Email providers such as Hotmail, Yahoo! and Gmail make it easy for email account holders to request an old password. You must know your complete email address and have an alternative email address or cell phone number where a confirmation code can be sent. If you cannot get your password back, your email provider will delete the old one. You can then create a new password.
Step 1
Go to the email provider's website. For example, if your email address is registered with Yahoo!, go to Yahoo.com and if your email address is registered with Hotmail, go to Hotmail.com.
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Step 2
Find the sign-in section on the main page of the website. You will see one box for your email ID and one for your email password.
Step 3
Click the link that says, "Forgot your password?" if you're trying to recover a password belonging to a Hotmail email account. Click the link that says, "Can't Access Your Account?" if you want to recover a password belonging to a Yahoo! or Gmail email account. Check the circle indicating that you need to recover your password. A page under the heading, "Reset your password," will appear.
Step 4
You'll be asked to enter your email address.
Step 5
Enter the characters in the picture box to confirm that your request is authentic. Email providers such as Hotmail, Yahoo! and Google employ this security feature to stop automated programs from illegally accessing email accounts.
Step 6
Click "Continue."
Step 7
Confirm your cell phone number or alternate email address, which the email provider will use to send a confirmation code. Do not exit from this page. You will need it later.
Step 8
Go back to the page where you confirmed your cell phone number. Enter the confirmation code that you received. Click "Next."
Step 9
Enter a new password, if requested, or sign in using your old password, which will appear on screen.
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