Did you lose access to your Yahoo account, or do you just want to update your password for better security? Either way, you've come to the right place! We’re here to show you how to change or reset your Yahoo password so you can get back on track and keep your account safe. Let’s get started.
Contents:
How to change your Yahoo password
Changing your Yahoo password is super simple, and you can do it in two ways: through your browser or the Yahoo mobile app. Let’s go through both options right now.
In the browser
Sign in to your Yahoo account and go to the “Account Security” tab.
Click on “Change Password.”
Enter your new password.
Type it in again to confirm.
Click “Continue” to save your changes.
In the Yahoo app
Open the Yahoo app.
Tap on your profile icon in the top left corner, then tap “Settings.”
Select “Account Info,” then “Account Security,” and choose ”Change Password.”
Enter your new password.
Type the new password again to confirm.
Save your changes.
How to reset your Yahoo password
If you forgot or lost your Yahoo password, don’t worry—there’s an easy recovery process to help you get back into your account. Here’s what you need to do:
Head to Yahoo’s sign-in page.
Click on “Forgot password?”
Enter the email address or phone number tied to your account.
Pick how you want to receive your recovery code (by email or phone).
Enter the recovery code.
Follow the prompts to create a new password.
Confirm changes and sign back in to your Yahoo account.
How to ensure the security of your Yahoo account after changing your password
Regaining access to your Yahoo account is a great first step in taking back control of it—however, it’s not enough to keep it safe. Here are a few things you should consider doing if you want to protect your Yahoo account from external threats.
Make your password very strong
Your Yahoo password—and really, all your passwords—should be at least 16 characters long and consist of a random mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. This will make it much harder for hackers to crack. If your new Yahoo password isn’t up to that standard, go ahead and change it yet again. Trust us, it’s worth the extra effort.
Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA)
Even if your Yahoo password is super strong, it could still get cracked or stolen in a breach. That’s why it’s a good idea to add an extra layer of protection. By turning on multi-factor authentication, you’ll need to provide another way to prove your identity—besides just the password—to access your account. That way, if hackers do get your password, it won’t be of much use to them.
Get a password manager
Using a password manager like NordPass can fix many of your account security problems and make logging in a lot easier. How so? Well, for starters, NordPass can generate strong passwords for you on the spot, store them safely in an encrypted vault, and autofill them whenever you need to log in. Plus, it comes with features like Password Health and Data Breach Scanner. The former checks how strong your past passwords are, and the latter lets you know if your credentials were ever compromised in a breach. Sounds good? If so, you know what to do.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How can I recover my Yahoo password without using a phone number or alternate email?
If you don’t have access to the email or phone number associated with your Yahoo account, there are still ways to resolve the situation. Start by going to Yahoo’s Sign-in Helper and choosing the “Forgot password” option. There, you will be asked to answer several security questions to verify your identity. Once it’s confirmed, you will regain access to your Yahoo account. However, if this option is not available for some reason, you will need to contact Yahoo’s customer support team for additional recovery methods.
What are Yahoo password requirements?
Compared to some other platforms, Yahoo still keeps its password requirements fairly simple. For now, your password needs to be at least 8 characters long and include at least one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one number, and one special character. While this may seem adequate, it falls short of today’s security standards. Therefore, we recommend creating a password that’s at least 16 characters long, using a mix of letters, symbols, and numbers with no discernible meaning, to make it very difficult to crack.
How often should I change my Yahoo password?
A good rule of thumb is to change all your passwords, not just the one for your Yahoo account, every 6 months. Why? Because doing so reduces the likelihood of attackers obtaining your password and gaining unauthorized access to your account. Therefore, make sure to update your passwords regularly.