reasonable practice if you want a routine.

What if I can't verify my identity when I try to change my password?

Your email provider will ask you to verify using a phone number or backup email. If you no longer have access to either, contact your provider's support team with proof of identity — usually a government ID photo. They can help you regain access to your account.

Will changing my password sign me out everywhere?

Not immediately, but your devices will ask for the new password the next time they try to connect. You can also manually sign out of all devices at once in your account settings — Gmail and Outlook both have this option under Security. This is useful if you think someone else has access to your account.

Can I use the same password for multiple email accounts?

No. If one service gets hacked and your password is exposed, anyone with that password can access all your other accounts. Use a different strong password for each email account, and for important accounts like banking or work. A password manager makes this easier because it remembers all of them for you.

What if I change my password but still can't log in?

Make sure you're typing the new password correctly — passwords are case-sensitive, so BlueSky is different from bluesky. If you're still locked out, use the "Forgot password?" link again to reset it. If that doesn't work, contact your email provider's support team.