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Can I change my AOL security question at AOL.com?

I have been trying to change my darn security question at America Online for weeks now, and every time I get to that area in AOL, it just says "temporarily unavailable. Please try later." What's up with that? isn't there some way I can use the AOL Web interface to change my security question before I get hacked again? Thanx.


Dave's Answer:

Yes, you can change your security password at the America Online Web site, which is darn cool. Much of the process looks exactly like my earlier tutorial on how to change your AOL password at AOL.com, but let me go through the steps again so you can see exactly how to do it.

When you go to America Online's Web site, on the top right you'll either have a signin link that includes your account name (if you've ever signed on before) or a generic "sign in" message. Here's what I get:

AOL.com Web site: sign in

When I click on it, I then have the chance to enter my account and password pair:

AOL.com Web site: sign in dialog

Fill that in, and you're now signed in to their (quite slick) Web based interface to the AOL service. There's precious little you can't do with the Web interface, so if you are an AOL fan, you should check things out while you're logged in.

Near the top is a set of primary navigation options, just below the search box:

AOL.com Web site: signed in

Click on "My Account" and you'll be asked for your security question, to confirm that you're really you since you don't want anyone else tweaking your settings. That'll look like this:

AOL.com Web site: security question

My favorite film is ... oh, yeah, let's skip that part of this article, okay? :-)

Once you've verified your identity with AOL, you can now get one step closer to changing your AOL password. Here are the My Account settings you can access:

AOL.com Web site: My Account settings and options

Click on "Account Security Question" and you'll get this helpful explanation:

AOL.com Web site: change AOL security question

Since this is such a critical change, you should be glad to see that you yet again have to verify your identity:

AOL.com Web site: verify your AOL account

Do that and, finally, you can change your security question:

AOL.com Web site: actually change your AOL security question

Unfortunately, there really aren't that many different choices here, as you can see:

AOL.com Web site: security question choices on AOL.com

I think that Google's Gmail service has a much better approach to security questions, personally, because you can enter your question and your answer, meaning that there are an infinite number of different security questions. With AOL, as you can see, there are only four or five snippets of info you'd need to be able to defeat this secondary account confirmation, the kind of info that's often included in a MySpace profile or related.

Anyway, that'll get you access to your security question. Hope that helps you out!


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Categorized: Computer and Internet Basics , Windows PC Help   (Article 6769, Written by )
Tagged: america online, aol, aol password, aol security question
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Reader Comments To Date: 20

Desere Mena said, on September 4, 2006 5:10 AM:

i need a password to access my aol account

Leia Moise said, on October 20, 2006 12:38 PM:

Hi, I have a huge problem I can`t remember my security answer. Can you try and see whay can be done. Please I need to read my mail.I don`t want to loose my mail. You can email me @www.Sweetbabes777@yahoo.com or call on my phone@ 1-718-547-7061 OKAY THANK YOU.

Steve Zahran said, on December 17, 2006 8:14 PM:

I need to change the password for my sons aim account, I know the current password and the e-mail, but not the answer to the security question, he cannot remember, any suggestions

tiber said, on March 16, 2007 12:19 PM:

begining yesterday aol won't let me switch screen
names, how can i get that function back ?
another question: i can't remember the answer to
account security question, how can i retrieve
it? thanx much.

tiber said, on March 16, 2007 12:21 PM:

begining yesterday aol won't let me switch screen
names, how can i get that function back ?
another question: i can't remember the answer to
account security question, how can i retrieve
it? thanx much.

genevieve said, on April 23, 2007 10:06 PM:

Just same problem as above stated: I forgot the answer to my security question. So... how do I go about retrieving it and changing it so hopefully next time I will remember?

candice said, on June 8, 2007 2:28 PM:

this still did not tell me how to change my security password if i forgot it

JIM WHITE said, on August 19, 2007 12:01 PM:

NEED HELP NOW AOL HAS BLOCKED TO MY SECURITY ANSWER WONT LET ME IN SO WHAT DO I DO NOW TO RESET IT PLEASE

Caitlyn said, on August 28, 2008 6:33 PM:

What if you can't remember your original security question?

niki said, on March 26, 2009 8:49 PM:

how can i change my security question on aol

Chiranjib said, on May 18, 2009 11:03 AM:

I can't remember the exact form of the answer to my security question. Please help. Email me at raydeep@hotmail.com

Sandi Nelani said, on June 8, 2009 3:11 AM:

I need my security code to be changed so that
the will be no one who can read my Email

Altamash Shaikh said, on September 16, 2009 6:35 AM:

Hi,

I forgot my aol password and the alternate email id that I used for the same, I tried and followed the "Forgot Password" link provided by AOL but I was not able to reset my password.

When I created the email id for which i forgot the password, I have created two more email ids with same account information but diffrent passwords, I am able to login the other two emailids and checked the account information. I followed the same steps to reset the AOL passwords for the other email ids but that does not work for all the three email ids PLease Help?

zoyly DELEON said, on January 25, 2010 3:07 PM:

HI. I have been trying desperately to delete my account but I cant remember my security answer and my alternative email was deleted. what can i do? can you please help me?

sylvie said, on February 14, 2010 7:28 PM:

I need to change the password for my sons aim account, I know the current password and the e-mail, but not the answer to the security question, he cannot remember, any suggestions

NeedHelpPlease said, on May 2, 2010 1:47 AM:

I can't remember the exact answer to my security question. Please help. Email me at MHKIM13@GMAIL.COM

itasara said, on June 30, 2010 11:34 AM:

I know my security answer but it gets rejected everytime I try to reset my password. I have a new password I got on the phone; I just want to change it to something I want, but can't because it won't accept my current security answer. So I go to the change security answer form and it asked for my last account no... last four digits. I've tried everything. I have been on AOL for years and years. I have a free account... don't have any of the answers they want. Now what do I do? I can't get live help and I don't want to pay for aol either. I would quit, but I have others on my account who like it.

Juliana said, on October 7, 2010 6:48 AM:

I can't remember the exact form of the answer to my security question. Please help. Email me at whisper.store@mail.com

Rosemary Kirsch said, on October 12, 2012 1:07 AM:

I am so upset!I made the mistake of signing up for free aol acct.I already have my account,I pay $11.99 a month,have had it for years,I don't want the free acct.as Rosemary.Kirsch@aol.com,please help me get my regular acct.back,main screen name Rose20478 and the one I use more,Rosie2407@aol.com,changed to comcast recently and have a lot of emails that are so important concerning family illness etc.I need my account back and the new one deleted,please help me!Rosemary Kirsch

cathie williams said, on November 27, 2012 5:10 PM:

I am locked out of my aol for weeks now because they said unusual activity because I have been getting on at my local library and on my phone. I recently changed my password and don't remember it and it's asking me for my security answer I made years and years ago I don't remember :(

Starbucks coffee cup I do have a lot to say, and questions of my own for that matter, but first I'd like to say thank you, Dave, for all your helpful information by buying you a cup of coffee!

I do have a comment, now that you mention it!











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