Open Settings and find your email account
To change your email password on an iPhone, start by opening the Settings app on your home screen. Scroll down and tap Mail, then tap Accounts. You'll see a list of all email accounts connected to your phone — tap the one whose password you want to change.
The account details screen shows your email address and the type of account (Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, or another provider). Tap Account at the top of this screen to access the settings you need to modify.
Key Takeaways
- You change your email password through Settings > Mail > Accounts, then select your email account and tap Account.
- Your new password must be entered in the Password field on your iPhone — this is separate from changing it at your email provider's website.
- If you don't know your current password, you'll need to reset it through your email provider's website or app before you can update it on your iPhone.
- After you enter the new password, your iPhone will verify it can connect to your email server, which usually takes a few seconds.
- Changing your password on your iPhone does not automatically change it on other devices — you'll need to update it on each phone, tablet, or computer separately.
Enter your new password in the Password field
On the Account screen, you'll see a Password field with your current password hidden behind dots or asterisks. Tap this field to select it, then delete the old password and type your new one. Make sure you type it exactly as you want it — passwords are case-sensitive, so uppercase and lowercase letters matter.
If you're not sure what your new password should be, decide it now before you proceed. Your new password should be something you can remember, or write it down somewhere secure. Once you move to the next step, your iPhone will try to connect to your email server using this new password.
Let your iPhone verify the connection
After you enter your new password and tap Save or move away from the field, your iPhone will attempt to connect to your email server to confirm the password works. This verification usually takes a few seconds. If the password is correct, you'll see a checkmark or the screen will simply close without an error message.
If your iPhone shows an error message like "Cannot Connect Using SSL" or "Invalid Password," the password you entered doesn't match what your email provider has on file. Go back and check that you typed it correctly, paying attention to uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters.
What to do if verification fails
If your iPhone keeps rejecting the password, the problem is usually one of three things: you typed it wrong, your email provider hasn't registered the change yet, or you're using the wrong password format for that email account.
First, try entering the password again slowly, character by character. If that doesn't work, visit your email provider's website or app directly and change your password there. Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, and other providers all have their own password-change pages. Once you've changed it at the source, wait a minute or two, then return to your iPhone and try entering the new password again.
Some email providers require you to use an app-specific password instead of your regular password when connecting from a phone or third-party app. Gmail and Microsoft accounts sometimes work this way. If you've changed your password and your iPhone still won't connect, check your email provider's help page for instructions on generating an app password.
Understand that this only updates your iPhone
Changing your email password on your iPhone updates only that device. Your password on your computer, tablet, or other phone will not change automatically. If you use email on multiple devices, you'll need to update the password on each one separately by going through the same Settings > Mail > Accounts process on each device.
This also means that if you change your password at your email provider's website, all your devices will stop being able to send and receive email until you update the password on each one. Plan your password changes accordingly — update your email provider's password first, then go through each of your devices and enter the new password.
Recover access if you forget your new password
If you change your password on your iPhone and then forget what you set it to, you can't retrieve it from your phone's settings. Instead, go to your email provider's website or app and use their password recovery process. Most providers let you reset your password by answering security questions, receiving a code via text or backup email, or using a recovery phone number.
Once you've reset your password through your email provider, return to your iPhone, go back to Settings > Mail > Accounts, select your email account, tap Account, and enter the new password in the Password field. Your iPhone will verify the connection and you'll be back online.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to change my password at my email provider's website, or just on my iPhone?
You only need to change it on your iPhone if you want to update the password stored on that device. If you want to change your actual email password (the one you use to log in everywhere), you must change it at your email provider's website or app first. Changing it only on your iPhone doesn't change your real password.
Why does my iPhone keep asking for my password after I change it?
This usually means your iPhone didn't successfully verify the new password. Go back to Settings > Mail > Accounts, select your account, tap Account, and re-enter the password carefully. If it keeps failing, reset your password at your email provider's website and try again on your iPhone.
Will changing my email password on my iPhone log me out of other apps?
No. Changing the password in the Mail settings only affects the Mail app and related services on your iPhone. Other apps like Facebook, Instagram, or banking apps that use your email address are not affected because they store their own login information separately.
What if I see a message about "Less Secure App Access"?
Some email providers like Gmail show this message when you try to connect from an iPhone. This is normal and doesn't mean your account is at risk. Follow your email provider's instructions — Gmail users may need to generate an app-specific password instead of using their regular password.