# How to Change Your AOL Password

Updating your password is a necessary step to protect your personal information
from unauthorized access. This guide will walk you through the exact steps to
change your AOL password safely. Please take your time and follow along at your
own pace.



What you will need:

 * Your current email password.

 * A pen and a secure notebook to write down your new password so you don't
   forget it.

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STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO CHANGE THE AOL PASSWORD

 1. Click on this official AOL link to go directly to your settings
    —login.aol.com/account/security [http://login.aol.com/account/security]. Or
    open your browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, etc.) and type
    login.aol.com/account/security [http://login.aol.com/account/security] in
    the address bar at the top of the screen.

 2. Sign in with your email address and current password.

 3. Scroll down to the "Account Access" section, focus on the "Password" block,
    and press "Change Password".

 4. Create a new password:
    
    * Use at least 3 simple hyphenated words, each starting with a capital
      letter (e.g., Home-Dog-Work).
    
    * Do not use names, surnames, or locations that are personally related to
      you.
    
    * Add at least 4 numbers (e.g., Home-Dog-Work-1918).

 5. Write your new password down in your secure notebook before moving on.

 6. Type your new password into the box provided.

 7. Click the "Continue" button.

Your new password is now active! Changing your password will sign you out of AOL
on your other devices (like your phone or tablet). You will need to sign back in
using your new password.

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ADDING AN EXTRA LAYER OF SECURITY (2-STEP VERIFICATION)

While you are still on the "Account Access" section, let's set an additional
layer of protection and turn on 2-Step Verification. This means that along with
your password, you will also use your phone to confirm it is really you. This
stops anyone else from accessing your email, even if they somehow learn your
password.


STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO TURN ON 2-STEP VERIFICATION

 1. Scroll down the page and find the section called "Two-step verification".

 2. Click the "Turn on" button next to it.

 3. Click on "Phone number" from the options provided.

 4. Enter your mobile phone number in the box provided.

 5. Check your mobile phone for a short code from AOL.

 6. Type that exact code into the box on your computer screen.

 7. Click "Verify" (or "Next"), and then click "Done".

Your 2-Step Verification is now active! Now, if anyone tries to enter your email
from a new or unrecognized device, you will get a notification asking to confirm
it is really you.