Google Play Store is one of the most popular app stores around the world. It’s a home to over 2.9 million apps (as of March 2021) and is widely used by Android users. It offers various categories of apps, including free and paid ones. Since it contains many personal information and credit card details, frequent password changes is essential to keep it secure. If you’re new to Google Play Store and want to change your password, this blog post is for you.
Video Tutorial:
The Challenge of Changing My Google Play Store Password
One of the common challenges that many users face while changing their Google Play Store password is not knowing the exact steps to follow. Another issue is not being able to remember their existing password which might lead to account lockout. With the ever-changing digital landscape, being a victim of an online attack is likely, and such attacks can expose your login credentials compromising your account’s safety. Hence, protecting your Google Play Store account with a strong password is more essential than ever.
Things You Should Prepare for
Before accessing your Google Play Store account, there are a few things you’d want to have. These things include:
- Your Google Play Store account ID or Email address associated with the account
- Your old password
- The new password that you want to set
- A stable internet connection
- A trusted device with internet access, such as a smartphone or a computer
Method 1: Changing Your Google Play Store Password via App on your Android device
Follow the steps below to change your Google Play Store password using your Android device:
- Launch the Google Play Store app on your android device
- Tap on the Menu button in the left corner of the app
- Select ‘Settings’ from the list of options that appears
- Tap on the ‘Account’ option and select ‘Sign-in & security’
- Select ‘Password’
- Enter your old password and your new password
- Save the new password
Pros:
- It’s simple and convenient for Android users as they can navigate the app and the settings easily
Cons:
- It’s only available for Android devices. There’s no provision of future access for iOS or desktop users.
- It’s time-consuming if your device has low storage or runs slowly.
Method 2: Changing Your Google Play Store Password via Gmail on your Desktop
- Launch your desktop browser and go to ‘Gmail’ or ‘Google’ (log in with your Google ID details)
- Select the ‘Security’ option to access account settings
- Select ‘Password’ and check your identity with the additional prompts
- Enter your old password and your new password
- Click on ‘Change Password’
Pros:
- Accessible from a desktop computer with a browser making it convenient for desktop and laptop users.
- You can log in to newly acquired devices without hassle.
- The option of 2-step verification enhances security for Google accounts.
Cons:
- If you are in a shared device such as a university computer, it’s not quite accessible due to login requirements.
Method 3: Changing Your Google Play Store Password on Google Play Store Website
- Go to Google Play Store webpage (play.google.com) and log in with your Google account details.
- Click on ‘Settings’ (gear icon) at the top right corner of the page and select ‘Google Account’ from the dropdown.
- To access your security settings, select ‘Security’ on the left pane
- Locate ‘Signing in to Google’ and click on passwords’
- Enter your old password and new password in the prompted fields
- Save Changes
Pros:
- Access can be made via devices of any kind – desktop, tablet, or smartphone.
- The feature of recovering passwords via email or phone number enables easy password recovery.
Cons:
- Requires an internet browser and a stable WiFi connection.
Method 4: Changing Your Google Play Store Password via Google Account Recovery
If you are unable to change your password via the mentioned methods, account recovery can help you. Google Account Recovery is a process for users to get back their account if they have lost control over it, such as forgetting the password.
- Go to the Google Sign-in page
- Enter your Google ID and click on ‘forgot password.’
- Enter the old password if you have any, or opt for another verification technique such as phone number or email (you can select either)
- An OTP will be sent to your registered phone or email address
- Validate OTP and create a new password for your account
Pros:
- Can be accessed via any device including Desktop, tablet, or smartphone.
- You can still access the account if you can’t remember old password
Cons:
- It is time-consuming since Google takes longer to authenticate your account before resetting your password.
Why Can’t I Change My Google Play Store Password?
If you can’t change your Google Play Store account, here are a few reasons why:
1. You don’t have the right account credentials, such as login credentials or contact details to recover the account
2. Too many recovery attempts have caused a temporary lock of your account And fixes:
– Wait for a few hours and try again.
– Verify your ID or update your phone/email information on your Google account settings.
3. Third-party access is interfering with your account recovery process.
Additional Tips
- Ensure your new password is a mix of characters—upper and lower case letters, symbols, and numerals for increased security.
- Keep your password in a secure location where it can’t be accessed by anyone.
- Use a password manager for convenience and added security
5 FAQs about Changing My Google Play Store Password
Q1: How often should I change my Google Play Store password?
A: It’s a good practice to change your passwords every 90 days or less.
Q2: Does changing my Google Play store password impact my Google account password or usernames in other applications?
A: No, it only changes your password on the Google Play Store app.
Q3: How can I tell that my Google Play Store password has been successfully changed?
A: After you save your new password, you will get a notification or prompt you that your password has changed successfully.
Q4: Is my Google Play Store password case-sensitive?
A: Yes. Passwords are case-sensitive. It’s essential to be consistent with your typing.
Q5: Can I retrieve my old or previous passwords for my Google Play Store?
A: No. Google Play store does not offer that function. You can only retrieve it via account recovery prompts.
In Conclusion
Changing your Google Play Store Password is crucial for secure and safe usage of the app store. The article above has provided you with four methods to reset your password – via Android device, Gmail, Google Play Store website, and Google account recovery. In conclusion, it is important to remember to keep your passwords secure and think about why you’re changing your password to help in deciding the best approach for you.