Change your Gmail password from the Security section of your account

Open your Google Account at myaccount.google.com, select Security in the left menu, then scroll to "How you sign in to Google" and click Password. You will be asked to sign in again. Type your current password, then enter your new password twice and click Change password. Gmail will sign you out of all other devices and browsers within the next few minutes.

The process takes about two minutes. You do not need to change your password regularly unless you suspect someone has accessed your account or you have reused the password on other websites. If you cannot remember your current password, use the account recovery process instead — that route asks you to verify your identity through a phone number or backup email before letting you set a new one.

Key Takeaways

  • Go to myaccount.google.com, click Security, find "How you sign in to Google", and select Password to start the change.
  • You must sign in with your current password before you can create a new one.
  • Gmail automatically signs you out everywhere after a password change, so you will need to sign back in on your phone, tablet, and other browsers.
  • If you forget your current password, use the "Forgot password?" link on the Gmail sign-in page instead of trying to change it.

What happens after you change your password

Gmail signs you out of your account on all devices and browsers within a few minutes of the change. This includes your phone, tablet, computer, and any third-party apps that connect to Gmail — like Outlook, Apple Mail, or your phone's built-in email app. You will need to sign back in on each device by entering your new password.

If you use Gmail on your phone, the Mail app will usually prompt you to sign in again automatically. On a computer, you may need to refresh the page or close and reopen your browser. Third-party apps often require you to go into their settings, find the Gmail account, and re-enter your password there.

Make sure your new password is strong

Google will warn you if your new password is too weak or if it matches a password that has been exposed in a data breach. A strong password is at least 12 characters long and mixes uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols — for example, BlueMoon$42!Desk is stronger than password123.

Avoid passwords based on your name, birthdate, or common words. Do not reuse a password you have used on other websites, because if one site is hacked, someone could use that password to access your Gmail. If you struggle to remember complex passwords, consider using a password manager like Bitwarden, 1Password, or the password manager built into your browser.

If you cannot sign in with your new password

Wait a few minutes after changing your password before trying to sign in on a new device. Gmail sometimes takes a moment to sync the change across its servers. If you still cannot sign in after 10 minutes, double-check that you are typing the password correctly — passwords are case-sensitive, so BlueMoon is different from bluemoon.

If you are certain you typed it correctly and still cannot sign in, go to the Gmail sign-in page and click Forgot password? to reset it again. You will need to verify your identity using a phone number or backup email before you can set a new password.

If you think someone else knows your password

Change your password immediately using the steps above. Then go to myaccount.google.com, click Security, scroll to "Your devices", and click Manage all devices. Review the list of devices signed into your account. If you see a device you do not recognize, click it and select Sign out.

After that, turn on 2-Step Verification to add a second layer of security. This requires you to enter a code from your phone every time you sign in from a new device. You can find this setting in the Security section under "How you sign in to Google." Turning it on makes it much harder for someone else to access your account, even if they know your password.

Changing your password on a phone or tablet

On an iPhone or iPad, open the Gmail app, tap your profile picture in the top right, select Manage your Google Account, tap Security, scroll down to "How you sign in to Google", and tap Password. On Android, the steps are the same: open Gmail, tap your profile picture, select Manage your Google Account, tap Security, then Password.

You will be asked to sign in with your current password before you can create a new one. After you change it, the Gmail app will sign you out and ask you to sign back in with your new password. The process is identical to changing your password on a computer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to change my Gmail password regularly?

No. Change your password only if you suspect someone has accessed your account, if you have reused it on other websites, or if you have not changed it in several years. Regular password changes do not improve security as much as using a strong, unique password and turning on 2-Step Verification.

What if I change my password and then forget the new one?

Go to the Gmail sign-in page and click Forgot password? You will be asked to verify your identity using a phone number or backup email address. After you verify, you can set a new password. This process takes a few minutes.

Will changing my password delete my emails?

No. Changing your password does not affect your emails, contacts, calendar, or any other data in your Google Account. It only changes how you sign in.

Can I change my password if I am signed out of Gmail?

No. You must be signed in to change your password. If you are signed out, go to the Gmail sign-in page and click Forgot password? to reset it instead.

Does changing my Gmail password change my password for other Google services?

Yes. Your Gmail password is the same as your Google Account password, which you use for YouTube, Google Drive, Google Photos, and all other Google services. Changing one changes them all.