Open Settings and find Mail
To change your email password on an iPhone, start by opening the Settings app. Tap the gear icon on your home screen or in your app library.
Scroll down and tap Mail. This section holds all your email account settings, including the password stored on your device. The Mail settings are separate from the Mail app itself — the app only reads messages, while Settings controls how your device connects to your email account.
Select the email account you want to change
In the Mail settings, tap Accounts. You will see a list of every email account connected to your iPhone, usually labeled by the email address or provider name.
Tap the account whose password you want to change. If you have multiple Gmail accounts, multiple Outlook accounts, or a mix of providers, make sure you tap the correct one. The account name usually shows the full email address, which helps you identify it.
Key Takeaways
- Your iPhone stores email passwords in Settings > Mail > Accounts, not in the Mail app itself.
- Changing the password on your iPhone does not change your actual email password — you must change it through your email provider's website first.
- After you change your password at your email provider, you update the stored password on your iPhone by tapping the account and entering the new password.
- If you do not update the password on your iPhone after changing it at your provider, your email will stop syncing and show an authentication error.
- Every device you use — phone, tablet, computer — needs the new password entered separately; your email provider does not push updates automatically.
Change the password field
Tap Password. The field will show a series of dots representing your current stored password. Your iPhone hides the actual password for security, so you cannot read what is currently saved.
Delete the old password and type your new one. Make sure you type it exactly as you set it at your email provider — spaces, capital letters, numbers, and special characters all matter. If your password is long or complex, type it slowly to avoid mistakes.
Tap Save in the top right corner. Your iPhone will verify the new password by connecting to your email provider's servers. If the password is correct, it will update and your Mail app will resume syncing. If the password is wrong, you will see an error message and can try again.
What to do if you forgot your email password
If you do not remember your email password, you cannot change it through your iPhone. You must reset it through your email provider's website first. Your iPhone only stores what you tell it to store — it cannot retrieve a password you have forgotten.
Go to your email provider's login page on a computer or web browser. Look for a link that says "Forgot password," "Can't sign in," or "Need help signing in." Follow their steps to reset your password. Most providers will send a verification link to a backup email address or phone number you have on file. Once you have set a new password, return to your iPhone and update it in Settings > Mail > Accounts.
Why your email stops working after you change your password
When you change your email password at your provider's website, your iPhone does not know about the change automatically. Your device still has the old password stored in its memory.
Within a few hours, Mail will show an error message saying authentication failed or that the password is incorrect. This means your iPhone tried to connect to your email using the old password and was rejected by your provider's servers. Update the password in Settings > Mail > Accounts with your new password, and syncing will resume within a few minutes. If you wait too long without updating, your provider may temporarily lock the account as a security measure.
Difference between changing password on iPhone and at your email provider
Changing the password on your iPhone only updates what your device has stored — it does not change your actual email account password. If you change it only on your iPhone, your account password at your provider stays the same, and you will have created a mismatch.
Always change your password at your email provider's website first. That is where your actual account lives and where the real security happens. Then update it on your iPhone so your device can connect again using the new password. If you do it backwards — changing only on your iPhone — your device will have a password that does not work, and your email will stop syncing.
Updating password on multiple devices
When you change your email password at your provider, every device that uses that account needs the new password entered separately. This includes your iPhone, iPad, Mac, Windows computer, Android phone, or any other device connected to that email account.
Your email provider does not push the password update to your devices automatically. You must go into each device's email settings and enter the new password manually. If you have an iPhone and a work computer both using the same email account, you will need to update the password on both. This is why people often discover they changed their password only after their email stops working on a device they do not check often.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I see my current email password on my iPhone?
No. Your iPhone shows only dots in the password field for security reasons. If you need to know your actual password, you must check it through your email provider's account settings on a computer or through their official app. Most providers have a "View password" or "Show password" option on their website.
What if I enter the wrong password and now my email won't sync?
Go back to Settings > Mail > Accounts, tap your email account, and tap Password. Delete what you entered and type the correct password. If you are not sure what the correct password is, reset it through your email provider's website first, then come back to your iPhone and enter the new one.
Do I have to change my password on every device I use?
Yes. When you change your password at your email provider, every device that uses that account — your iPhone, iPad, computer, or Android phone — needs the new password entered separately. Your provider does not push the update to your devices automatically, so you must do it manually on each one.
Will changing my iPhone password affect my email on other devices?
No. Changing the password stored on your iPhone affects only that device. Your email will keep working on your computer, tablet, or other phone. But if you changed your actual email password at your provider, you will need to update it on those devices too, or they will stop syncing within a few hours.
What if my email provider uses two-factor authentication?
Two-factor authentication does not change this process. You still change your password at your provider's website, then update it on your iPhone in Settings > Mail > Accounts. Two-factor authentication is an extra security layer that may ask you to verify your identity when you sign in on a new device, but it does not affect how you update a stored password on a device you already use.