How Do I Change My Gmail Email Password?
Easy steps to change your Gmail password on all the Device 1–802–245–6453
One of the first things people do when they move into a new home is change the locks.
Why this?
Because safety is the most important. It is unclear who has access to the key that opens the doors. Even if you think the previous owners were trustworthy, you don’t know who might have found the lost key or how many copies existed.
The key to your Google account (the only thing that protects your data, privacy, settings, and all the content you have stored) is your password. Maintaining a secure password is crucial to ensuring the security of your emails, documents and photos.
Here’s everything you need to know about how to change your Gmail password, so you can protect all your online information under a virtual lock and key.
There are usually several reasons why you might want to change your Gmail password.
You may need to reset your password if you forget it. This can happen if you haven’t had to log in for a while or if you created a password that’s too secure and can’t remember all of its complexities.
Some organizations require users to periodically create a new password to keep their systems up to date.
The third reason you may want to change your password is to protect the security of your account. Creating a new password can protect your Google account if you think someone might try to hack it.
How to Change Your Gmail Password: Step by Step
Resetting an email password is one of those tasks that very few of us enjoy. Luckily, it only takes a few minutes!
Change Gmail Password On a computer
Open your Google account. Log in if necessary.
Under Security, click Sign in to Google.
Specify the password. Log in again if necessary.
A screenshot of your Google Account page, showing your sign-in options, including your password, passkeys, devices, and where you are signed in.
Type your new password.
Select Change Password.
Change Gmail password on Android
Open your phone’s Settings app.
Select Google, then select Manage your Google account.
Select Security at the top.
Under Sign in to Google, select Password.
Log in again if necessary.
Type your new password.
Select Change Password.
Change Gmail Password On your iPhone or iPad
Open the Gmail app. If you don’t use the app, visit myaccount.google.com.
Tap your profile picture or initials at the top right of the screen. Select the Google account.
Select Personal Information at the top.
Under Basic Information, select Password.
Type your new password.
Select Change Password.
What if you forget your password?
Most often, when you change your password, you will be asked to enter your current password. But what if you don’t remember? You can follow these steps to recover your Gmail account and access it in no time!
Pro tip: After following the instructions to change your Gmail password, you will be signed out of all Google accounts except:
The devices you use to verify your identity when you sign in
Devices with third-party apps can access the account
Home devices that have been granted account access, such as smart thermostats or Google Assistant
5 Tips to Protect Your Google Account
A few extra precautions can go a long way in ensuring that only you can access your Google account.
1. Use two-step authentication
Two-step verification has been proven to help protect Google accounts and prevent cyberattacks. Setup and connection are quick; If you’re not already using it, it’s time to add this layer of protection to your account.
After entering your Gmail password, you will be asked to complete a second step, usually on your phone. The most common actions are to enter the 6-digit verification code sent to you in a text message or to tap the sign-in prompt that Google sends to your phone. For example, you may be asked to open your Google Photos app and verify that you are trying to sign in to your Google account.
Even if hackers use your password to log in, they won’t be able to complete the second step of the login process unless they also have access to your cell phone.
2. Create a strong password
Image showing guidelines for creating a strong password, focusing on length, complexity and uniqueness.
Google has four password requirements:
At least 8 characters
It must contain a combination of letters, numbers and/or symbols
It cannot start or end with a blank space
It can’t be particularly weak (like password 123)
You also cannot reuse a password you had in the past.
These requirements are not particularly strict, making it easy to create a memorable password, but it is also easy for your password to be hacked.
Choose from a few strategies to create a more secure and less guessable password.
Aim for a password of 12 characters or longer.
Use a different password than you use for other accounts.
Don’t use general personal information in your password, such as your pet’s name or date of birth.
Avoid overused words and phrases, such as number sequences (6789) or keyboard patterns (zxcvbnm).
A complex password that includes at least one number, one special character, one uppercase letter, and one lowercase letter has 430 trillion possible combinations, and it would take a computer 34,000 years to crack it.
3. Update your password regularly
Computer security company McAfee suggests changing your passwords every three months. Set a reminder in your calendar or establish a habit and implement the routine through another quarterly task, like changing your passwords every time you change your HVAC filters.
There are also certain cases in which you should change your password immediately:
If you have reason to believe that your account has been hacked, change it.
If a data breach occurs within your company, especially if you tend to reuse the same password, change it
If your computer is infected with malware, replace it with another device.
4. Monitor account activity
Under My Activity, you can view your past searches, website visits, and videos you’ve watched. My Activity is intended to help you create a more personalized experience with Google, but it’s also a useful way to notice any unusual activity associated with your account. Check back from time to time to make sure that all the activities you see were actually carried out by you.
5. Be careful with email links and attachments
We all now realize that a distant prince did not choose us to leave him his fortune, but as our knowledge and online awareness have evolved, scammers and hackers have discovered new strategies for gaining access to accounts.
Phishing emails are designed to steal your personal information or hack your online accounts. They often pose as a reputable organization or shipper and claim that you need to update your banking details or change your shipping address for Amazon as soon as possible.
Don’t click on questionable links or share private data in response. If the email is from an individual, contact them to see if it is genuine. If it’s a company, you can visit their website directly in another window or contact their customer service for clarification.
Protect your online presence
Knowing how to change your Gmail password is just another way to protect all the data associated with your Google account. A long, unique password will go a long way in protecting your personal information. For more help on changing your password, see this Google Support article.