You cannot see your current Gmail password, but you can reset it in minutes
Gmail does not show you your password — Google stores it encrypted and cannot retrieve it even if you ask. But you can reset it to something new using your recovery email address or phone number, and that new password will work immediately. The reset takes about five minutes and works whether you remember your password or not.
If you still remember your current password and just want to change it to something stronger, that is a different, faster process. Both routes are covered below.
Key Takeaways
- Gmail passwords cannot be retrieved or viewed — you can only reset to a new one using your recovery email or phone number.
- If you remember your password, you can change it to a new one by signing in and going to your Google Account security settings.
- If you forgot your password, use the "Forgot password?" link on the Gmail sign-in page and follow the recovery steps.
- Recovery takes longer if you do not have access to your recovery email or phone — you will answer security questions instead.
- After you reset your password, you may need to sign in again on your phone, tablet, or other devices.
Reset your password if you forgot it
Go to the Gmail sign-in page at accounts.google.com/signin. Type your email address and click Next. On the password screen, click "Forgot password?" below the password box.
Google will ask you to enter the last password you remember. If you truly cannot remember any password, type anything and click Next — Google will move forward anyway. On the next screen, choose how you want to recover your account: by code sent to your recovery email address or by code sent to your recovery phone number. Pick whichever one you have access to right now.
If you choose email, Google sends a code to the backup email address you set up with your account. Check that inbox (including spam), copy the code, and paste it into the box on Google's recovery page. If you choose phone, Google texts or calls a code to the phone number on file. Enter that code and click Next.
Google will then ask you to create a new password. Type it twice to confirm, click Change Password, and you are done. You can sign in with this new password immediately on any device.
Change your password if you remember the current one
Sign in to Gmail at gmail.com. In the top right corner, click your profile picture, then click Manage your Google Account. Click the Security tab at the top.
Scroll down to the section labeled How you sign in to Google and click Password. Google will ask you to sign in again with your current password to confirm it is really you. Type your current password and click Next.
Now type your new password twice in the boxes provided. Click Change Password. You will see a confirmation message, and the change takes effect immediately. You do not need to sign in again on the device you are using, but you will need to enter the new password the next time you sign in on any other device.
What to do if you cannot access your recovery email or phone
If you forgot your password and do not have access to the recovery email address or phone number you set up, click "Can't access your recovery options?" on the recovery screen. Google will ask you to answer security questions you created when you set up your account — questions like "What is your mother's maiden name?" or "What was the name of your first pet?"
Answer as many questions as you can remember. Google does not require you to get every one right, but the more you answer correctly, the faster the process moves. After you submit your answers, Google reviews them and either lets you reset your password immediately or asks you to wait 24 hours before trying again.
If you cannot remember the answers to your security questions either, you can provide a phone number where Google can reach you, or you can ask to recover your account using a recovery code if you saved one when you first set up two-factor authentication. The process becomes slower and more involved, but Google has ways to verify you are the account owner.
Sign in again on your other devices after resetting
After you reset your password, devices you use Gmail on — like your phone, tablet, or work computer — will not automatically know the new password. The next time you try to check email on those devices, you will see a sign-in screen asking for your password. Type your new password and you will be back in.
Some devices may ask you to sign in again right away. Others may wait until you close and reopen the Gmail app or refresh the browser. If a device keeps rejecting your new password, sign out completely, close the app or browser, wait 30 seconds, and try signing in again.
Prevent password problems by setting up recovery options now
The easiest way to reset your password later is to make sure Google has a working recovery email address and phone number on file right now. Sign in to your Google Account, click the Security tab, and scroll to How you sign in to Google. Click Password, then look for sections labeled Recovery email and Recovery phone.
If either one is missing or outdated, click it and add the current information. Use a recovery email address you actually check — a work email, a family member's email, or another personal account you use regularly. Use a phone number where you can receive texts or calls. If you set these up now, you will never be stuck unable to reset your password later.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I see what my current Gmail password is?
No. Google encrypts your password and cannot show it to you or retrieve it. You can only reset it to a new password. If you need to know your password for some reason — like to sign in on a new device — reset it to something you will remember, then use that new password.
How long does it take to reset my Gmail password?
If you have access to your recovery email or phone, the reset takes five to ten minutes. If you have to answer security questions instead, Google may make you wait 24 hours before you can reset. If you cannot access any recovery method, the process can take several days while Google verifies you own the account.
Will resetting my password sign me out everywhere?
Not immediately. You stay signed in on the device where you reset it. Other devices keep working until you close the app or browser, or until they try to refresh and need to re-authenticate. The next time you open Gmail on another device, you will need to enter your new password.
What if I reset my password but still cannot sign in?
Wait a few minutes — sometimes the new password takes a moment to sync across Google's servers. Then try signing out completely, closing the app or browser, and signing back in. If you are still stuck, make sure you are typing the password exactly as you created it, with correct capitalization and no extra spaces.
Can I use the same password I used before?
Google will not let you reuse any of your last five passwords. If you try to set a password you have used recently, Google will reject it and ask you to choose a different one. This is a security feature to prevent old compromised passwords from being reused.