If you still have an @aol.com address, you're a survivor. Honestly, people poke fun at AOL users like they're some kind of digital fossils, but that email address is probably linked to your oldest bank accounts, your primary Amazon login, and maybe even your tax filings. That makes it a massive target. If you're trying to figure out how to change a password on AOL, you aren't just doing digital housekeeping; you're essentially fortifying the gates to your entire online identity.
It’s surprisingly easy to mess this up.
Most people wait until they get a "suspicious login" alert from Verizon (AOL's parent company, now under Yahoo/Apollo Global Management) before they even think about their security settings. That is a mistake. Waiting for a hack to happen is like waiting for your house to burn down before buying a fire extinguisher.
The Identity Crisis of Modern AOL
Let's be real: AOL isn't the same "You've Got Mail" service from 1998. It has been bought, sold, and merged so many times that the back-end architecture is a bit of a maze. Today, AOL is part of the Yahoo family under the Yahoo Inc. umbrella. This means when you go to change your password, you’re often redirected to a unified security portal that looks suspiciously like a Yahoo login. Don't panic. You aren't in the wrong place.
Security experts at firms like Norton and Kaspersky consistently warn that legacy email accounts are prime targets for "credential stuffing" attacks. Since many AOL users haven't updated their security protocols in years, hackers use old passwords leaked from other site breaches to see if they still work on your AOL account. If you’ve used the same password for your email and your favorite shoe store, you’re asking for trouble.
The Actual Steps to Change Your AOL Password
Don't go looking for a "Change Password" button on the main reading pane of your inbox. It isn't there. You have to dive into the account security settings, which are hidden behind your profile name.
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First, sign in to your AOL Mail account as you normally would. Look at the top right-hand corner of the screen. You should see your name or your username. Click that. A dropdown menu appears, and you need to select Account Security.
Now, here is where it gets slightly annoying. AOL—or rather, the Yahoo-managed system—will likely ask you to sign in again. It feels redundant. It is. But this is a "re-authentication" step designed to make sure some random person didn't just walk up to your unlocked laptop and decide to hijack your account.
Once you are in the Security tab, you’ll see an option labeled Change password. Click it.
Now, listen. Don't just add a "1" to the end of your old password. That is the first thing a brute-force script will try. You need something complex. Use a passphrase—a string of four or five random words that mean something to you but nothing to a computer. "BlueToasterRainyTuesday" is infinitely harder to crack than "P@ssword123."
What if You’re Locked Out?
This is the nightmare scenario. You forgot the password, and you can't get in to change it.
AOL's recovery process relies heavily on what they call "Account Recovery" methods. If you set these up years ago, hopefully, you still have access to that secondary email or that old phone number. Go to the AOL login page and click Forgot password? AOL will then offer to send a verification code to your backup info. If you don’t have access to that old phone number? You're entering a world of hurt. AOL does offer a paid support service called AOL MyTechHelp or Premium Support, which sometimes assists with identity verification for account recovery, but it’s a paid tier. It’s a bit of a "pay-to-play" situation for customer service that many find frustrating.
Dealing with "App Passwords" and Third-Party Mail Apps
This is the part that trips up almost everyone.
If you use the Mail app on your iPhone or Outlook on your desktop to read your AOL mail, simply changing your password on the website might break your connection. You'll get an "Incorrect Password" error on your phone even after you've typed in the new one.
Why? Because AOL uses something called App Passwords for older or "less secure" apps.
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If your phone app doesn't support the modern "OAuth" login (where a separate AOL window pops up for you to sign in), you have to generate a one-time-use code.
- Go back to that Account Security page.
- Look for Generate app password.
- Select the app you're using (like "Outlook Desktop" or "iOS Mail").
- AOL will give you a 16-character code.
- Copy that code and paste it into the password field on your phone or computer.
It's a hassle. But it’s the only way to keep your account secure while still using those older platforms.
Two-Step Verification: The Non-Negotiable Step
If you are already in your settings to change a password on AOL, do not leave without turning on Two-Step Verification (2FA).
Passwords are no longer enough. Even the best password can be phished. 2FA means that even if a hacker in another country has your password, they can't get into your account without the code sent to your physical phone.
Most people find it annoying to type in a code every time they log in. I get it. But you can usually check a box that says "Remember this device" so you only have to do it once a month or when you're on a new computer. The peace of mind is worth the extra five seconds of effort.
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Why You Should Probably Audit Your Forwarding Settings
While you’re poking around in the settings, check your "Filters" and "Forwarding."
Hackers are clever. Sometimes they don't change your password at all. Instead, they sneak into your account and set up a filter that automatically forwards every email you receive to their address. They just sit back and watch your bank statements and reset links fly by without you ever knowing.
Go to Settings, then More Settings, and look at Filters. If there is anything there that you didn't create, delete it immediately. This is a common tactic that often goes unnoticed for months because the user can still log in perfectly fine.
Actionable Security Checklist
Changing your password is just the beginning. To truly secure an AOL account in 2026, follow this sequence:
- Update the Password: Use a unique passphrase not used anywhere else on the web.
- Refresh Recovery Info: Ensure your mobile number and "alternate email" are current. If you still have a "secret question" like What was your high school mascot?, change it to something unguessable. High school mascots are easy to find on Facebook.
- Enable 2FA: Use the "Account Key" or SMS verification.
- Revoke Old Sessions: In the security tab, look for "Recent Activity." If you see a login from a city you’ve never visited, hit "Sign out of all sessions."
- Check Third-Party Access: Look for apps that have permission to access your AOL data and remove any you don't recognize.
Once you have updated these settings, log out of your AOL account on all devices and log back in with the new credentials. This forces a refresh of the security tokens across the board. If you use a password manager like Bitwarden or 1Password, make sure it has captured the new entry so you aren't locked out of your own vault. Moving forward, make it a habit to rotate this password at least once a year, though with 2FA enabled, your risk profile drops significantly. Don't let your legacy account become a liability; keep the gate locked.