Updating Your PayPal Password for Business or Personal Accounts: Step-by-Step Instructions
If you need to update your password, you can do this in six easy steps:
- First, navigate to the PayPal website at https://www.paypal.com and log in to your account.
- Click on the gear icon at the top right corner of the page and tap “Security.”
- Then, click “Update” next to the “Password” option.
- In the next screen, you’ll see a pop-up with the words “Change Your Password” at the top.
- Enter your current password and then your new password twice.
- Finally, click “Change Password” to complete the update.
PayPal Account Security
Ensuring secure access to your PayPal account is key to protecting your data. We recommend two ways to make your account more secure:
- enabling two-factor authentication (2FA)
- updating your phone number and security questions
Enabling two-factor authentication (2FA) requires two factors to access your account (your password and a verification code). Even if hackers manage to guess your password, they’ll still need the codes generated by your authenticator app to get access.
Meanwhile, updated phone numbers and security questions can help with account recovery, should you ever lose access to your PayPal account.
To set up 2FA:
- Click the gear icon at the top right corner of the page and then the “Security” tab at the top.
- Scroll down to click “Set Up” next to “2-Step Verification.”
- Next, use an authenticator app like Google Authenticator or Microsoft Authenticator to receive unique 6-digit security codes for each login.
Note that in 2023, PayPal updated the options for 2FA. According to PayPal’s Help Community, phishing-resistant FIDO2 keys like the YubiKey 5 Series aren’t currently supported for new 2FA enrollments. However, LastPass Business users can enjoy phishing-resistant MFA, which adds more barriers between hackers and your data.
To update your security questions and phone number
- To update your security questions, click the gear icon at the top right corner of the page and then the “Security” tab. Scroll down to “Security Questions” and click “Update.”
- To update your phone number, click the “Account” tab and then “Change” next to your primary phone number.
- You can also click “+Add” next to “Phone Numbers” to add additional lines.
Using LastPass for Seamless PayPal Security
Security Measures and Best Practices
In August 2024, hackers put 2.7 billion data records on the Dark Web for sale. The credentials were lifted from the massive 2023 National Public Data breach.
This underlines the critical need for password managers that offer Dark Web Monitoring – in the privacy of your vault and away from prying eyes.
With LastPass, you get instant notifications if any of your personal data has been identified on the Dark Web or compromised in Dark Web data leaks.
You can then take immediate action to change your PayPal password to protect your account from unauthorized access.
Passkeys for PayPal
The question begs to be asked: Is there a secure way to log in to PayPal?
The answer is yes. You can either create a passkey or allow LastPass to autofill your login credentials securely.
With a passkey, you can log in to your PayPal account with the same biometrics, PIN, or password you use to unlock your Android or iPhone device.
After creating your passkey, we recommend saving it in your LastPass vault, where it’ll be stored safely until you need it.
Retrieving a Lost PayPal Account: Tutorial
Recovering Access through Forgotten Password
Have you lost access to your account, either because you forgot your password or someone else changed it? If so, here are five (5) easy steps to recover access through a password reset:
- Navigate to the login page.
- Enter your email or mobile phone number. You may be asked to complete a reCAPTCHA security challenge if you’re logging in with an unrecognized device or browser.
- Next, click “Forgot Password?”
- Choose how you’d like to complete your security check. This includes getting a code via SMS text or email, answering security questions, confirming your SSN, or even getting a WhatsApp text.
- Once verification is complete, you’ll be asked to create a new password.
PayPal’s Communication Protocol for Account Changes
If you’ve lost email access and would like to reset your password:
- Click “Forgot Email?” on the login page. Enter up to three (3) emails you may have used for PayPal. You can perform a password reset on a web browser or in the PayPal app.
- If you can’t recover access this way or you’ve been locked out of your PayPal account, the first step is to call Customer Support immediately so they can freeze your account while they investigate.
- After you’ve given access back, check for any unauthorized credit or debit card payments and file an unauthorized transaction dispute following these steps.
- We also recommend updating your phone numbers, password, and security questions. If you haven’t set up 2FA, do so.
During the account recovery process, you may receive communications from PayPal. Here’s how to determine the emails you receive are legitimate:
- Emails from PayPal always come from paypal.com. You won’t get official communications through email providers like Gmail or Microsoft Outlook.
- Emails from PayPal also won’t ask for sensitive info like passwords or credit card numbers.
- PayPal emails don’t begin with impersonal generic greetings like “Dear User” or “Hello PayPal Member.”
- Be sure to check for spoofed addresses by using free email verification tools like ZeroBounce or Email Checker.
- Be on the lookout for phishing emails with subject lines like “Your account has been suspended,” “You’ve been paid too much,” or “You’ve been paid.”
- When in doubt, don’t click. Forward the suspicious email to phishing@paypal.com
FAQs and Troubleshooting
What to do if you can't access the email (Gmail, Microsoft Outlook, etc.) linked to your PayPal account
If you can’t access the email linked to your PayPal account and are locked out as a result, the best option is to contact PayPal customer support. They can freeze your account while they investigate.
After you’ve given access back, you can update your security questions, phone number, and password. You can also set up 2FA to further protect your account.
Guidance on contacting customer service for unresolved issues
For unresolved issues, click the “Help” tab in your account settings and scroll down to click “Contact Us.”
At the bottom of the page, you’ll see options to message the PayPal AI Assistant, submit a ticket to the Resolution Center, Ask the PayPal Community, or call PayPal customer service at 1-888-221-1161. International customers can call 1-402-935-2050.
For faster service, enter the 6-digit code you see on the page at the beginning of the call.
Tips on keeping your account secure from unauthorized access and potential hack attempts
The top four (4) things you can do to keep your PayPal account secure are:
- Creating a strong password with the LastPass generator
- Using LastPass to securely store your password and passkeys
- Enabling two-factor authentication (2FA) on your PayPal account
- Keeping your phone number and email updated to aid account recovery efforts
