Open Gmail and go to your account settings

Sign into Gmail at gmail.com using your current password. Once you are logged in, look at the top right corner of the screen where you see your profile picture or initial in a circle. Click on it.

A small menu will drop down. Click on Manage your Google Account. This opens a new page with tabs across the top. Click on the Security tab.

Find the password section

On the Security page, scroll down until you see a section labeled How you sign in to Google. Under this heading, you will see Password listed as the first item. Click on the word Password.

Google will ask you to sign in again with your current password. This is a safety check to make sure you are really the account owner. Type your current password and click Next.

Key Takeaways

  • You change your Gmail password through your Google Account settings, not through Gmail itself.
  • Google will ask you to enter your current password before letting you create a new one.
  • Your new password should be at least 8 characters long and include a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols.
  • If you forget your current password, you will need to use your recovery email or phone number to reset it instead.
  • After you change your password, you may need to sign back into Gmail and other Google services on your devices.

Create and confirm your new password

You are now on the password change screen. You will see two fields: New password and Confirm password. Type your new password in the first field. Make it something you have not used before, and avoid using the same password across multiple accounts.

Type the same password again in the Confirm password field. Google will show you a strength meter as you type — aim for a password that shows as strong. A strong password is at least 8 characters long and mixes uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols like ! or #.

Save your new password

Once you have entered your new password twice and it matches, click the Change Password button. Google will process the change and show you a confirmation message saying your password has been updated.

You are now signed out of Gmail. Sign back in using your new password to make sure it works. If you use Gmail on your phone, tablet, or other devices, you will need to sign in again on those devices too — they will not automatically update.

What to do if you are locked out of your account

If you forget your current password before you change it, you cannot use the method above. Instead, go to the Gmail login page and click Forgot password? below the password field. Google will ask you to enter the last password you remember, or skip this step if you cannot.

Google will then send a code to your recovery email address or phone number. Enter that code, and you will be able to set a brand new password without knowing the old one. This process takes a few minutes and may ask you security questions to confirm your identity.

Keep your new password safe

Write your new password down in a secure place, or use a password manager like Bitwarden or 1Password to store it. Do not email it to yourself or write it on a sticky note on your monitor. Do not share your password with anyone, even if they say they work for Google — Google employees will never ask for your password.

If you think someone else knows your password, change it right away using the steps above. You can also check which devices are currently signed into your Gmail account by going back to the Security tab and scrolling down to Your devices. If you see a device you do not recognize, click on it and select Sign out.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I change my Gmail password?

You do not need to change your password on a set schedule. Change it if you think someone knows it, if you used the same password on another account that was hacked, or if you have not changed it in several years. Most security experts recommend changing it at least once a year if you have not had a breach.

Will changing my password sign me out of Gmail on all my devices?

Yes. After you change your password, you will be signed out everywhere. You will need to sign back in on your phone, tablet, computer, and any other device where you use Gmail. Have your new password ready before you start.

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

Click Forgot password? on the Gmail login page. Google will send a code to your recovery email or phone number. You can then set another new password without knowing the old one.

Can I use the same password I used before?

Google will not let you reuse one of your last five passwords. This is a security measure to prevent you from cycling through the same few passwords. Choose something completely new.

Do I need to change my password if I change my recovery email?

No. Changing your recovery email does not affect your password. Your password stays the same unless you go through the password change process yourself.