You should change your email password regularly to block unauthorized access and limit damage if credentials leak. Start by signing into your account, open Security or Account settings, and follow the “Change password” or “Password security” prompts. Use a strong, unique passphrase and update any connected devices and apps afterward. If you suspect a breach, take recovery steps immediately — here’s how to do each of those things.
Key Takeaways
- Open your email provider’s account or security settings (e.g., Google Account, Microsoft Account, Yahoo Account) and choose the password or “Sign-in” option.
- Verify your identity if prompted (current password, recovery email, SMS code, or authenticator app) before creating a new password.
- Create a long, unique passphrase using a password manager, avoiding reuse of passwords across accounts.
- Update the new password on all devices and mail apps, and revoke unknown sessions or connected apps.
- Enable two-factor authentication and review recovery options and activity logs for unusual sign-ins.
Why You Should Change Your Email Password Regularly
Threat mitigation is the main reason to change your email password regularly: doing so limits the window an attacker has to exploit a leaked or guessed credential. You should adopt a schedule based on risk: quarterly for high-risk accounts, biannual for normal use. Implement password management to generate and store long, unique passwords; avoid reuse across services. Pair regular changes with email security measures: enable multi-factor authentication, review connected apps, and remove stale sessions. When you change a password, update recovery options and backup codes immediately. Use a reputable password manager to automate complexity and syncing, reducing human error. Log changes, confirm successful sign-in, and monitor logs for anomalies. Regular rotation reduces persistence of compromised credentials and narrows attacker dwell time.
Signs Your Email Account May Be Compromised
Watch for signs that your account may be compromised: unfamiliar login locations or devices in your activity log, messages in your Sent folder you didn’t send, or changes to recovery info and forwarding rules. If you see any of these, stop using the account for sensitive tasks and secure it immediately. Change your password, review recent activity, and reset any altered settings or linked devices.
Unusual Login Activity
If you see logins from unfamiliar locations, devices you don’t recognize, or multiple failed sign-in attempts, your account may be compromised. Immediately review the recent activity or security log in your email security settings to identify timestamps, IP addresses, and device types. Revoke sessions that aren’t yours and force sign-out on all devices. Change your password to a strong, unique passphrase and enable two-factor authentication. Verify and update account recovery options—alternate email, phone number, and security questions—so attackers can’t regain access. Check authorized apps and third-party access; remove any you don’t recognize. Monitor for new sign-in alerts and set stricter notification policies. If you can’t regain control, contact provider support and follow their account recovery procedures promptly to prevent further unauthorized access.
Unexpected Sent Messages
Beyond noticing unfamiliar sign-ins, another clear sign of compromise is finding messages you didn’t send in your Sent folder or receiving replies from contacts about odd emails. Check Sent, Outbox, and Trash systematically for duplicates, timestamps, and recipient lists. Export message headers to inspect Received and Return-Path fields for relay anomalies. Run a malware scan on devices used to access the account; attackers often automate outbound mail via infected endpoints or API tokens. Reset your password immediately, enable two-factor authentication, and revoke third-party app access from account settings. Notify affected contacts to ignore suspicious links or attachments—phishing attempts often use your identity to spread. Log and report the incident to your email provider to restore normal email security posture.
Changed Account Settings
When attackers gain access, they often modify account settings to maintain control and evade detection, so you should check for unauthorized changes to forwarding rules, auto-reply messages, recovery contacts, and linked devices. Inspect forwarding and filter rules for unknown destinations; disable and remove any that forward mail outside your control. Verify auto-reply and signature content to confirm attackers haven’t injected phishing or diversion messages. Confirm recovery email addresses and phone numbers; replace any unfamiliar entries and re-verify your legitimate contacts. Review connected apps and devices, revoke access for unknown sessions, and sign out other devices. As part of email security, reset your password immediately and follow strong password management: use unique, complex passwords and enable multifactor authentication to prevent re-entry.
How to Change Your Password on Gmail
Open your Google Account settings to manage sign-in options. Go to Security > Signing in to Google, then select Password to update it. Enter your current password, choose a strong new password, and save the change.
Open Google Account
If you need to change your Gmail password, sign in to your Google Account dashboard at myaccount.google.com and go to Security > Password to start the update process. Once signed in, confirm the account shown at the top is the one you intend to modify. Navigate the left menu to Security, review recent security events, and confirm two-step verification settings before proceeding. Use Google Security tools to check connected devices and third-party app access; revoke anything unfamiliar. If you’ve lost access, open Account Recovery from the dashboard to verify recovery email and phone settings—update them now to avoid lockout. Keep your browser current and use a private window if on a shared device. After verifying settings, proceed to update credentials in the next step.
Update Sign-in Password
Now that you’ve verified account details and security settings, you can change your Gmail sign-in password from the Security section of your Google Account. Navigate to myaccount.google.com/security, locate “Signing in to Google,” and select “Password.” Confirm your identity using your current password, 2-Step Verification, or a prompt. Enter a new password that meets length and complexity requirements, confirm it, and save. Immediately review connected devices and app passwords; revoke any you don’t recognize. Update stored credentials in your password manager and on devices to prevent lockouts. As a routine security task, rotate passwords periodically and follow security tips: enable 2-Step Verification, use unique strong passwords, and audit account activity to maintain robust password management.
How to Change Your Password on Outlook and Hotmail
When you need to update your Outlook or Hotmail password, sign in to your Microsoft account and go to Security > Password security to start the change; you’ll verify your identity, enter your current password, then choose and confirm a new strong password. After changing, update saved passwords in your mail clients and devices to avoid sync errors. If you can’t sign in, use Hotmail recovery options from the Microsoft account recovery page: provide the recovery email, phone, and any requested info to verify ownership. Review Outlook security settings: enable two-step verification, add alternative contact methods, and create an app password for legacy clients. Test sending and receiving mail, and note when the password was changed for future audits.
How to Change Your Password on Yahoo Mail
Although the steps vary by interface, you’ll change your Yahoo Mail password from your Yahoo Account Security settings: sign into mail.yahoo.com (or the Yahoo account page), open Account Info > Account Security, verify your identity if prompted, then enter and confirm a new strong password. After signing in, navigate to Security, select Change password, and follow on-screen prompts. Use a unique, complex password and a password manager to generate and store it. If you can’t sign in, use Yahoo’s password recovery flow: choose Forgot password, provide your recovery email or phone, enter the verification code, then reset the password. Review connected apps and revoke access where needed. Enable two-step verification for added protection and update saved credentials on your devices and apps.
Changing Your Email Password on Iphone and Ipad
If your email account password changes, you’ll need to update it in iOS/iPadOS so Mail and other apps keep sending and receiving messages; open Settings, tap Mail, then Accounts. Select the account, tap Account again, and update the Password field with the new credential. If your provider uses OAuth, you’ll be redirected to sign in; follow prompts to reauthorize. For manual IMAP/POP or SMTP changes, verify server, port, and authentication settings after updating the password. Test Mail by sending and receiving a message. For apps using system accounts, confirm changes in iPhone settings to avoid repeated authentication prompts. Review iPad security: enable Face ID/Touch ID for Mail and use device passcodes to protect stored credentials. Restart Mail if issues persist.
Changing Your Email Password on Android Devices
On Android, update your email password inside the mail app or system account settings so Mail, Calendar, and other apps keep syncing. Open Settings > Accounts (or Users & accounts), select the email account, then tap Account settings or Sync settings. If your provider uses OAuth, reauthenticate when prompted; otherwise choose Incoming/Outgoing server and enter the new password. In Gmail, open the app, go to Settings > account name > Manage your Google Account > Security to update Google credentials. After changing, force a sync and verify Mail and Calendar fetch correctly. If two-factor authentication is enabled, generate an app password and enter it in Android settings. Review account permissions and remove unused app access to maintain Email security and reduce exposure.
Creating a Strong, Memorable Password
Passwords are your first line of defense, so create one that balances strength with memorability: use a long passphrase (12–20+ characters) made of uncommon words, deliberate punctuation, and deliberate substitutions rather than random characters, and avoid common phrases, predictable patterns, or reused credentials. Use password complexity principles while favoring memorable phrases you can reliably recall. Combine unrelated words, insert punctuation at non-standard positions, and apply consistent, personal substitution rules. Test length and entropy mentally: longer beats complex if you must choose.
- Pick 3–4 uncommon words linked by a symbol or number
- Insert punctuation inside words, not only at ends
- Use a repeatable substitution scheme for a character set
- Avoid keyboard patterns, dates, or site-specific reuse
- Verify against a password complexity checker before saving
What to Do If You Can’t Access Your Email Account
Locked out of your email? Follow a focused process: verify you’re using the correct address and keyboard layout, then attempt the provider’s account recovery flow. Use recovery email or phone options, answer security questions, and supply recent account details (creation date, frequent contacts) to prove ownership. If two-factor authentication blocks access, use backup codes or an authenticator app on another device. Don’t create duplicate accounts to bypass restrictions. Contact support only after exhausting automated recovery; provide transaction IDs, timestamps, and identification if requested. After regaining access, immediately reset your password, review recovery settings, revoke unknown sessions, and enable strong MFA. These steps preserve account recovery integrity and maintain email security against unauthorized access.
Conclusion
Regularly changing your email password reduces risk from breaches and helps protect your data. If you see suspicious activity, immediately change the password and enable two-factor authentication. Follow platform-specific steps (Gmail, Outlook/Hotmail, Yahoo) or update credentials on iPhone, iPad, and Android. Use a strong, unique password—consider a passphrase or password manager—and update it across all devices. If you can’t access your account, use recovery options or contact provider support.