Change unsafe passwords in your Google Account (2024)

FAQs

Why is Google telling me to change my password? ›

If there's suspicious activity in your Google Account or we detect that your password has been stolen, we may ask you to change your password. By changing your password, you help make sure that only you can use your account.

Google's Security Measures

One of Google's key features is the Password Checkup tool, integrated into the Google Chrome browser and Google Account settings. This tool continuously monitors various databases of known breaches to check if users' credentials have been compromised.

Compromised passwords and username combinations are unsafe because they've been published online. We recommend that you change any compromised passwords as soon as you can.

Whether you explicitly run a checkup, or in the moment as you're signing in to a page, Google will warn you if your username and password are identified as weak, or known to have been compromised in a data breach on some external site or app.

Your Gmail password and Google password are the same. Gmail is just one of the many Google products and services that are part of your Google account.

Hackers have multiple ways to gain access to your Google account. They could guess weak passwords, buy or find leaked credentials after a data breach, or trick you with phishing attacks.

Is the iPhone “compromised password” notification real? The message is legit. If you receive such a notification, your password matches an entry on a list of compromised data. However, it doesn't necessarily mean that it is your password personally, it might be someone else's password that matches yours.

Yes, you should be concerned about leaked passwords. A compromised password means unauthorized individuals can access your personal information and accounts.

In March 2024, a security incident involving a company called YX International resulted in the exposure of sensitive user information, including data from Google users. This event emphasized the need for robust security measures to safeguard user accounts.

What is the most used password in 2024? ›

They should be 12 to 16 characters and avoid the most common words and phrases. The computer science platform collected data on most common passwords from security breaches and found the following passwords were the most common in 2024: 123456. password.

Attackers can often work out the new password, if they have the old one. And users, forced to change another password, will often choose a 'weaker' one that they won't forget.

Some organizations require users to create a new password periodically to keep their systems current. A third reason you might change your password is to protect your account's security. Creating a new password can protect your Google account if you believe someone might be trying to hack into it.

If someone publishes your saved passwords on the internet, Google Password Manager can help you change any compromised passwords. Help block unauthorized access. Your passwords are stored behind Google's built-in security using encryption.

Sometimes only a few weeks, or even days, after changing your password, you might be advised by Google to change it again. That could be a sign that your account has been compromised or that hackers are making attempts to access your accounts on Google Chrome.

PREVENTS USE OF SAVED PASSWORDS

If you lose or change computers, it is possible for someone else to gain access to your passwords. Regularly updating your passwords means that even if someone finds an old or saved password, it will no longer be useful, and your data will be secure.

Sometimes you'll see a "Password incorrect" error when you sign in to Google with a third-party app, like Apple's Mail app, Mozilla Thunderbird, or Microsoft Outlook. If you've entered your password correctly but you're still getting the error, you might need to update the app or use a more secure app.

Tap the Chrome menu and choose Settings. Tap Password Manager. Tap , then turn off Offer to save passwords, Sign in automatically, and Password alerts. If you don't sync your passwords with Google, turn off Save passwords and Auto Sign-in instead.