Open Gmail's security settings and create a new password

To change your Gmail password, go to myaccount.google.com in your web browser. Click Security in the left menu. Scroll down to find Password and click it. Google will ask you to sign in again to confirm it's really you — enter your current password. Then type your new password twice and click Change Password.

The whole process takes about two minutes. Your new password takes effect immediately across all devices and apps that use your Gmail account.

Key Takeaways

  • Go to myaccount.google.com, click Security, then Password to start the change.
  • Google requires you to enter your current password before you can create a new one.
  • Your new password works right away on your phone, computer, and any other device signed into Gmail.
  • If you forget your current password, use the "Can't sign in?" option on the Gmail login page instead of the Security settings.
  • A strong password has at least 12 characters and mixes uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols.

Step-by-step walkthrough of the password change

Start by opening a web browser and going to myaccount.google.com. You must be signed into your Google account already. If you are not, click Sign in and enter your email and current password.

Once you are on your account page, look at the left side menu. Click Security. The page will show several security options. Scroll down until you see a section labeled Password with a blue Change password button next to it. Click that button.

Google will ask you to sign in one more time. Type your current Gmail password and click Next. This is a safety step to make sure no one else is using your account without permission.

Now you will see two blank boxes: one for your new password and one to confirm it. Type your new password in the first box. Type it again in the second box to make sure you did not make a typo. Then click Change Password. You will see a message saying your password has been changed.

What happens after you change your password

Your new password works on Gmail right away. If you use Gmail on your phone, tablet, or other devices, you will need to sign in again with your new password the next time you open the Gmail app. You do not have to do this immediately — you can wait until the app asks you to sign in again.

If you use Gmail with other apps like Outlook, Apple Mail, or a phone's built-in email app, those apps will also ask for your new password. Some apps may show an error message saying your password is wrong until you update it. Open the app's settings, find the Gmail account, and enter your new password there.

Google will send you an email to your recovery email address (the backup email you set up with your account) to let you know your password was changed. If you did not make this change and do not recognize the recovery email, your account may have been hacked — change your password again immediately and turn on two-step verification.

Creating a password that is hard to guess

A strong password is at least 12 characters long and uses a mix of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. For example: BlueMoon$2024! or Coffee7@Sunrise. Avoid using your name, birthday, or common words that appear in the dictionary.

Do not reuse a password you have used before, and do not use the same password for multiple accounts. If one account gets hacked, the hacker can try that password on your other accounts. If you have trouble remembering passwords, consider using a password manager — a tool that stores passwords securely and fills them in for you.

If you cannot remember your current password

You cannot change your password through the Security settings if you do not remember your current one. Instead, go to the Gmail login page at gmail.com and click Can't sign in? below the password box. Google will ask you to enter your email address and then guide you through steps to prove the account is yours — usually by sending a code to your recovery email or phone number.

After you prove you own the account, Google will let you create a new password without needing the old one. This process can take a few minutes to an hour depending on how you prove your identity.

Signing out of Gmail on other devices

If you want to sign out of Gmail on all your other devices at once — for example, if you think someone else might be using your account — you can do that from the Security settings page. Go to myaccount.google.com, click Security, scroll down, and look for Your devices. Click Manage all devices. You will see a list of phones, tablets, and computers that are signed into your Gmail account. Click any device and select Sign out. That device will be signed out of Gmail immediately.

This does not change your password. It just signs you out. The next time someone tries to use Gmail on that device, they will need to enter your email and password again.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

No. Your password change happens on Google's servers, so it works everywhere automatically. Your phone's Gmail app will ask you to sign in again the next time you open it. Just enter your new password and you are done.

What if I change my password and then forget the new one?

Use the "Can't sign in?" option on the Gmail login page. Google will send a code to your recovery email or phone and let you create another new password. You do not need to remember the old password to do this.

Will changing my password sign me out of Gmail on my computer?

No. Changing your password does not sign you out of any device. You stay signed in on your computer, phone, and other devices. If you want to sign out everywhere, go to Security settings and use "Manage all devices" to sign out manually.

Can I change my password from the Gmail app on my phone?

No. You must use a web browser and go to myaccount.google.com to change your password. The Gmail app does not have a password change option. Open your phone's web browser, go to that website, and follow the steps above.

How often should I change my Gmail password?

There is no set rule. Change it if you think someone else knows it, if you used it on a website that got hacked, or if you have not changed it in over a year. If you use a strong, unique password and have two-step verification turned on, you do not need to change it often.