Steps to Change Your Yahoo Password on Desktop

To change your Yahoo password using a computer, start by going to account.yahoo.com and signing in with your current username and password. Once you are logged in, look for your account name or profile icon in the top right corner and click it. A dropdown menu will appear — select Account info.

On the Account info page, find the left sidebar menu and click Security. This section shows your password settings and recovery options. Click the button next to "Password" that says Change password or Edit. Yahoo will ask you to confirm your current password before letting you proceed.

Enter your current password in the first field, then type your new password twice — once in the "New password" field and again in the "Confirm password" field. Yahoo requires passwords to be at least 8 characters long and recommends using a mix of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Once both new password entries match, click Change password to save the change.

Changing Your Password on Mobile Devices

If you use the Yahoo Mail app on your phone or tablet, you cannot change your password directly within the app. Instead, open a web browser on your mobile device and go to account.yahoo.com. The steps are the same as the desktop process: sign in, tap your profile icon, select Account info, go to Security, and click Change password.

After you change your password, you may need to sign out of the Yahoo Mail app and sign back in using your new password. Some devices will prompt you to update the password automatically; others require you to do it manually. If the app continues to show an error after you sign back in, try uninstalling and reinstalling the app.

Key Takeaways

  • You change your Yahoo password through account.yahoo.com, not through the Yahoo Mail app itself.
  • Yahoo requires your current password before you can create a new one, so have it ready.
  • New passwords must be at least 8 characters long and work best when they include uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols.
  • After changing your password, sign out of the Yahoo Mail app and sign back in with your new password on mobile devices.
  • If you forget your current password, use the "Forgot password?" link on the Yahoo sign-in page instead of trying to change it.

What to Do If You Forget Your Current Password

If you cannot remember your current password, you cannot use the Change password option. Instead, go to login.yahoo.com and click Forgot password? below the sign-in fields. Yahoo will ask you to enter your username or email address associated with the account.

Yahoo will then send a verification code to the email address or phone number on file for your account. Enter that code on the next screen, and Yahoo will let you set a completely new password without needing the old one. This process typically takes a few minutes. Once you have set your new password, you can sign in normally.

Recovery Options That Make Password Changes Easier

Yahoo lets you add a backup email address and phone number to your account so you can recover access if you forget your password. To add these, go to account.yahoo.com, click Security in the left menu, and look for the section labeled Recovery email or Recovery phone. Click the button to add or update each one.

Having a recovery email and phone number on file means Yahoo can send you a verification code quickly if you ever need to reset your password. Without these, the recovery process takes longer because Yahoo has to verify your identity through other means. You can update your recovery information anytime, even if you are not trying to change your password.

Signing Out of Other Devices After Changing Your Password

When you change your Yahoo password, you stay signed in on the device where you made the change. However, you remain signed in on other devices — phones, tablets, computers, or browsers — until you sign out manually or until Yahoo signs you out automatically after a period of time.

If you changed your password because you think someone else may have accessed your account, go back to account.yahoo.com, click Security, and look for Recent account activity or Active sessions. This section shows you all the devices currently signed into your account. You can click on any session and select Sign out to remove access from that device immediately. Signing out of old sessions is especially important if you are using a shared computer or a device you no longer own.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I change my Yahoo password?

There is no set rule, but changing your password once or twice a year is a reasonable practice. Change it sooner if you think someone else knows it, if you used the same password on another site that was hacked, or if you have not changed it in several years.

What if Yahoo says my new password is too weak?

Yahoo rejects passwords that are too short or do not have enough variety in character types. Try adding uppercase letters, numbers, or symbols like ! @ # $ % to make it stronger. Passwords with 12 or more characters are generally accepted without issue.

Do I need to change my password on all my devices?

No. You change the password once in your account settings, and then you sign back into any device that needs the new password. You do not change the password separately on each device.

Can I use a password I have used before?

Yahoo does not prevent you from reusing an old password, but security experts recommend choosing something you have never used before. Reusing passwords makes it easier for someone to guess your new one if they know your old passwords.

What happens if I change my password while I am signed into Yahoo Mail?

You will stay signed into Yahoo Mail on that device. You will need to sign out and sign back in on other devices or browsers to use the new password there.