Where to change your email password on iPhone 13

You cannot change your email password directly in the Mail app on iPhone 13. Instead, you change it through your email provider's website or app — Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, or whoever hosts your account. Once you change the password there, you then update it in the Mail app settings so your phone can still receive messages.

The process has two parts: first you change the password at the source, then you tell your iPhone about the new one. Skipping the second step will lock you out of email on your phone.

Key Takeaways

  • Your email password lives with your email provider (Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo), not with Apple — you change it on their website or app first.
  • After changing your password at the provider, you must update it in iPhone Settings > Mail > Accounts to keep receiving email.
  • If you do not update the password in Mail settings, your phone will show an error and stop syncing messages within hours.
  • Two-factor authentication on your email account may require you to use an app password instead of your regular password on iPhone.

Step 1: Change your password with your email provider

Go to your email provider's website on any device — computer, tablet, or another phone. Sign in to your account and look for account settings or security settings. The exact path depends on which provider you use.

For Gmail: Go to myaccount.google.com, select Security on the left, scroll to "Your Google Account" section, and tap Change password. For Outlook: Go to account.microsoft.com, select Security on the left, and tap Change password. For Yahoo: Go to account.yahoo.com, select Account security, and tap Change password. You will need to confirm your current password before setting a new one.

Make your new password at least 12 characters long and mix in uppercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Write it down somewhere safe — you will need it in the next step.

Step 2: Update the password in Mail settings on iPhone 13

Open Settings on your iPhone and tap Mail. Tap Accounts, then tap the email account you just changed the password for. Tap Account at the top of the screen.

Scroll down and tap the password field. Delete the old password and type in the new one you just created. Tap Done in the top right corner. Your iPhone will verify the new password and sync your email within a few minutes.

If you see an error message saying the password is incorrect, double-check that you typed it exactly right — passwords are case-sensitive, meaning capital letters matter. If the error persists, go back to your email provider's website and confirm the password change went through.

What to do if you use two-factor authentication

If your email account has two-factor authentication turned on (a security feature that requires a second verification step when you sign in), you cannot use your regular password on iPhone. Instead, you need to create an app password — a separate, temporary password just for Mail on your phone.

For Gmail: Go to myaccount.google.com, select Security, scroll to "App passwords" (only visible if two-factor is on), select Mail and iPhone, and Google will generate a 16-character password. Copy it and paste it into iPhone Mail settings instead of your regular password. For Outlook: Go to account.microsoft.com, select Security, tap Create a new app password, and use the generated password in Mail settings. For Yahoo: Go to account.yahoo.com, select Account security, tap Generate app password, select Mail and iPhone, and use that password instead.

App passwords are longer and harder to remember, so write it down or save it in a notes app until you have entered it in Mail settings.

Signs your password update did not work

If Mail on your iPhone shows a banner at the top saying "Password Incorrect" or "Unable to Connect," your phone is using the old password. Go back to Mail settings and re-enter the new password. If the error appears again within minutes, the password you entered in Mail settings does not match what you set at your email provider.

Check that you did not accidentally add a space at the beginning or end of the password — this is a common mistake when copying and pasting. If you are still stuck, go back to your email provider's website, reset the password again, and re-enter it in Mail settings.

If Mail stops syncing entirely and you see no error message, your phone may have locked the account after too many failed password attempts. Wait 30 minutes, then try updating the password in Mail settings again.

Why you cannot change email password in the Mail app

Apple's Mail app is a reader and sender — it connects to your email account but does not manage it. Your email account belongs to your provider (Google, Microsoft, Yahoo), and only they can change the password. Mail on iPhone can only store and use the password you give it.

This design protects your account security. If Mail could change your password, a compromised iPhone could lock you out of your email everywhere. By requiring you to change the password at the source, you stay in control of your account even if your phone is lost or stolen.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if I change my email password but forget to update it in Mail?

Your iPhone will keep trying to sign in with the old password and will fail. Within a few hours, Mail will stop syncing new messages and show a "Password Incorrect" error. Update the password in Mail settings and it will resume working within minutes.

Can I use the same password for multiple email accounts on my iPhone?

Yes, but it is not recommended. If one account is compromised, all of them are at risk. Use a different password for each email account, especially if one is tied to banking or financial services.

Do I need to change my password on other devices after updating it on iPhone?

Yes. Any device that uses your email — laptop, tablet, work computer — will need the new password entered in its email settings. Check each device and update them one by one to avoid getting locked out.

What if I forgot my email password entirely?

Go to your email provider's sign-in page and look for "Forgot password" or "Can't sign in." You will answer security questions or verify your identity through a recovery email or phone number. Once you reset it, update the new password in Mail settings on your iPhone.

Is it safe to save my email password in iPhone Notes?

It is safer than writing it on paper, but not ideal. If someone gains access to your iPhone, they can read it. Use iCloud Keychain instead — it encrypts passwords and fills them in automatically. Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Keychain and turn it on.