How do I recover my password on Yahoo?

Hello, I've read your comments on recovering passwords or accounts like on Yahoo. I started investigating this when I suddenly found my own password was not working and the secret question had been changed by whoever hijacked the account. Do you have any advice for me aside from creating a new ID? I hate to say it but I'm considering trying to hijack it back.

Dave's Answer:

I understand what you're talking about and know that if you have the bad luck to have an easily guessed password and someone backs into your account, you definitely have a problem.

Indeed, while I also have a Yahoo account, I spend much more time using Gmail as it's one of my main web-based email system.

What's amazing is that once every few weeks I get a "how to reset your password" message, suggesting that I've tried to log in and clicked the 'forgot my password' link, but, of course, I haven't. It's someone else messing around trying to sneak into my account.

But the flip side of this is one that I've written about before too: how do I know if you're really who you say you are and how would Yahoo, more importantly, know that you're who say you are? (see Recover my Yahoo account password?) After all, one of the most effective methods of breaking security is through social engineering, pretending you're someone other than who you are.

I wonder if it isn't just a fundamental problem with web-based systems that can't use anything smart like biometrics for identity verification?

I have a biometric fingerprint scanner on the Lenovo IBM X41 Tablet PC I've been evaluating over on my Intuitive Life Blog, but that still doesn't address how I can verify my identity with a remote system.

Think about it: even if the fingerprint scanner sent the scan data to a remote server, there's nothing to stop that data being intercepted and then duplicated, emulating the live scan of my finger when in fact it's someone masquerading as me.

A difficult problem, unquestionably, and until we do have some good solutions in this area, I can only strongly encourage everyone to have the toughest, best possible passwords possible.

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Categorized: Computer and Internet Basics (Article 4250, Written by Dave Taylor)
Tagged: biometrics, lenovo, password, scams, yahoo
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Reader Comments To Date: 871

Tajul said, on August 24, 2012 7:56 AM:

i forgot my password

khaled said, on August 30, 2012 3:12 AM:

dearir or madanm
Iwould like to tell you that i cant access my e mail, the service is telling me that they suspect unautorozed access to my account and they are blocked it teporarly, pls help me in getting it back.
with regards dr. khaled

mshakeel said, on August 31, 2012 8:38 AM:

my pass word chek

hossaindurbar said, on September 2, 2012 10:13 PM:

my account was hacked, Someone has changed my yahoo password and at the same time my personal information has also been changed so i am not able to recover my password. Could you please help me out? my yahoo id is hossaindurbar@yahoo.com

Regards

nasreen qadir said, on September 8, 2012 7:15 AM:

my account was hacked, Someone has changed my yahoo password and at the same time my personal information has also been changed so i am not able to recover my password. Could you please help me out? my yahoo id nannu_nasreen786@yahoo.com

korede said, on September 18, 2012 11:41 PM:

,Hi dave

I have a problem with my yahoo account (koresh4real@yahoo.com).
It was still active and I was still using it . But later then when i tried to log in back, My account was locked. After 24 hours, I tried to log in again but it won't let me in. I found out that my password have been hacked. The hacker put an alternate email and 2 secret questions on my account, but as you can see, I didn't put any of those alternate and any question on my account untill the hakcer did it himself. I have no clue at all who is the hacker but one thing i'm sure, I can't log in to my yahoo account.
Please help me get back my yahoo account back. I have important contacts and messages on it.

My account that has been hacked is koresh4real@yahoo.com
If you have any solutions to my problem, please do reply me at koreshnoni@gmail.com

mehul dhruve said, on September 22, 2012 1:27 AM:

hi, i am mehul dhruve. someone hacked my yahoo account : famous_offset@yahoo.com. hacker also changed secret question & mobile. please reply me as soon as possible what can i do for recover my yahoo id ??? Thank's

carol nekesa said, on September 26, 2012 8:14 AM:

someone hijacked my mail en i cant acess it. please i forgot my fourite meal when i was a child on my profile. please help

naseera said, on September 26, 2012 9:30 AM:

my account was hacked, Someone has changed my yahoo password , so i am not able to recover my password.im not able to remember my secret question's answers also. Could you please help me out? my yahoo id is nashiashu@yahoo.com

ganesh bhushal said, on September 27, 2012 1:54 AM:

someone hack my yahoo id and password and i don't remember my secret password plz tell hows possible to recover my yahoo id plz.....

Abegunde Stephen Joshua said, on September 27, 2012 10:16 PM:

My yahoomail can not be access on mobile phone again.pls help me to find solution to this problem.my acct is stephenjoshuaabegunde@yahoo.com.i will b glad if d prblm can b solve 4 me.thanks

KazumiNeko said, on October 6, 2012 2:18 AM:

Hi.
Please help me. I have forgotten my password, and have no idea of the answer to the question. Asking whats the nasme of my oldes child O.O I never chose a secruity question, have no kids... I remember my password before i changed it to this one i have forgotten ....... Please please help me recover it.. KazumiNeko <--Yahoo id.

faoc said, on October 17, 2012 5:38 AM:

Please i kindly ask you to help me out. this is crucial someone just changed my password, right now i can not access my information. the previous passward was; isingiro i can not communicate now because the passward was changed please help me. Thanks i will begld if my request is honored.
please reply via this email address; namalevivian@yahoo.com

vivian

zubaida said, on October 17, 2012 3:26 PM:

will you help me sir i need to open my acct. in yahoo mail because i receive a important email ! It wont open i tried the " forgotten password" but i forgot the answer to one of the questions. Thanks

bianca said, on October 20, 2012 2:25 PM:

i got hacked and can use my account please help me black_moesha@yahoo.de or .com

i cant open it i got my password also but non works pls help

jessica said, on October 20, 2012 7:15 PM:

please help me. I have been completely locked out of my yahoo account (for my business) it is really important I get back in there. They have hacked my security questions as well. the email is abcofficesupplywarehouse@yahoo.com

Thank you so much

hector nguyen said, on October 22, 2012 10:08 PM:

Dear Sir,
i write down here and hope that you can help me to take my yahoo account back. here is my problem, some days ago, my yahoo account was stolen by someone else then that guy had changed a password, alternative email and secret questions. i really need your help to recover my yahoo account because that bad guy has used my yahoo account to chat and borrow money from my friend under my name. besides, i want to get back my friend yahoo nick list.
i am waiting for your email
thanks a lot
hector nguyen

jodycely said, on October 23, 2012 10:14 AM:

I lost my password for my yahoo.com can you please help me is the only thing I use to get in contract with my sister who's hads a handicap daughter my mom is very worry about her we have to talk to her since a 6months

Perttybaby said, on October 24, 2012 11:15 PM:

Hello. please i forget my security answer to enter my yahoo account and i have been trying but it not working for me .please i really want your help to get my account back.Thank you. Perttybabylove@yahoo.com

Igwe Ogechi said, on October 29, 2012 4:44 AM:

hi plz help me some one has change my password and also my question answers plz help me to recover it.

Igwe lorita Ogechi

Gordan said, on October 29, 2012 5:33 PM:

Hi my e-mail i.d. is gtudorsax@yahoo.com. It asks me where did you spend your honeymoon and I never used that question and it does not ask for my alternate e-mail i.d. please help its very urgent that i get that e-mail ID working.
Thank You very much Dave!

john eric alim said, on October 30, 2012 1:52 AM:

hi dave, i can't access my email (jeric_ocd@yahoo.com) and i think my password and security questions were compromise. could you please help me. thanks in advance.

sajidrehmen said, on October 31, 2012 1:02 AM:

i had created this id 8 years ago but left using that id because i have another yahoo id flower_search@yahoo.com and was using that id but now i felt need of my id alonely_baba@yahoo.com and want to use it again but getting failed in signing in to yahoo messenger. i will be greatful to you if you solve my probelum

shivaji varma said, on October 31, 2012 3:02 AM:

Dear sir

this is to inform u that my yahoo account is blocked because i could not attempt secret question and my phone no and aternative mail id are not working right now. pls help me

Yubraj Sharma said, on November 3, 2012 11:33 AM:

My Yahoo Id is active, I already change my new password in yahoo. And I forget that old password. But I want to know my old password. So, please sent me the mail in my ID, how to know that old password if possible.
Thank You
I'm waiting for the Mail.

Khaki said, on November 5, 2012 11:34 AM:

Passworld problem

Janrois Clyde Cariaga said, on November 7, 2012 7:25 AM:

hello,
i only know the 1st answer to the secret question on my ymail account. the id is receld@ymail.com.. please help me answer the 2nd one... email me to kulaturn@yahoo.com.. thanks a lot.. i hope you can help me..

md.mehedi hassan said, on November 8, 2012 4:39 AM:

I have a problem with my yahoo account mehedi_ete@yahoo.com
it stil active

Elmo said, on November 8, 2012 8:39 AM:

my yahoo account is locked for 3 days ... I changed the password that didn't work and get the error
Send me wolverinepocan@yahoo.com

eric said, on November 13, 2012 12:44 AM:

hey ! morning ? may be there are sameone who have trying to get in my account and if i try to get inside is impossible please can u help me and my id is( busogohc@yahoo.fr) thx GOD blss u.

David cherisme said, on November 14, 2012 9:15 PM:

I forgot my yahoo account and secret question can you help me Dave I'm running out of choice I can answer any question about my email it's been at least 6 months now I've been trying to retrieve it..thanks Dave

prameela said, on November 16, 2012 1:36 AM:

it was asking password change then i change my password that day its working but from next day on words it in not taking my new password .plz help me .

mohammed kareem said, on November 25, 2012 2:04 PM:

hi dear dave.. plz plz plz i beg u for my password becoz i have my mom mails in that id. so i cant live with out that mails.. and i forogt my secur question. so plzzzzzzzzzz i will be thank full to u my id was hyderabad_lf@yahoo.com

safran said, on November 25, 2012 9:59 PM:

hi DAVE i have probliam with my yahoo id and password.it has been locked.i want to reactive.i also forget my one secrat Q.onley one i rememmber.plz help

safran said, on November 25, 2012 10:04 PM:

i have active yahoo id now.i want recover old one.plz help.id is grace_of_sfran@company.com locked

Nwakuba precious said, on November 28, 2012 8:30 AM:

Hi, dave please help me out with my yahoo mail,it was locked up and i forgot the answer of the security question.this is my email .hope you can help me .i really need my yahoomail coz i have important contact there. precious3er@yahoo.com.

RAJENDRAN said, on November 29, 2012 9:57 PM:

I FORGET MY PASSWORD. PLEASE HELP FOR ME TO RECOVER.

Usman Amjad said, on December 1, 2012 2:55 AM:

Dear Friends & Sir,
I forget my yahoo password, my important data in this account, please anybody help me. how i get my yahoo password.
Because i have only one my email account.

alfajiri daudi said, on December 3, 2012 5:39 AM:

Dear Sir/s,
i have lost my yahoo password, neither can i remember the answers to the security questions. Kindly help me recover my yahoo account (arndave@yahoo.com) send me the details to alfajiridaudi@yahoo.com

thanks in advance.

Padmavathy said, on December 3, 2012 9:42 PM:

Dear Dave,

Please Help me to recover my yahoo mail ID.

I forget my password and when I go to password recover it asked me to answer the secret questions. I forgot these questions at the time of account open. I am not aware of that questions have this much of importance. So please , please please help me to recover my yahoo account and give the details to my new mail ID - padmavathysivasankar@yahoo.com. this mail is having lot of MBA Notes and some important details regarding my studies.

Padma

rose ayieta said, on December 7, 2012 1:53 PM:

Hi
I signed in in a cyber and was asked to change my password to a strong one which i did.butwhen i tried signing into my tablet it was not responding and my account is locked.thesecret questions i can only remember one,i still need my inbox it has some important information ,please how can you help me.

DEJUAN said, on December 8, 2012 10:55 AM:

SOME BODY HACKED my yahoo in change every thing no i cant get to my important messages i miss out on jobs can you please help me and god will bless you whit a reward thank u

musaabdullahiajayi said, on December 9, 2012 12:24 AM:

Hi sir Dav my house was robbed in the process my phone was collected so I went to buy another phone but after I download my yahoo messenger . I put my email address but my password was lost. Because I Take me time to get another phone , when I try to regain my password I was ask to answer my secret questions but I have forgotten them . please sir I really will appreciate I you help get my password back thanks sir

Mediatrice Mukamwiza said, on December 17, 2012 6:43 AM:

I have a problem my self,I can not access my yahoo! account and I am really in trouble because I stored very important documements in my boxes and I am blocked since 5 weeks.

Mediatrice Mukamwiza said, on December 17, 2012 7:11 AM:

Not a comment as such rather a request:you said that it may be another person and that is true,but if u are not the owner you cannot be straggling for more than one month to recover an e-mail which is not your:it is easy to give up after a certain period of time.

Malek juned said, on December 20, 2012 2:05 AM:

my yahoo account not open why???
Juned.malek.77@facebook.com send me a Ans. Sir.
plzz help meeeeee....

Josie said, on December 24, 2012 6:37 PM:

Dear Yahoo Recovery,

Hello, I just wanna get my old password in yahoo messenger name be_leuterio@yahoo.com because hacker change my password, my password has a 8 small character...Then suddenly I show it to someone to see my chatmate, she is insecure and I suspected to change my password..When I'm sign in again, my password has changed it already...

K.venkatesan said, on December 27, 2012 9:27 AM:

Dear sir
My yahoo id last one month not opened and i did not now correct resin we need your supports.

jai said, on December 28, 2012 4:09 AM:

Hi sir
I can't acess my acount right now.Then i have forgeted my password too.so please say me how to recover my id.

Thank you

mohammed said, on December 28, 2012 7:30 AM:

i have forgot my password. my id is mohammedkulax@yahoo.please help me recover my password my phone number is +231886620923

shammi said, on December 31, 2012 8:20 PM:

my email address is shammi_dutt@yahoo.com
date of birth is 23rd july 1987
i would like to retrieve my password since i have forgotten my current password and i have also forgotten security question answers since i created this account in 2009......it would be very grateful if i could get my password back since i cannot create a new account because i am getting a important email on this email

hafizur said, on January 2, 2013 8:12 AM:

lost my yahoo password

fred said, on January 5, 2013 6:59 PM:

lost my yahoo password and neither can i remember the answers to the security questions
please help me

Sarah Dempsey said, on January 8, 2013 6:55 PM:

How can you find me my password from my hacked email account. Password has been changed security questions have been changed.

patrascu petrisor said, on January 11, 2013 6:17 AM:

I can not go pa Calculated login but after phone goes

Chukwu Uche B ngwee said, on January 15, 2013 3:43 AM:

I had a problem remembering my security question which i entered on 24 september 2009,as a result i could not access my yahoo mail.my e-mail address is barthy4real2000@yahoo.com which i opened in 2000.I also have this e-mail address as an alternative barthy4real20002@yahoo.com ,please help me. Thanks in anticipation for solution to the problem

krishna kumar said, on January 21, 2013 11:30 AM:

i forgot my yahoo password and security question....and the alternate e mail id also seems to be tampered with....my e mail id is kkumar50 .Please help me out.... send me reply through my brother's e mail id
ratheeshnair123@yahoo.com

THIS IS URGET...PLEASE HELP ME

I'LL BE GRAETFUL TO YOU

THANKING YOU

tessy ejovwo orumo said, on January 22, 2013 12:52 AM:

please i cant access my yahoomail box

zeeshan said, on February 3, 2013 10:45 AM:

Dear sir,

i have lock my account zeeshan_ali2125@yahoo.com and also i dont know alternative email and security question please heple me i have some important contect please help me and send me on this email kwtboy@yahoo.com

kurdo kamal said, on February 17, 2013 10:17 AM:

Dear Sir
my yahoo e-mail was locked and asking me a question that I can not remember.
so I have gmail now .
pls,help me to have it again
thanks in advance.

Joey said, on February 19, 2013 2:30 AM:

Hello.. I'm from the Philippines and I don't know what to do with my yahoomail account. I am able to remember my password but i cannot login because it says there that im currently logged in in a device or a private browser.. Now yahoo is asking about my answer to the security question but I forgot about it also I lost the phone number that i put on it. I also forgot the alternate email. how can I recover my account? my yahoo account is siador6666@yahoo.com. Thanks for your help.

anatalie Fuller said, on March 4, 2013 9:38 AM:

Please help me get my email back I have very important contact's in my email as well as very meaningful picture's and e-mails from friends and family and a important document's ..I forgot my security questions...I can only give u my personal information. My email is res6kc53@yahoo.com thanks dave!

margaret said, on March 18, 2013 5:47 AM:

Hi
I can not log in to my yahoo mail account and I don't remember the answers to the secret questions? Can you help me my?
Thanks
Margaret .. send my text answer and text question to my yahoo mail address antwiv@yahoo.com ..
hope to hear from you soon..

harjinder singh bal said, on March 22, 2013 7:10 AM:

sir, i forgot my passward of my harjinder241064@yahoo.com email.i also lost answers of 2set questions they r putting. hence unable 2 open my this mail. plz help me soon. thanks,

Swapna said, on March 22, 2013 4:18 PM:

Hello. I forgot my second secret answer. I don't remember my second secret answer but only first. I need help to reset my password..Please help me.

Thanks
Swapna G

Ruth said, on April 4, 2013 11:33 AM:

Hi...I have a yahoo account, but it has been blocked, I have changed my password, but still cannot get into my account. my account is ruthie3328@yahoo.com... Secondary one is ruthie3328hotmail.com. Keeps saying it I blocked do you have any idea what I can do, to retrieve it,, If I can't I will just delete my account altogether and go with gmali....

2yahoo.c

jyoti said, on May 1, 2013 2:49 AM:

I forgot my password and tried all option to recover ...its not sending any text message on my mobile ...want to recover through my mobile plz hel me!!

Ali M. U said, on May 14, 2013 5:20 AM:

hello
I am facing problem with my yahoo account aliakko@yahoo.com I can open it using my nokia phone but when i try to open it on my laptop its not openning. it prompt me with security questions and i felt that i have answer the questions correctly. and still is saying thatthe security question is not anwered correctly. if i try it several times it finallly locked the account.
please i need an urgent help. please!!!!!!!!!!

rui rodrigues said, on May 20, 2013 9:17 AM:

i forget my old cousion name which i cant remember on yahoo security question

rui rodrigues said, on May 20, 2013 9:25 AM:

i open my account on october 2009 on yahoo i forget my old cousion name i can,t remember at all i know my id and password and i forget my old cousison name when ever i opend my account thy ask my old cousion name please help

aiman said, on May 21, 2013 1:10 AM:

السلام عليكم عندى مشكلة نسيت الباسورد ولا استطيع الولوج لايميلى علما باننى نسيت ايضا السؤال السرى WDAHA9_9@YAHOO.COM

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!

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How do I recover my password on Yahoo?

Reader Comments To Date: 871

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

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