How To Change Your Password on PayPal (Step‑By‑Step Guide)

Changing your PayPal password is one of the simplest ways to keep your money and personal data safer. Whether you think someone else might know your password, you reuse the same password on multiple sites, or PayPal has asked you to update it, the process is straightforward once you know where to tap or click.

This guide walks through how to change your PayPal password on desktop and mobile, what to do if you’ve forgotten it, and the security basics worth knowing along the way.

What “Changing Your PayPal Password” Actually Does

When you change your PayPal password, you’re updating the login credential that protects:

Your linked bank accounts
Your credit and debit cards
Your transaction history
Your personal details (name, address, email, phone)

After you change it, PayPal:

Uses the new password for all future logins.
May log you out from some or all existing sessions.
May ask you to re-authenticate on devices where you were previously logged in.

This is different from:

Resetting a forgotten password – done via an email or SMS link when you can’t log in.
Changing your email address – that updates your login ID, not the password itself.
Enabling two-factor authentication (2FA) – that adds an extra security step on top of the password, but does not replace it.

How To Change Your PayPal Password When You Can Log In

If you still know your current password and can sign in normally, use this method. The exact steps look slightly different on a computer browser vs. the PayPal app.

On a Computer (Web Browser)

Go to PayPal’s website
Open your browser and go to the main PayPal site, then sign in with your email/phone and current password.
Open your account settings
- Click your profile icon or your name in the top-right corner.
- Select Settings or Account Settings.
Find the Security section
In the settings menu, look for a Security tab or section. This is where PayPal groups login options like password, 2FA, and devices.
Choose to change your password
- Look for an option labeled something like “Password” or “Change password”.
- Click it to open the password change form.
Enter your current and new password
You’ll usually see three fields:
- Current password
- New password
- Confirm new password
Type your existing password once, then the new one twice.
For a strong password, aim for:
- At least 12+ characters
- A mix of letters, numbers, and symbols
- Something unique that you don’t reuse on other sites
Save your new password
Click Save, Update, or similar.
PayPal should confirm that your password has been changed.
Re-login if prompted
If PayPal logs you out or asks you to sign in again, use your new password.

On the PayPal Mobile App (Android or iOS)

Open the PayPal app and sign in
Use your current password, fingerprint, or Face ID to log in.
Go to your profile/settings
- Tap your profile photo, initials, or a gear icon (⚙) – usually in the top corner.
- This opens the account Settings.
Open Security options
Look for a section like Security, Login & Security, or similar.
Tap “Password” or “Change password”
This brings up the password change screen.
Enter your current and new password
- Type your current password once.
- Enter your new password twice to confirm.
Save the changes
Tap Save, Done, or Update.
Your password is now changed for both app and browser logins.

On both web and mobile, once the change is complete, other logged-in devices or browsers might ask you to log in again with the new password, depending on PayPal’s current security rules and your recent activity.

How To Reset Your PayPal Password If You Forgot It

If you can’t remember your password and you’re locked out of your account, you won’t be able to change it from the settings. Instead, you’ll need to reset it from the login screen.

Go to the PayPal login page
On the website or in the app, navigate to the standard sign-in screen.
Click or tap “Forgot password?”
This link usually appears under the login fields.
Enter the email or phone on your account
- Type the email address or mobile number you normally use to log in.
- PayPal will use this to locate your account.
Choose how to receive a security code or link
Depending on what’s configured, PayPal may offer:
- Email with a reset link or code
- Text message (SMS) with a code to your phone
- Sometimes additional verification options if you’ve set them up
Follow the instructions in the email or SMS
- Open the message from PayPal.
- Click the reset link or enter the verification code back on the PayPal page/app.
- This proves it’s really you.
Create a new password
Once verified, you’ll see the “Create new password” screen.
Enter your new password twice, making sure it:
- Is strong and unique
- Isn’t reused from other sites
- Isn’t easily guessable (no birthdays, simple sequences, or “paypal123”)
Log in with the new password
Return to the login screen and sign in with the new password. Your old one will no longer work.

Security Best Practices When Changing Your PayPal Password

Changing the password itself is only part of keeping your PayPal account safe. A few key habits can make a big difference:

Use a Password Manager

A password manager can generate and store long, random passwords for you. That way you can safely use different passwords for:

PayPal
Email accounts
Banking apps
Shopping sites

You only need to remember one master password, and the app handles the rest.

Turn On Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

With 2FA, logging into PayPal requires:

Your password
A one-time code sent to your phone or generated by an authenticator app

This means that even if someone guesses or steals your password, they still can’t log in without that second step.

You’ll usually find 2FA under the same Security or Login & Security settings where you change your password.

Watch Out for Phishing

Phishing is when someone pretends to be PayPal (via email, text, or fake login page) to trick you into entering your password.

Good rules of thumb:

Always type paypal.com yourself or use the official app instead of clicking unknown links.
Check that the web address starts with https and is spelled correctly.
Be wary of messages that:
- Pressure you with urgent warnings
- Ask for your password, full card number, or PIN
- Come from strange or unofficial-looking email addresses

Why The Exact Steps Can Vary From Person to Person

Most people will be able to follow the steps above without trouble, but there are a few variables that change how the process looks and what you might see on screen.

1. Device and Platform Differences

The PayPal interface isn’t identical everywhere:

Factor	Possible Impact on Password Change
Desktop vs. Mobile	Location of the Settings icon and layout of menus change.
Android vs. iOS app	Minor design differences; some items in slightly different spots.
Browser choice	Buttons and fonts may look different, but core steps stay the same.

The core idea is always: Settings → Security → Password – but the labels and icons move around depending on your device.

2. Account Security Settings

Your experience can be stricter or more relaxed based on how your account is set up:

If you have 2FA enabled, PayPal may ask for:
- A code from your phone
- Additional confirmation when you change your password
If you’re changing your password from a new device or location, PayPal might:
- Ask for extra verification
- Email you a security warning about account changes
If your account has had recent unusual activity, PayPal can:
- Temporarily lock certain actions
- Ask for ID verification before allowing changes

3. Email and Phone Access

Resetting a forgotten password relies on reaching you via:

The email address on file
The phone number on your account

If you’ve:

Lost access to your email
Changed phone numbers
Not updated your contact info in a long time

…your reset options will be more limited, and PayPal may require extra steps to confirm your identity.

4. How You Normally Log In

If you usually rely on:

Saved passwords in your browser
Biometrics (fingerprint / Face ID) in the app

…you might not remember your actual typed password, or even realize you’re logged in across multiple devices. Changing your password will still work, but you may:

Be logged out unexpectedly from older devices
Need to re-enable biometric login using the new password

Recognizing Your Own Situation in This Process

The core process to change your PayPal password is simple: go to Settings, open Security, and update your password. But what actually happens around that—what screens you see, how much extra verification is needed, and whether you can fall back to email or SMS if you forget—depends heavily on:

Which device and app version you’re using
Whether you have 2FA or other security features turned on
How up to date your email and phone number are
How you usually log in (typed password vs. biometrics vs. saved password)

Once you know the general flow, the last piece is matching those steps to your own PayPal setup and security comfort level.