You cannot see your current Gmail password, but you can reset it in minutes
Gmail does not show you your password once it is set. Google stores only an encrypted version, so even Google employees cannot retrieve it. If you need to sign in and do not remember your password, you will need to reset it through Google's account recovery process. The reset takes you through a series of verification steps — usually a recovery email or phone number — and then lets you create a new password.
If you still have access to your Gmail account on another device or browser, you can also change your password without resetting it. This is faster than recovery and does not require verification steps.
Key Takeaways
- Google does not display your password after you set it, so you must reset it if you forget it.
- You can change your password directly from your account settings if you are already signed in on any device.
- Password recovery uses a recovery email address or phone number you set up beforehand, so having these on file speeds up the process.
- If you do not have access to your recovery email or phone, Google will ask you security questions or other verification methods.
- A password reset takes effect on all your devices within a few minutes, and you will be signed out everywhere until you sign back in with the new password.
Change your password if you are already signed in
If you can access Gmail on your phone, computer, or another browser, you can change your password without going through recovery. Open any browser, go to myaccount.google.com, and sign in if you are not already.
Click Security in the left menu. Scroll down to "How you sign in to Google" and click Password. Google will ask you to sign in again for security. Enter your current password, then type your new password twice and click Change password. You will see a confirmation message. That is all — the new password works immediately on this device and on any other device once you sign in again.
Reset your password if you are locked out
Go to the Google Account recovery page at accounts.google.com/signin/recovery. Enter the email address or phone number associated with your account. Google will ask you to enter the last password you remember. If you cannot remember any password, click Try another way.
Google will then ask you to verify your identity. The most common method is a recovery email address — Google sends a link to an email address you set up in advance, and you click that link to confirm it is really you. If you set up a recovery phone number, Google can text or call you instead. If you have neither, Google will ask you security questions you answered when you created your account, such as "What was the name of your first pet?" or "In what city were you born?"
Once you verify your identity, you will be taken to a page where you can create a new password. Type it twice and click Change password. Google will sign you out of all your devices. The next time you sign in anywhere, use your new password.
Set up recovery methods so you do not get locked out
The fastest way to recover your account is to have a recovery email and phone number on file. Go to myaccount.google.com, click Security, and scroll to "How you sign in to Google." Click Recovery email and add an email address you check regularly — this should be a different email from your Gmail address. Then click Recovery phone and add a phone number where you can receive texts or calls.
You do not need both, but having both means you have a backup if one method stops working. Google will send a confirmation code to verify each one. Save these recovery methods somewhere safe, because you will need them if you forget your password.
What to do if you cannot verify your identity
If you do not have access to your recovery email or phone number, and you cannot remember the answers to your security questions, Google has additional verification steps. You may be asked to provide the date you created your account, describe your account activity, or answer questions about emails you have sent or received.
In some cases, Google may ask you to wait a few days before trying again, or to provide a photo of an ID. This is a security measure to prevent someone else from taking over your account. If you are the account owner and have been locked out for more than a few days, you can contact Google Support through the recovery page, though response times vary.
What happens after you reset your password
Your new password takes effect immediately on the device where you reset it. On all other devices — your phone, tablet, other computers — you will be signed out of Gmail automatically within a few minutes. The next time you open Gmail or try to send an email, you will be asked to sign in again. Enter your email address and your new password.
Some apps, like Outlook or Mail on your phone, may not accept your new password right away. If an app says your password is wrong after you reset it, sign out of the app completely, close it, and sign back in. If the app still does not work, you may need to generate an app password — a special 16-character password that some older apps require instead of your regular password. You can create app passwords in your Security settings under "App passwords," but only if you have set up two-step verification.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I see what my current Gmail password is?
No. Google stores only an encrypted version of your password, not the password itself. If you need to know your password, you will have to reset it and create a new one.
How long does it take to reset my Gmail password?
The reset itself takes a few minutes once you verify your identity. If you have a recovery email or phone on file, verification is usually instant. If you have to answer security questions, it may take a few extra minutes. Once you reset it, the new password works immediately on the device you used to reset it, and spreads to other devices within a few minutes.
Will resetting my password delete my emails?
No. Resetting your password does not affect your emails, contacts, calendar, or any other data in your account. It only changes how you sign in.
What if I do not remember my recovery email address?
If you set up a recovery email but cannot remember what it is, you can still use your recovery phone number or answer your security questions instead. If you have none of these, Google will ask you to verify your identity through other means, which may take longer.
Do I need to change my password on my phone after resetting it?
Yes. After you reset your password, you will be signed out of Gmail on all your devices. When you open Gmail on your phone, it will ask you to sign in again. Enter your email address and your new password. If you use an email app like Outlook or the default Mail app, you may need to update the password there too, or create an app password if the app does not accept your regular password.