Open Gmail security settings and start a password change

To change your Gmail password, go to myaccount.google.com in any web browser. This is Google's account management page, not Gmail itself. Sign in with your current Gmail address and password if you are not already logged in.

Once you are on the account page, look for the Security tab on the left side menu. Click it. You will see a section labeled How you sign in to Google — this is where password controls live. Find the line that says Password and click on it.

Google will ask you to sign in again for security reasons. Enter your current password and click Next. This second sign-in confirms that you are the account owner before allowing a change.

Key Takeaways

  • Go to myaccount.google.com, not Gmail itself, to change your password.
  • Click the Security tab, then find and click Password under "How you sign in to Google."
  • Google will ask you to sign in twice — once to reach the page and once more before you can change the password.
  • Your new password must be at least 8 characters long and should not be a password you have used before on this account.
  • The change takes effect immediately on all devices, so you may need to sign back in on your phone or other computers.

Enter your new password and confirm it

After the second sign-in, you will see a box labeled New password. Type your new password here. Google requires at least 8 characters. Use a mix of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols (like ! or @) to make it harder to guess.

Below that is a box labeled Confirm password. Type the same password again. If the two do not match exactly, Google will not let you proceed. Click Change password when both boxes are filled in correctly.

What happens after you change your password

The change takes effect immediately. You will see a green checkmark and a message saying your password has been changed. You are still signed in on the computer or phone you used to make the change.

However, you will be signed out on any other devices — tablets, phones, or other computers where you were already logged in to Gmail. The next time you open Gmail on those devices, you will see a sign-in screen. Enter your Gmail address and your new password to get back in.

If you have other Google services linked to this account (YouTube, Google Drive, Google Photos), the password change applies to all of them. You will need to sign back in there too if you were logged in on other devices.

If you forget your new password right after changing it

If you change your password and then immediately forget it, go back to myaccount.google.com and click Security again. You can change it a second time using the same steps. Google does not lock you out for changing your password multiple times in one day.

If you are locked out because you cannot remember your password at all, you will need to use Google's account recovery process. This usually involves answering security questions or receiving a code on a backup email address or phone number you set up earlier.

Reasons to change your Gmail password

Change your password if you think someone else knows it, if you used the same password on another website that was hacked, or if you have not changed it in over a year. You should also change it if you shared your password with someone and no longer want them to have access.

If you use Gmail for work or school, your organization may require you to change your password on a set schedule. Check with your IT department or administrator if you are unsure whether this applies to you.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

No. Once you change your password on myaccount.google.com, it changes everywhere. Your phone will sign you out automatically, and you will enter the new password the next time you open Gmail. You do not need to go into phone settings or do anything else.

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

Double-check that you are typing the new password correctly — passwords are case-sensitive, meaning capital letters matter. If you are sure you typed it right, wait a few minutes and try again. Sometimes it takes a moment for the change to spread across Google's servers. If it still does not work after 10 minutes, use the account recovery process on the Gmail sign-in page.

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

No. The Gmail app does not have password-change controls. You must use a web browser and go to myaccount.google.com. You can use the browser on your phone, but you cannot do it inside the Gmail app itself.

Will changing my password delete my emails?

No. Your emails, contacts, and all other account data stay exactly as they are. Changing your password only changes how you sign in — it does not touch anything inside your account.

How often should I change my Gmail password?

If your account has not been compromised, once a year is reasonable. If you think someone has accessed your account, change it immediately. If you reuse passwords across multiple websites, change your Gmail password right away — if one website is hacked, attackers will try that password on Gmail and other major sites.