Losing access to an account because you’ve forgotten the password is frustrating. It happens to almost everyone. The good news is that most websites and apps make it straightforward to get back in, and once you’re back, there are simple things you can do to make sure it doesn’t happen again.
Use the “Forgot Password” Link
On nearly every login page, there’s a link that says “Forgot password?” or “Reset password.” Click that and the website will ask for your email address or phone number. Start the reset yourself, from the site’s own address, and do not follow a reset link in any message you did not ask for. The site will then send you a message with a link or a short code. Check the sender’s address and the web address before you follow the link in it. Do not type a code, password or card details into a page you reached from a message link. Open the official site or app yourself. Never share a verification code with anyone who asks for it, even if they say they are from a company you trust. Follow the instructions to create a new password. When it is saved, you should be able to sign in with the new password. This usually takes just a few minutes.
Check the Right Email Address
Sometimes the reset email doesn’t arrive because it was sent to a different email address than the one you’re checking. Think about whether you might have used an older email when you first signed up. Also check your spam or junk folder — reset emails sometimes end up there.
Check If Your Browser Saved the Password
Browsers such as Chrome, Firefox, Edge and Safari often offer to save passwords when you log in. If you accepted that offer at some point, your browser may already have the password.
Look for a section about saved passwords in your browser’s settings. Names and places vary by browser and by version, so look for words such as passwords or autofill rather than following an exact path. You may need to enter your computer or phone login to view saved passwords. If the site is listed there, your browser has a password saved for it, although it may be an old one.
If You Are Locked Out of Your Email Account
Being locked out of your email is harder, because you cannot receive a reset link there. Most large email providers have a recovery process. It usually asks you to confirm your identity with a backup phone number or a security question that you set up earlier.
Start from the provider’s own sign-in page. Look for a link with words such as trouble signing in or account recovery, because the wording varies.
Contact Support if Nothing Else Works
If you can’t access the email linked to the account, most services have a customer support option. You’ll usually need to verify your identity by answering questions about your account or uploading ID. It takes longer, but it works.
How to Avoid Getting Locked Out Again
The most common reason people forget passwords is trying to remember too many different ones. Here are a few simple solutions:
- Write passwords in a notebook: Old-fashioned, but perfectly fine for most people. Keep the notebook somewhere safe at home.
- Use a password manager: A password manager app, or the one built into your phone, can remember passwords for you. You only need to remember one main password.
- Do not reuse one password: Reusing a password, or a pattern you repeat with small changes for each site, is the risk. If one site leaks a password that you also use elsewhere, your other accounts are at risk too. Give each account its own password. A password manager can store those passwords for you, so you do not have to remember them all. Protect the manager itself with one passphrase that you remember: a phrase of several unrelated words, with numbers or symbols added.
Keep Your Recovery Information Up to Date
Most accounts let you add a backup email or phone number for account recovery. Make sure this information is current. If you change your phone number or email, update it on your important accounts before you need to use it in an emergency.
Last updated: October 9, 2026