How to Recover an Email Password for Yahoo, Hotmail, AOL & MSN

Regain access to your email account by resetting a forgotten password.

When you've forgotten your email password for Hotmail, MSN, Yahoo! or AOL, you can reset it to regain access to your email. The process is similar for each email provider and requires that you be able to answer questions about your account to verify your identity. This security precaution ensures that you are the owner of the account.

Instructions

1. Click "I Can't Access My Account" on the Yahoo! Mail website. Select "I Forgot My Password" and enter your username on the next screen to begin the password reset process. If you have a secondary email address set up, select that option to have a password reset link emailed to you. If not, select "I Can't Access Any of the Above" and answer your account security questions to reset your password.

2. Navigate to the Hotmail website to reset your Hotmail or MSN password; the process is identical for both email providers. Click "Forgot Your Password?" and select "I Forgot My Password." Click "Reset My Password" and enter your Hotmail or MSN email address. Select "Email Me a Reset Link" to reset your password using an alternate email address, or select "Security Question" to reset your password by answering your security question.

3. Click "Forgot Password?" on the AOL Mail website and enter your AOL screen name. Click "Alternate Email Address" to send a password reset link to your secondary email address. If you don't have access to that, select "Account Security Question." Answer your security question and enter your date of birth and zip code to reset your password.

Tips & Warnings

• Choose a secure password that consists of a mixture of letters, numbers and symbols. Avoid using a password that is easy to guess, such as your pet's name.

References

• Microsoft Safety & Security Center: Create Strong Passwords

Resources

• Yahoo! Mail: Homepage
• Hotmail: Homepage
• AOL Mail: Homepage