Change your PayPal password from your account settings in three steps

Log into your PayPal account, go to Settings, select Security, and choose Change Password. You'll enter your current password once, then create and confirm your new password. The change takes effect immediately, and you'll be logged out of all other sessions on your account.

You don't need to contact PayPal support or use a special form. The password change happens entirely within your own account, and there's no waiting period. If you forget your current password, PayPal can send you a reset link instead.

Key Takeaways

  • You can change your PayPal password anytime by logging in, going to Settings > Security > Change Password, and entering your current and new passwords.
  • Your new password must be at least 8 characters long and include uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.
  • PayPal logs you out of all other devices and browsers after you change your password, so you'll need to log back in on each one.
  • If you don't remember your current password, use the "Forgot password?" link on the login page to reset it instead of trying to change it.
  • Change your password if you suspect someone else has accessed your account, if you've used it on a public computer, or if you haven't changed it in over a year.

Step-by-step instructions for changing your password

Start by going to PayPal.com and logging in with your email address and current password. Once you're in your account, look for the gear icon or "Settings" link, usually in the top right corner of the page.

Click Settings, then find and click Security in the left menu. You'll see a section labeled "Password" with a Change Password button or link. Click it. PayPal will ask you to enter your current password first as a security check, then type your new password twice to make sure you didn't make a typo.

Your new password needs to be at least 8 characters long. It must include at least one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one number, and one symbol (like ! @ # $ % or &). Once you've entered everything, click the button to confirm the change. You're done — the new password is active immediately.

What happens after you change your password

PayPal automatically logs you out of your account on every device and browser where you were signed in. This is a security feature that prevents someone who had access to your account from staying logged in after you change the password. You'll need to log back in on your phone, computer, tablet, or anywhere else you normally use PayPal.

If you use PayPal on mobile apps, you may need to log out and log back in manually in the app settings. Some apps update automatically, but others require you to sign in again before they'll work with your new password.

When you should change your password

Change your password if you think someone else knows it or has used your account without permission. This includes situations where you've logged into PayPal on a public computer at a library or internet café, or if you've shared a device with someone you no longer trust.

You should also change it if you've reused the same password on other websites and one of those sites was hacked. Hackers often try passwords from one breach on other popular sites, so if your email and password were exposed anywhere, change it on PayPal even if PayPal itself wasn't the site that was breached.

As a general practice, consider changing your password once a year even if nothing suspicious has happened. This reduces the window of time that an old, compromised password could be used against you.

If you've forgotten your current password

You can't change a password you don't remember, but you can reset it instead. Go to PayPal.com and click "Log In." Below the password field, click "Forgot password?" or "Having trouble logging in?"

PayPal will ask you to confirm your email address, then send you a reset link. Check your email (including your spam folder) for a message from PayPal. Click the link in that email, and you'll be taken to a page where you can create a completely new password. This new password doesn't require you to know the old one.

The reset link expires after a certain amount of time, so don't wait too long to click it. If the link has expired, you can request a new one by going through the "Forgot password?" process again.

Password requirements and security tips

PayPal requires passwords to be at least 8 characters long and to include uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. A strong password doesn't use your name, email address, or obvious numbers like your birth year or phone number. Avoid passwords that spell out common words or use simple patterns like "123456" or "qwerty."

Use a password manager like Bitwarden, 1Password, or the password manager built into your browser or phone to generate and store a unique, random password. This way you don't have to remember it, and you won't accidentally reuse it on other sites. If you write down your password, keep it in a secure place that only you can access — not on a sticky note on your monitor.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to change my password if I change my email address?

No. Changing your email address and changing your password are separate actions in PayPal settings. You can do either one without doing the other. If you change your email, you'll log in with the new email address next time, but your password stays the same unless you decide to change it.

What if I change my password but still can't log in?

Make sure you're typing the new password correctly — passwords are case-sensitive, so "MyPassword" is different from "mypassword." If you're certain you're typing it right, use the "Forgot password?" link to reset it again. If you still can't log in after that, contact PayPal support through your account settings or their website.

Can I use a password I've used before on PayPal?

PayPal doesn't let you reuse your last few passwords. If you try to set a password you've used recently, PayPal will reject it and ask you to choose a different one. This prevents you from cycling back to an old password that might have been compromised.

Will changing my password affect my saved payment methods or linked bank accounts?

No. Your password change only affects how you log in. Your linked bank accounts, credit cards, and other payment methods stay connected to your account. You won't need to re-enter any of that information.