Google is an integral part of online life for many people. In fact, the word “google” has become synonymous with searching for something online. Out of 4.6 billion email users worldwide, 1.8 billion use Gmail. This is an exponential increase from the 350 million users 10 years ago.
For the average internet user, Google is more than a simple email service. It’s your important data files in Google Sheets, your stories, files, and photos in Google Drive, and the gateway to accounts on other online platforms. For example, if you want to set up an account on Slack or Canva, you’ll often have the option to “log in with Google.” This is really convenient but it’s a sticky trap if you’re adverse to Google.
Given how central Google is to your online experience, the prospect of losing access to your account may seem catastrophic — and indeed, it can be. Personally, I know if I lost access to my Google account, it would severely impede my ability to work. I’d lose countless hours of work on creative projects and be stuck until I recovered everything.
If you’re like me and your Google password is the master key to your digital life, you’ll want to know how to keep it secure. This article covers everything you need to know about how to change Google passwords securely.
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Unbreakable encryption secures your internet activity, making it harder for hackers to launch attacks on your device. CyberGhost VPN lets you connect up to seven devices at a time, and we never keep or store your data.
Should You Change Your Google Password?
For security reasons, it’s important to regularly change your Google password. I generally recommend updating your password every few months. This protects your account from hackers, snoopers, and cybercriminals.
While Google’s security is pretty good, breaches can happen. In 2018, more than 52 million users had their private information compromised in a historic Google Plus data breach. An internal bug caused the breach and there was no evidence of a third-party cause.
Unfortunately, breaches like this can be a breeding ground for cybercrime. They can lead to identity theft, data ransom, compromised financial accounts, and other crimes.
Cybercriminals aren’t mythical creatures and cyberattacks happen every day — and they’re no joke. It’s estimated that 81% of hacks occur because of stolen or weak passwords. This is why it’s so important to use a strong password and change it regularly.
Do You Need to Change Your Google Password?
Google will usually notify you if your passwords are in danger. If you think your account may have been part of a data breach, change your password immediately. You can use an online service to periodically check if you have any leaked passwords. Some services are free, but you may need to pay a small subscription fee for others.
Here are some signs your passwords might not be secure:
- ️You receive a notification that someone changed your password. If you haven’t changed it, this strongly indicates malicious activity.
- ️You notice unfamiliar activity on your social media accounts. This may indicate someone has access to your account and is using it to spam others or post unwanted content.
- ️You notice unexpected charges on financial accounts. This is a clear sign that someone has stolen your bank details and is making unauthorized purchases. If this happens, contact your bank immediately.
- ️You receive phishing emails asking you to confirm login details. Hackers often try to trick users into entering passwords on fake websites. If you get emails like this, do not respond! Just delete the email and report it as spam.
Use a VPN to Protect Your Accounts
VPN stands for “Virtual Private Network”. A VPN encrypts your internet traffic and masks your IP address. When you connect to a VPN server, you’ll get an IP address in a different location. This makes it difficult for anyone to link your online activity back to your physical location and device.
VPNs are especially useful if you want to protect yourself on public Wi-Fi networks. Shared networks are easy targets for criminals seeking to steal your personal information.
CyberGhost VPN’s end-to-end encryption protects you from many types of cyber attack, including man-in-the-middle attacks, evil twin attacks, and DDoS attacks. Join the Ghostie squad today to keep your online activity private and secure.
How to Change Google Passwords On Any Device
It’s easy to change your Google password, and you can do it on any device via the Chrome or Gmail app. Here’s how to change Google passwords on your Chromebook, smartphone, or the Chrome browser on your computer.
How to Change Your Google Password in the Chrome Browser
- Click on your account icon in the upper right corner of the browser.
- Then, click on Manage your Google Account from the dropdown menu.
- Select Personal info and scroll down the page to the password section.
- Click on Password and enter your new password.
How to Change Google Passwords on Chromebooks
Chromebooks are mainly used for browsing the internet on the Chrome browser. To change your Google password on a Chromebook, simply open the Chrome browser and follow the steps above.
How to Change Google Passwords on Smartphones
Whether you’re using iOS or Android, you can change your Google password using the following method:
- Open the Gmail app
- Click on your account icon in the top right-hand corner
- Click on Google Account
- Select Personal info from the horizontal panel
- Click on Password. This will bring you to the password reset page.
Pro tip: Whether you’re at home or in a coffee shop on a public network, it’s good practice to use a VPN when changing personal passwords. CyberGhost VPN uses state-of-the-art encryption to protect your identity and personal data.
How to Change Google Play Passwords
Your Google Play password is the same as your general Google password. So changing your Google password will also change your Google Play password. You can also change your password through the Google Play Store. Here’s how:
- ️Open the Google Play Store app on your smartphone.
- ️Tap the three lines in the top left corner to open the menu.
- ️Scroll down and tap Account.
- ️Tap Security.
- ️Under Sign-in & security, tap Password.
- ️Enter your current password, then create your new password.
- ️Tap Change Password.
That’s all there is to it! Now you have a new, strong password for your Google Play account that will help keep your account safe from digital threats.
How to Change Your Password on Google Wi-Fi
If you’re using Google WiFi, you can change your password in just a few steps. Here’s how:
- Open the Google WiFi app on your phone.
- Tap the menu button in the top-right corner.
- Select Settings.
- Tap Network & general.
- Under Network, select Change Wi-Fi password.
- Enter your new password and tap SAVE.
How to Reset Forgotten Google Passwords
There are several ways to recover a forgotten Google password. The easiest way is to click on Forgot Password on the Google login page. You’ll receive a prompt to enter your email address, and Google will send you an email with instructions on how to reset your password. If you have 2-Step Verification on your account, you’ll need to enter a code sent to your phone.
Another method is to look through your browser’s saved passwords. Many browsers save passwords for frequently visited sites, so you might be able to find your Google password on the browser. Lastly, if you use a password manager, check to see if it has your password logged.
Conclusion
We rely on the internet for everything from work to communication and shopping, so maintaining online security is increasingly important. The simplest way to improve your online security is to change your passwords regularly and use a VPN.
Google is the most popular internet service and serves as a gateway to many other platforms and features. However, if your password falls into cybercriminals’ hands, it could compromise your entire online life. For this reason, it’s important to change your Google password regularly and keep it secure.
CyberGhost VPN protects your online information by routing your internet traffic through a secure server. This makes it more difficult for hackers to access your account. It also hides your real IP address from snoopers and eavesdroppers, so people can’t easily link your activity back to your location.
FAQ
Google won’t tell you what your password is, but you can reset it to something new. Navigate to the Google or Gmail login page and click on Forgot Password. Many browsers save passwords automatically, so you may be able to find your Google password by checking websites you visit frequently.
Go to the Google login page, enter your email address, and click the Forgot Password option under the text boxes. Follow the steps to verify your identity and reset your password. For extra security, use a VPN when setting new passwords.
To change your Google password on your phone, follow these simple steps:
1. Go into the Gmail app on your phone
2. Click on your account icon
3. Click Google Account
4. Select the Personal info option
5. Click Password
6. Reset password
See our tips for creating a strong password.
For extra safety, it helps to change your Google password every several months. If you notice any suspicious activity, change your password immediately. You can use free or paid online tools to check whether your passwords are in jeopardy.
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