Open Settings and find your email account
To change your email password on an iPhone, start by opening the Settings app. Scroll down and tap Mail, then tap Accounts. You will see a list of all email accounts connected to your phone. Tap the account whose password you want to change.
Once you tap the account, you will see the account details page. The layout differs slightly depending on whether you use iCloud, Gmail, Outlook, or another email provider, but the password field appears on every account type. Look for a field labeled Password or Account — this is where you enter your new password.
Key Takeaways
- Changing your email password on iPhone happens in Settings > Mail > Accounts, not in the Mail app itself.
- You must enter your new password in the password field on the account details page, then tap Done or Save to confirm the change.
- If your password change fails, check that you typed the new password correctly and that your email provider has finished processing the change.
- Some email providers require you to generate an app-specific password instead of using your regular account password on iPhone.
Enter your new password and save it
Tap the Password field. Delete the old password and type your new one. Make sure you enter it exactly as you created it with your email provider — passwords are case-sensitive, so uppercase and lowercase letters matter. If you are unsure whether you typed it correctly, tap the eye icon next to the password field to show the characters as you type.
After you enter the new password, tap Done (on most accounts) or Save (on some providers). Your iPhone will attempt to connect to your email server using the new password. If the connection succeeds, the account will update and you will return to the Accounts list. If it fails, you will see an error message — this usually means the password was typed incorrectly or your email provider has not yet processed the change on their end.
What to do if the password change does not work
If you see an error after entering your new password, first check that you typed it correctly. Go back to the password field, tap it again, and re-enter the password slowly. Use the eye icon to verify each character. Then tap Done or Save again.
If the error persists, wait a few minutes and try again. Email providers sometimes take time to process password changes across their servers. If you still cannot connect after waiting, log into your email account on a computer or web browser to confirm that the password change was actually saved by your provider. If it was, and your iPhone still will not accept it, try removing the account from your iPhone and adding it again with the new password. To remove it, go to Settings > Mail > Accounts, tap the account, scroll to the bottom, and tap Delete Account.
App-specific passwords for Gmail, Outlook, and other providers
Some email providers, especially Gmail and Outlook, require you to use an app-specific password instead of your regular account password when connecting through iPhone Mail. This is a security feature that lets you use Mail without giving it access to your full account.
If your email provider uses app-specific passwords, you must generate one through their website or account settings before you can enter it on your iPhone. For Gmail, you generate an app password through your Google Account security settings. For Outlook, you create one through your Microsoft account. Once you have the app-specific password, enter it in the iPhone password field instead of your regular password. The process on your phone is the same — only the password itself changes.
Changing your password through your email provider first
Before you change the password on your iPhone, you should change it through your email provider's website or app. This ensures the new password is saved in their system before you try to use it on your phone. Log into your email account on a computer or through your provider's app, find the password or security settings, and create your new password there.
Once your provider confirms the password change is complete, wait a minute or two, then go to your iPhone and enter the new password in Settings > Mail > Accounts. This order prevents confusion — if you change the password on your iPhone first and then on your provider's website, your iPhone will lose connection to your email until you update it again.
Verify your email is still working after the change
After you successfully change your password, send yourself a test email or check that new messages appear in your inbox. Open the Mail app and refresh by pulling down on the inbox. If new messages load and you can read them, the password change worked. If Mail shows an error or will not load messages, go back to Settings > Mail > Accounts and check the password field again.
If your email still will not work after multiple attempts, contact your email provider's support team. They can confirm whether the password change went through on their end and whether there are any account restrictions or security blocks preventing your iPhone from connecting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to change my password on my iPhone if I changed it on my email provider's website?
Yes. Changing your password through your email provider does not automatically update it on your iPhone. You must go to Settings > Mail > Accounts, tap your account, and enter the new password in the password field. Your iPhone will not know about the change until you tell it.
What if I forgot my new password before I could enter it on my iPhone?
Log into your email account on a computer through your provider's website and reset your password again. Once you have a password you remember, go to your iPhone and enter it in Settings > Mail > Accounts. Write down your new password somewhere safe before you try to enter it on your phone.
Can I change my email password directly in the Mail app instead of Settings?
No. The Mail app does not have a password change option. You must use Settings > Mail > Accounts. The Mail app only lets you read and send messages — account settings like passwords are managed only through the Settings app.
Why does my iPhone keep asking for my password after I changed it?
This usually means the password on your iPhone does not match the one saved by your email provider. Go back to Settings > Mail > Accounts, tap your account, and re-enter the password carefully. If your provider uses app-specific passwords, make sure you are entering the app password, not your regular account password.