How to change your Gmail password

One of the first things people do when they move into a new house is change the locks. 

Why is that? 

Because safety is paramount. We don’t know who has access to a key that unlocks the doors. Even if you feel like the previous owners were trustworthy, you don’t know who could have found a lost key or how many copies are floating out there. 

The key to your Google account — the one thing that protects your data, privacy, settings, and all of the content you’ve got stored — is your password. Maintaining a secure password is critical to keeping your emails, documents, and photos safe and sound.

Here’s everything you need to know about how to change your Gmail password, so you can keep all of your online information protected under virtual lock and key.

<a href="#why-change-gmail-password" class="anchor-link">Why change your Gmail password?</a>

<a href="#change-gmail-password" class="anchor-link">Change your Gmail password: step-by-step</a>

<a href="#5-tips-to-keep-google-account-safe" class="anchor-link">5 tips to keep your Google account safe</a>

<a href="#protect-online-presence" class="anchor-link">Protect your online presence</a>

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Why change your Gmail password?

There are typically just a few reasons you’d want to change your Gmail password. 

You might need to reset your password if you've forgotten it. This can happen if you haven’t had to log in for a while, or if you created a very secure password and can’t remember all of its intricacies. 

Some organizations require users to create a new password periodically to keep their systems current. 

A third reason you might change your password is to protect your account’s security. Creating a new password can protect your Google account if you believe someone might be trying to hack into it. 

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How to change your Gmail password: step-by-step

Resetting an email password is one of those tasks that very few of us *love* doing. Fortunately, it just takes a few minutes!

On a computer

1. Open your Google account. Sign in if necessary.
2. Under Security, click Signing in to Google.
3. Select Password. Sign in again if necessary.

4. Type in your new password. 
5. Select Change Password. 

On an Android

1. Open your phone’s Settings app. 
2. Select Google, then select Manage your Google account. 
3. Select Security at the top. 
4. Under Signing in to Google, select Password. 
5. Sign in again if necessary. 
6. Type in your new password.
7. Select Change Password. 

On an iPhone or iPad

1. Open the Gmail app. If you don’t use the app, visit myaccount.google.com.
2. Tap your profile picture or initials in the top right of the screen. Select Google Account.
3. Select Personal info at the top. 
4. Under Basic info, select Password.
5. Type in your new password.
6. Select Change Password.

What if you forget your password?

Most of the time, when you change your password, you’ll be asked to enter your current password. But what if you can’t remember it? You can follow these steps to recover your Gmail account and regain access in no time!

Pro tip: After following directions on how to change your Gmail password, you’ll be signed out of all Google accounts except:

• devices you use to verify your identity when you sign in
• devices that have third-party apps that have account access
• home devices that have been given account access, such as smart thermostats or Google Assistant

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5 tips to keep your Google account safe

A few extra precautions can go a long way in making sure you’re the only person who has access to your Google account.

1. Use two-step authentication

Two-step verification has been proven to help protect Google accounts and prevent cyberattacks. Set up and sign-in is quick; if you’re not already using it, it’s time to add this protective layer to your account.

After you enter your Gmail password, you’ll be asked to complete a second step, often on your phone. The most common actions are to enter a 6-digit verification code that’s texted to you or to tap a 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’re trying to sign in to your Google account.

Even if hackers use your password to sign in, they won’t be able to complete the second step of the sign-in process unless they have access to your cell phone, too. 

2. Create a strong password

Google has four password requirements:

• At least 8 characters
• Must contain a combination of letters, numbers, and/or symbols
• Cannot begin or end with a blank space
• Cannot be especially weak (such as password123)

You’re also unable to reuse a password that you’ve had in the past.

These requirements aren’t especially stringent, which makes it easy to create a memorable password — but also easier for your password to be hacked. 

Choose from a few strategies to create a more secure, less guessable password.

• Aim for a password that’s 12 characters or longer.
• Use a different password than the one you use for other accounts.
• Don’t use public personal information in your password, such as your pet’s name or birthdate.
• Skip overused words and phrases, such as numerical 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 would take a computer 34,000 years to crack. 

3. Regularly update your password

Computer security company McAfee suggests changing your passwords every three months. Set a reminder in your calendar, or habit stack and implement the routine with another quarterly task, such as changing your passwords every time you change your HVAC filters.

There are also a few instances where you should immediately change your password:

• If you have reason to believe your account was hacked, change it.
• If a data breach occurs within a company you do business with, especially if you tend to reuse the same password, change it
• If your computer has been infected with malware, change it using a different device.

4. Monitor account activity

Under My Activity, you can view your past searches, website visits, and watched videos. The goal of My Activity is to help create a more personalized experience with Google, but it’s also a helpful way to notice any unusual activity that’s linked to your account. Check it every so often to make sure that all of the activity you see was indeed completed by you.

5. Be wise with email links and attachments

By now, we’re all aware that a far-off prince hasn’t chosen us to leave his fortune to, but as our online knowledge and caution have evolved, scammers and hackers have discovered new strategies to gain account access.

Phishing emails are designed to steal your personal information or break into your online accounts. They often impersonate a reputable organization or sender, asserting that you need to update your banking details or edit your delivery address for Amazon ASAP. 

Don’t click on any questionable links or share private data in a reply. If the email comes from an individual, reach out to them to find out if it’s authentic. If it’s from a company, you may visit their website directly in a different window or reach out to their customer service for clarification. 

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Protect your online presence

Knowing how to change your Gmail password is just one more way to safeguard all of the data that’s connected to your Google account. A long, unique password will go a long way in keeping your personal information safe. For more help changing your password, head to this Google support article.