How To Change Gmail Password

Introduction

Strengthening the security of your online presence should be a top priority, even if it’s not the most pleasant task.

Don’t know where to start?

Updating your passwords regularly, including your Google account password, is a good first step.

Don’t worry if this is your first time making the change; it’s quick and easy.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to reset or change your Gmail password on the desktop and in the app easily and quickly. So here goes.

Why Change Your Gmail Password?

Google may ask you to change your password if they notice any suspicious activity in your Google Account or if they suspect your password has been stolen. This way, you can ensure that only you can access your account by changing your password.

Also, changing your Gmail password regularly will ensure that your data doesn’t fall into the hands of hackers. However, you’ll have to log in again with the new password if you use any Google product, such as YouTube, Drive, Google Photos, and Google Maps. That’s after you change your Gmail password. 

We recommend you change your Gmail password every 90 days to protect your account.

Step-By-Step Guide To Changing Your Gmail Password

If you want to change your Gmail password on your desktop or smartphone platforms, follow the steps below.

Changing Gmail Password On Desktop

1. Log in to Gmail on your browser.
2. Head to your profile picture in the top right corner of the page and click on it.
3. In the box that has appeared, click the ‘Manage Your Google Account’ button. It will direct you to the settings page for your Google Account.
4. Click the fourth option on the left sidebar, ‘Security.’ It will bring you to the ‘Security’ page.
5. Then, you will see a box with the name ‘Signing in to Google’ located in the third row from the top. Select the ‘Password’ option here.
6. If you already have a password, enter it in the box provided and click ‘Next.’ If you don’t know it, click ‘Forgot password,’ and then follow the instructions Google provides to change your login details through your backup email account.
7. After successfully signing in, you will be directed to the ‘Password’ page, where you must enter and verify your new password. Select a memorable password with at least eight characters that include a mix of numbers, letters, and punctuation. Never use a password that is too obvious, like the name of your pet, your date of birth, or a password that is the same as the one you use on other websites.
8. Click ‘Change Password’ once you’re satisfied with your new password.
9. And that’s it! You have changed your Gmail password. However, to ensure email security, keep in mind to perform this procedure every 90 days at the very least.

Changing Gmail Password On Android

1. Head to the Gmail App on your phone.
2. Click on Manage your account.
3. Find the ‘Privacy and Personalization’ section and choose Security. Then head to ‘Signing into Google’ and click Password. You may be prompted to sign in.
4. Enter your new password twice, and then click ‘Change Password.‘
5. That’s it – you’re all done.

Changing Your Gmail Password On Ios

1. Open up your Gmail app on your iPhone.
2. In the top-left corner, click the three horizontal lines. There will be a drop-down menu.
3. Scroll to the bottom of the menu and tap ‘Settings’.
4. Choose the Gmail account for which you want to change the password under ‘Settings.’
5. Locate and tap ‘Security,’ then select ‘Password’ from the top menu bar.
6. Enter your password or use Face or Touch ID to confirm your identity, then click ‘Next.’
7. You will be directed to the Google Account password change page. Enter a new password, confirm it, and finally click the ‘Change password’ button. And that’s it. You have successfully changed your Gmail password on your iPhone.

Two-Factor Authentication In Gmail

One-step authentication is defined as password entry alone. However, two-step authentication requires you to enter a One-Time-Password (OTP) and a unique code that is texted to your phone.

When you enable 2-Step Verification(2FA) in Gmail, you strengthen your Gmail account against hackers. Even if your password is secure and you have malware protection, it is best to have 2FA activated.

Since the code you receive is one-time and unique, it cannot be discovered and reused by anyone else attempting to access your account.

To activate 2-Step Verification in Gmail, follow these steps:

1. Sign in to your Gmail account and click on your profile picture or icon.
2. Click on Manage Your Google Account
3. A new tab opens with your Google account information. Select Security from the left side.
4. From there, head to the Logging into Google section and select 2-Step Verification.
5. The next screen explains 2-Step Verification. Then, click ‘Get Started.’
6. Input your password and select Next.
7. Enter your phone number, choose Text, and then click Next.
8. On your mobile device, Google will send you a confirmation code. After entering the code, choose Next.
9. Then, Google will verify your device. However, to enable two-factor authentication, select Turn On. Every time you log into Gmail from then on, you will have to enter a code sent to your mobile device.

By following the steps mentioned above, you can enable 2-Step verification on your Gmail Account.

The Difference Between Changing And Resetting Your Password

A password change is when you remember the old password but want a new one. On the other hand, a password reset is for when you forget your password and are locked out of your Gmail account. Hence, in the case of a password reset, you can use Google’s account recovery process.

Password reset can occur if you’ve forgotten your Gmail password or if you’ve been locked out of your account because of numerous failed login attempts or unusual/suspicious activity. However, it might not work if you use a business Gmail account. For that, you may need to ask your IT administrator for help.

Why Should You Change Your Gmail Password Regularly

There are numerous reasons to change your password on a regular basis. Here are some of them:

1. Reduces the risk of people using the saved passwords: When you lose or replace your computer, there is always a risk. Password changes on a regular basis lower the likelihood that someone will discover an old password.
2. Chances of hacking get reduced: Hackers will frequently attempt to access your account several times. If you change your passwords regularly, you will reduce the possibility of hackers having access.
3. Prevents keystroke loggers from accessing your email: Keystroke loggers are frequently used by hackers to discover passwords. You can reduce the chance of having your information stolen by this method by regularly changing your password.
4. Limits breaches to your accounts: If you use the same password for all of your accounts, you should assume that all your accounts are hacked if one gets hacked. Every account needs a different password. You shouldn’t, for instance, use your Gmail password for your workplace or mobile banking. Each password should vary from the other. Moreover, make sure your passwords are lengthy and unique. Try replacing the letters in a word that is important to you with numbers and other symbols, so you can remember how to spell them.

What To Do If You Forgot Your Gmail Password?

There are several ways to verify your identity and recover (or reset) your password in Gmail. Here is a step-by-step guide you can follow to retrieve your Gmail password.

1. Initially, click the ‘Forgot Password’ link on the Gmail sign-in page to begin the password recovery process.
2. Assuming you have a backup recovery email, Gmail will send a code to that address (the one you entered when first creating your account).
3. You can reset your password and gain access to your account by using this option, which will send a six-digit code to your secondary email account (which need not be Gmail).
4. For the code, check your mail on this secondary account, then enter it to gain access to a brand-new password generator. Nowadays, a phone number backup option is also available for newer Gmail accounts.
5. If that doesn’t work—for example, if you don’t have access to the account you designated as a backup—click ‘Try a different question.’ We’re now moving on to older, less secure methods of account protection, such as security questions like ‘Who’s your best friend.’ You should be able to answer at least one of them.
6. Once you have correctly answered your security questions, you should be able to create a new password. You now have access to your account again.
7. After you’ve created a new password, Google will ask you to review the security settings for your Gmail account. If you haven’t already, we strongly advise you to add a phone number and a backup email to your account. It will make it simple to recover your password by sending you a 6-digit pin via text message or email.

Conclusion

All in all, it’s a good idea to frequently change your Gmail password to something that won’t be simple to guess to reduce the risk of hacking.

Besides that, consider enabling two-factor authentication for your Gmail account if you want to take extra precautions to make sure it is secure. It will be difficult for anyone to access your inbox or personal information, even if they know your account password.

After you have enabled two-factor authentication, logging into your account will require an additional step. So, after entering your password, as usual, you’ll get a message or phone call (depending on your preference) with a security code that you must enter to access your inbox.

That covers everything you need to know on how to change your Gmail passwords on your desktop and smartphone. Additionally, we also discussed why you should regularly change your password. So, keep those recommendations in mind!

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