Open Gmail settings and find the password change option

To change your Gmail password, sign in to your account at gmail.com, then click your profile picture in the top right corner. A menu will appear. Click "Manage your Google Account." You will see several tabs across the top of the page — click the "Security" tab.

On the Security page, scroll down until you see "Password" in the left column. Click on it. Gmail will ask you to sign in again to confirm it is really you. Enter your current password and click "Next."

Key Takeaways

  • You must be signed into Gmail and have access to your recovery email or phone number to change your password.
  • Gmail requires you to enter your current password before you can create a new one.
  • Your new password must be at least eight characters long and should include uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols for security.
  • After you change your password, you will be signed out of Gmail on all other devices and will need to sign in again with your new password.

Create a new password that is strong and unique

After you confirm your current password, you will see a box labeled "New password." Type in a password you have never used before. Gmail will show you a strength meter — aim for "Strong" (shown in green). A strong password has at least eight characters and mixes uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.

Do not use passwords you have used on other accounts, your name, your birthday, or common words. Once you have entered your new password, type it again in the "Confirm new password" box to make sure there are no typos.

Save your new password and sign back in

Click the "Change Password" button. Gmail will show a message saying your password has been changed. You will be signed out of your account automatically.

Sign back in using your email address and your new password. If you are on a shared computer, do not check the "Stay signed in" box — this keeps your account safer. If you use Gmail on your phone or tablet, you will need to sign in again on those devices too, using your new password.

What happens if you forget your new password

If you forget your new password right after changing it, go to the Gmail sign-in page and click "Forgot password?" Google will ask you to enter the last password you remember. Then it will send a code to your recovery email address or phone number. Enter that code, and you can set another new password.

This is why it matters to keep your recovery email and phone number up to date. You can check and update them on the same Security page where you changed your password — look for "Recovery email" and "Recovery phone number" in the left column.

Signing out of Gmail on other devices

When you change your password, Gmail automatically signs you out everywhere except the device you are currently using. This means if you were signed into Gmail on your phone, tablet, or another computer, you will need to sign in again with your new password.

If you want to sign out of Gmail on all devices right away (for example, if you think someone else has access to your account), scroll down on the Security page and look for "Your devices." Click "Manage all devices" and then click "Sign out of all other sessions." This will sign you out everywhere except your current device.

Changing your password on a phone or tablet

If you are using the Gmail app on your phone or tablet, you cannot change your password directly in the app. You must use a web browser instead. Open your phone's web browser, go to gmail.com, and follow the same steps listed above.

After you change your password in the browser, the Gmail app will ask you to sign in again. Enter your email address and your new password. If the app keeps asking you to sign in, try signing out of the app completely, closing it, and then opening it again to sign in fresh.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I change my Gmail password?

Google does not require you to change your password on a schedule. Change it if you think someone else knows it, if you used it on a website that was hacked, or if you have not changed it in several years. If you turn on two-step verification (also on the Security page), you add an extra layer of protection and do not need to change your password as often.

Can I change my password if I do not remember my current one?

No — Gmail requires you to enter your current password to set a new one. If you cannot remember it, click "Forgot password?" on the Gmail sign-in page instead. Google will send a code to your recovery email or phone, and you can set a completely new password that way.

Will changing my password delete my emails?

No. Changing your password does not affect your emails, contacts, calendar, or any other data in your Google Account. It only changes how you sign in.

What if I change my password and then cannot sign in?

Make sure you are typing your new password correctly — passwords are case-sensitive, so uppercase and lowercase letters matter. If you are still stuck, use the "Forgot password?" link on the sign-in page to reset it using your recovery email or phone number.