Open Settings and find your email account

To change your email password on iPhone, start by opening the Settings app on your home screen. Scroll down and tap Mail, then tap Accounts. You will see a list of all email accounts connected to your iPhone — tap the one whose password you want to change.

The account screen shows your email address and basic settings. Tap Account at the top of the screen to access the full account details where you can update your password.

Enter your new password in the password field

On the account details screen, you will see a Password field. Tap it and delete the old password, then type your new one. Make sure you type it correctly — iPhone will not show you the characters as you type them for security reasons, so take your time.

After you enter the new password, tap Save in the top right corner. iPhone will verify the new password by connecting to your email provider's server. This usually takes a few seconds.

What happens if the password does not save

If you see an error message after tapping Save, the password you entered may not match what your email provider has on file. Double-check that you typed it correctly — spaces, capital letters, and numbers all matter.

If you are not sure what your current password is, you will need to reset it through your email provider's website before you can update it on your iPhone. For Gmail, go to myaccount.google.com. For Outlook or Hotmail, go to account.microsoft.com. For Yahoo Mail, go to login.yahoo.com. Each provider has a "Forgot password" or "Change password" option.

Remove and re-add the account if the password still will not work

If you have entered the correct new password and iPhone still will not accept it, the account connection may be corrupted. Go back to Settings > Mail > Accounts, tap the email account, then tap Delete Account at the bottom of the screen. Confirm that you want to remove it.

Then go back to Settings > Mail > Accounts and tap Add Account. Select your email provider (Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, or Other), enter your email address and new password, and let iPhone set up the account again. This usually fixes connection problems that prevent password updates from working.

Two-factor authentication may require an app password instead

If your email account uses two-factor authentication (a security feature that requires a second verification step when you sign in), you may not be able to use your regular password on iPhone. Instead, your email provider will ask you to create a separate app password — a longer code just for iPhone Mail.

Gmail, Outlook, and Yahoo all support app passwords. Check your email provider's security settings to see if two-factor authentication is turned on. If it is, look for an option to create or manage app passwords, then use that code instead of your regular password when you update it on your iPhone.

Check that Mail is syncing after the password change

After you save the new password, give iPhone a minute to reconnect to your email. Open the Mail app and check that your inbox is loading messages normally. If Mail shows an error banner at the top of the inbox, tap it — it will usually say "Password incorrect" or "Account needs attention," which means the password did not save properly.

If the error persists, go back to Settings > Mail > Accounts, tap your account again, and re-enter the password. Make sure you are using the exact password your email provider requires — no extra spaces before or after.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Settings, tap Mail, then Accounts, select your email account, and tap Account to find the password field.
  • Type your new password carefully and tap Save — iPhone will verify it with your email provider.
  • If the password does not save, reset it through your email provider's website first (Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, or your provider's login page).
  • If two-factor authentication is on, create an app password through your email provider's security settings and use that instead of your regular password.
  • If the password still will not work, delete the account from iPhone and re-add it with the new password.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my password on iPhone change it everywhere else?

No. Changing your password in iPhone Settings only updates it in the Mail app on that phone. Your password remains the same on your computer, other devices, and your email provider's website. If you want to change your password everywhere, change it through your email provider's website first, then update it on your iPhone.

What if I forgot my email password?

You cannot change it on your iPhone without knowing the old one. Go to your email provider's website and use their "Forgot password" or "Reset password" option. Gmail, Outlook, and Yahoo will send a recovery link to a backup email or phone number. After you reset it, come back to iPhone and enter the new password in Settings.

Do I need to change my password on my iPad too?

If your iPad uses the same email account, yes — you will need to update the password there as well. Go to Settings > Mail > Accounts on your iPad, select the account, and enter the new password. Each device stores its own copy of your password.

Why does iPhone keep asking for my password after I change it?

This usually means the password did not save correctly. Go back to Settings > Mail > Accounts, tap your account, and re-enter the password slowly and carefully. If it keeps asking, try deleting the account and re-adding it. Also check that two-factor authentication is not on — if it is, you need to use an app password instead.