What to do when you have forgotten your password

5 years ago by Nigel Kags and 1183901 Views

Firstly, forgetting your password is very normal. Don’t worry and rush to think that you are growing old. With all the accounts we create online on many different platforms, forgetting your password is expected.

In this guide we will take you through the general necessary steps that you have to take when you have forgotten your password. You will fully understand the process because once you do it with us, you will never forget. Follow the steps below and be sure to solve your problem in minutes.

Let’s get right into it.

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Step 1 – Visit the website

Visit the website that you have forgotten the password for. Enter your email & click the Next button to proceed to the Sign In page.

Step 2 – Locate forgotten password link

On the Sign In page, there is a link usually written “Forgot your password?”, “I forgot my password”, “Forgotten password?” etc. Click the “I forgot my password” link and you will be taken to the first stage of the verification process of resetting your forgotten password.

Step 3 – Verification process

On the page you are taken to, depending on the website you have an account on, you will be asked to verify yourself. This is the first section of the verification process and it can be done through answering security questions that you have set answers to. These security questions are to verify that you are indeed the owner of the account as you will be the only one who knows the answers. There are many other ways that are used for verification. The verification process differs with each website so be sure to fully read & understand the instructions you are given. Some websites prefer to send a verification code to your mobile device or email to ensure that you are the account owner.

Step 4 – Approval & confirmation

Usually after answering the security questions or entering the verification code, you are requested to enter select a way that you want to receive the verification code. Receive it either on your mobile device or an email address that you have access to. For mobile devices, a verification code will be sent to your phone number that is associated with your account. For emails, the email address is where the forgotten password reset link or verification code for the website you have forgotten the password for is sent. Depending on which service provider, you can either click the forgotten password reset link or copy and paste the verification code. Be sure to put in a working accessible phone number or email address as this is the last section of the verification process.

Step 5 – Enter verification code

Once you have clicked the link or copied the verification code for pasting, return to the website. This is where you are asked to enter the verification code and click Continue.

Step 6 – Create a strong new password

A message pops up confirming that your verification was successful. You are now able to create a new password.

Step 7 – Proceed to Sign in

You can now create a strong password that is easy to remember. When you have created a password and confirmed it, you can click the Continue.

Step 8 – Password reset confirmation

Once your password is updated, a pop up message is displayed to notify you that your password change was successful.

10 quick tips on how to create and store your passwords

1. When you are creating a password, be sure to think hard on how to create a strong password that you can easily
2. Keep your new password confidential and keep it safe away from intruders.
3. Include symbols, numbers together with lower and upper case letters.
4. Be sure to not use the same password for multiple accounts.
5. Avoid using any personal information. E.g. date of birth
6. Change your passwords regularly.
7. Get accustomed to password managers.
8. Never share your password with anyone.
9. Do not save your passwords for your accounts on the browser.
10. Use “passphrases” rather than “passwords”. E.g. favourite song lyric

And that’s it!