Your AOL password should be like a fingerprint – uniquely yours. It protects your AOL account from unauthorized access and is your secret identity for signing on to the AOL software or any AOL service, such as AOL Mail or AIM.
We recommend you create a password that is at least eight characters long and includes a combination of numbers and letters. You should also avoid using obvious words, such as your first or last name or the word “password.”
How do I change my password?
A strong password gives you a strong defense against hackers. The L0ng3rTh3pA55w0rD is, the stronger it is. Mix in numbers and symbols. Make it tough! You can change your AOL password whenever and as often as you'd like.
To change your AOL password:
- Sign in to your account information.
(If you forgot your password, just click Forgot password.)
- Next, answer your Account Security Question.
If you forgot the answer to your Security Question, click Forgot Answer on the Security Question page to reset it.
Make the answer to your Account Security Question difficult to guess, too! It's your second line of defense. If you can, use a mix of letters and numbers in the answer to your Account Security Question.
- Click Change Your Password in the General Account Information section.
- Enter your Old Password, and your desired New Password. Re-enter your new password to confirm. The strength indicator will let you know how strong your new password is. Click Save to finish the process.
That's it! Your account can now be accessed using only the new password you created.
How do I change the password for additional Usernames?
To change the password for additional Usernames:
- Go to My Account and sign in with your master Username and password.
- Type the answer to your Account Security Question and click Continue.
- Under Username Options, click Manage My Usernames.
- Scroll down to the Additional Screen Names table. In the Password column, click the Change link that corresponds to the Username for which you want to change the password.
- Under Change Password, type your new password. Next, type your new password again to Confirm Password.
Note: The password is case sensitive and must be 8 - 16 characters.
- Click Save.
I forgot my AOL password. How do I reset it?
Forgot your password? No worries! If you've forgotten the password for your AOL Mail account, follow the steps below to reset your account with a new password.
To reset your password:
- Visit account.aol.com.
- On the Sign In screen, under the Password box, click the Forgot Password? link.
- Enter your AOL Username or email address in the Username or Email field.
- In the second field, enter the words or characters you see displayed in the image and then click Next.
Note: If you don't see the image clearly, you can click the refresh button to display a new set of words or characters. If that doesn't help, you can also click the volume button to have the words read aloud.
- Next, we'll need to verify that this account belongs to you. Under Verify this is your account, select a confirmation option. For more information, see our Account Verification Options article.
Note: In some cases you may be asked to choose an additional option. If you need further assistance, please call AOL Customer Support Team at 1-800-827-6364 Monday through Friday between 8AM to 1AM ET, and Saturday between 8AM and 10PM ET.
- You can now reset your password. Reset your password by typing a new password in the New Password box, and then re-typing your new password in the Retype New Password box. Your password is case-sensitive and must be 8 to 16 characters long.
- Click Next.
- Your password has been reset. Click Done to sign in with your new password.
Note: If another window pops up asking for your name, age, etc., don't be alarmed! If it's been a while since you last updated your account profile, we may take this opportunity to ask you to fill out any information we currently don't have on file.
Tips to create a secure password
Your password should be easy for you to remember but not for others to guess. If your password can be easily guessed, your AOL account is no longer secure.
Tips to create a secure password:
- Your password must be within 8 - 16 characters.
- Your password can be a combination of upper and lower case letters, numbers, and special characters (e.g., #, @, and &).
- Your password is case-sensitive.
- One password strategy is to base the password on a sentence, using the first letter or number of each word to create your password. (E.g., "I own a 68 red ford mustang!" Your password might be "Ioa68rfm!".
- Do not use common or easily guessed words in your password (e.g., first and last name, online identity, or words found in a dictionary).
AOL Password Strengthening Tips
- Each time you create a new password, try to make it fresh and unique. Reusing old passwords is not recommended as it is not the best way to keep your online information safe.
- Substitute numbers for letters and vice versa (o instead of 0, 1 instead of L, E instead of 3).
- Substitute words for numbers (five, nine).
- Combine both of the above (fiv3, n1ne).
- Use capitalization in random places (bLues, cluEs).
- Deliberately misspell words (Humptie Dumptie).
Examples of Memorable/Complex Passwords
- Harry Potter becomes HaRrieP0tt3r!
- 4 Privet Drive becomes: @FourPr1v3tDr!ve
Using the tips above, you can create a secure password for your AOL account.