Add, change, or remove a recovery method

Don't get locked out of your Yahoo account! It's important to keep a valid mobile phone number or email address linked to your account in case you ever lose your password, want to switch over to a secure, password-free sign in, need to verify your identity if you sign in from an unfamiliar place, or want to receive notifications of changes made to your account.

Manage your recovery numbers and email addresses

You can add or replace up to 10 email addresses. This limit includes current emails and any that have been recently removed.

Add a mobile number or email address

From a web browser:

  1. Sign in to the Yahoo Account Security page.
  2. Click Add email or Add phone number.
  3. Enter your new recovery info.
  4. Click Add email or Add mobile number.
  5. Follow the on-screen prompts to verify your new info.

From most Yahoo mobile apps:

  1. In the upper left, tap your Profile icon.
  2. Tap Manage accounts.
  3. Tap Account info.
  4. Tap Security Settings.
  5. Tap Add email or Add phone number.
  6. Follow the on-screen prompts to enter and verify your new info.

Edit a mobile number or email address

From a web browser:

  1. Sign in to the Yahoo Account Security page.
  2. Click Edit next to the verification option you want to change.
  3. Click the Edit icon Image of the Edit icon. next to the recovery option you want to change.
  4. Enter your new recovery info.
  5. Click Confirm.
  6. Follow the on-screen prompts to verify your new info.

From most Yahoo mobile apps:

  1. In the upper left, tap your Profile icon.
  2. Tap Manage accounts.
  3. Tap Account info.
  4. Tap Security Settings.
  5. Tap Edit next to the verification option you want to change.
  6. Tap the Edit icon Image of the Edit icon. next to the recovery option you want to change.
  7. Enter your new recovery info.
  8. Tap Confirm.
  9. Follow the on-screen prompts to verify your new info.

Delete a mobile number or email address

From a web browser:

  1. Sign in to the Yahoo Account Security page.
  2. Click Edit next to the verification option you want to delete.
  3. Click the Edit icon Image of the Edit icon. next to the recovery option you want to delete.
  4. Click Remove from my account.
  5. Follow the on-screen prompts to confirm the deletion.

From most Yahoo mobile apps:

  1. In the upper left, tap your Profile icon.
  2. Tap Manage accounts.
  3. Tap Account info.
  4. Tap Security Settings.
  5. Tap Edit next to the verification option you want to delete.
  6. Tap the Edit icon Image of the Edit icon. next to the recovery option you want to delete.
  7. Tap Remove from my account.
  8. Follow the on-screen prompts to confirm the deletion.

Verify a mobile number or email address

From a web browser:

  1. Sign in to the Yahoo Account Security page.
  2. Click Edit next to any unverified recovery option.
  3. Click Verify now next to any unverified recovery option.
  4. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the verification process.

From most Yahoo mobile apps:

  1. In the upper left, tap your Profile icon.
  2. Tap Manage accounts.
  3. Tap Account info.
  4. Tap Security Settings.
  5. Tap Edit next to any unverified recovery option.
  6. Tap Verify now next to any unverified recovery option.
  7. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the verification process.

Unlink recovery info from an unused account

Note: If you unlink a recovery option using this method, you won't be able to add that same recovery option back to your account again. To remove a recovery method, but still retain the option to add it back again in the future, follow the steps above to "Delete a mobile number or email address."

Before disconnecting a phone number or email address, you’ll need to be signed out of the associated account.

  1. Go to the Sign-in Helper.
  2. Enter your mobile phone number or alternate email address.
  3. Type your First and Last name.
  4. Click Continue.
  5. Click Yes, send me a code.
    - We'll send a verification code to your phone or email.
  6. Enter the verification code in the field provided.
  7. Click Verify.
  8. Click the More icon Image of the More icon. next to the account you want to unlink | select Unlink this account.
  9. Click Unlink account to confirm.