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Yahoo asks me for my password too darn often!

I've used Yahoo! services for a long time, but now that I'm using it for email and blogging (through Yahoo 360), the every hour prompting for my password on my home computer is driving me positively insane! How do I change it?

Dave's Answer:

What you're talking about is what Yahoo calls password prompting. It's a smart idea - in case you forgot to sign out, Yahoo has you confirm your identity every so often before something critical happens, like being given access to your mail, 360 blog or address book.

As you say, though, having it happen too often can be darn frustrating, however. Fortunately, it's pretty darn easy to fix.

Log in to your Yahoo account, then look for the Prompt for Password, the last item in the "Member Information" section of "General Preferences".

You should be able to click here to go to Member Preferences.

The very last option on this page is "Prompt for Password":

You can see here that I'm skirting complete insanity by selecting "every fifteen minutes" for a password prompt. In fact, my choice is always "Every day" and I wish they had "Once a week", personally.

Pick the option you prefer, then click "Finished" and your settings are changed.

Hopefully that'll let you keep a grip on your sanity!

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Comments

Thank you very, very much for this article.
The constant prompting was driving me to drink.

I had gone around and around inside the yahoo preferences, and help sections, without finding my way to the necessary location to fix this most irritating nag (security) feature.

:-) !!!!

Posted by: Tim Reasoner at July 7, 2006 1:49 AM

Yahoo has recently added to option to change your prompt for password time setting to up to two weeks. Finally something reasonable!

Posted by: Thomas at January 14, 2007 10:13 AM

I can't change my settings to where only friends can post comments on my page.I click setting and change it to friends then click save but it stays on public.

Posted by: Bill at April 17, 2008 7:32 PM

I have the same problem relative to constant p/w prompts but in my case it is on yahoo fantasy sports, i have to enter my p/w over and over again when trying to make any changes to my team and eventually it kicks me out without allowing the change rendering my fantasy page useless. Any suggestions, yahoo tech were unable to help.

Posted by: G at September 4, 2009 11:06 AM

G, not good. Three suggestions, in increasing order of drama:

1. Try deleting all Yahoo cookies from your Web browser (usually accessible off your Preferences or Settings window)

2. Delete all your cached data in your browser

3. Try a different Web browser like Google Chrome or Firefox.

Let us know which, if any, work for you!

Posted by: Dave Taylor at September 4, 2009 11:34 AM

I have a lot to say, but ...

I have a lot to say, and questions of my own for that matter, but most of all I'd like to say thank you for all your efforts on this Web site by buying you a chai!

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