How to change your password in Messenger

Cybercriminals have not made it easy for Facebook Messenger. As technology advances, they invent new ways to crack user passwords and access private messages. While Facebook tries to eliminate password breaches, you can keep your Messenger account secure by changing your password regularly.

If you don’t know how to change your Messenger password, you’ve come to the right place. This article tells you everything you need to know.

How to change Messenger password

Changing your Messenger password is a healthy security habit, even when you haven’t experienced a breach. It becomes more crucial when you share your password with someone, notice suspicious activities on your account, or when your password is weak.

Since Messenger is an extension of Facebook, they use the same passwords. This is good because it offers several ways to change your Messenger password.

Change Messenger password in the mobile app

Here’s how you change your Messenger password in the app:

1. Launch your Messenger app and tap your profile icon in the top left corner. If you have multiple Messenger accounts, make sure you’re signed in to the account you want to edit.
   
2. The previous step opens your Messenger profile settings. Scroll to the bottom and select “See more in Account Center.”
   
3. In your account settings, select “Password & Security.”
   
4. Choose the first option, “Change Password.”
   
5. In the box above, type your current password. In the middle, enter your new password. Retype your new password in the box below and tap “Save Changes.”
   
6. A new window opens asking if you want to sign out of other devices or stay signed in. Choose what suits you best. This will take you back to the security screen. The next time you want to sign in to Messenger, use your new password.
   

Change Messenger password from the Facebook app on Android and iOS

You can change your Messenger password from your Facebook mobile app with these steps:

1. Open your Facebook app and sign in to the account linked to your Messenger account. Tap the “Burger” menu (three horizontal lines) in the top left corner.
2. Scroll to “Settings & Privacy” and select “Settings” below.
   
3. On the page that opens, find “Account” and tap “Password & Security.”
   
4. Navigate to the “Sign In” p and tap “Change Password.”
   
5. Type your active password in the top box and your new password in the middle. Enter your new password again and tap “Change Password.” Choose whether you want to sign out of other devices or stay signed in.
   

Change your Messenger password on Mac and Windows

When you use a PC or Mac, here’s how to change your Messenger password:

1. Launch your browser and go to the official Facebook page. Enter your email and password and tap “Sign in.”
2. Navigate to the top right corner of your Facebook home page and tap the “Profile” icon.
   
3. Select “Settings & Privacy” and tap “Settings” in the menu that appears.
   
4. The previous step opens the “Account Center”, from which you can manage all your Meta accounts. Navigate to the left sidebar and select “Password & Security.”
   
5. On the password and security page, tap “Change Password.” A window appears asking you to select your Meta account whose password you want to change.
   
6. Enter your current and new password on the change password page. Enter the new password and save the changes.
   

Choose whether you want to sign out or stay signed in on other devices.

What if you don’t remember your current Messenger password?

If you have more than five personal accounts that use different passwords, you’re likely to forget your Messenger password. Fortunately, Facebook has provided a way out when this happens. However, when using this method, you must have the email or phone number connected to your account.

If you don’t remember your current password and have logged out, do the following:

1. Sign in to your Messenger or Facebook account using the mobile app or browser.
   
2. On the login page, click the “Forgot my password” link. This launches the account recovery page.
   
3. Enter the email or phone number linked to your Messenger account and tap “Find Account.”
   
4. A new window appears asking if you want to receive a verification code via SMS or email. Select the method that is right for you and tap “Continue.”
   
5. Enter the six-digit verification code sent to your email or SMS and select “Continue.”
   
6. Enter your new password and select “Continue” and you are ready to go.
   

Alternatively, you can find your current Messenger or Facebook password from your Google Chrome account as follows:

1. Open your Chrome account and tap your profile in the top right corner.
   
2. Select “Security.”
   
3. Scroll to “Facebook” and select it. This opens all your Facebook accounts and their passwords.
   
4. Select the account you want and tap the “Eye” icon to the right of “Password.” You’ll see your current Messenger or Facebook password.
   

Remember, you can only access your Messenger password using the above method if you have a Google account and allowed Google to save your Messenger password.

How to ensure your Messenger password is secure

There’s nothing wrong with protecting your Messenger password in as many ways as possible. You can also use the following measures in addition to changing your password periodically.

Create a strong password

A strong password is unique, complex and long, making it difficult for cybercriminals to guess or crack it. It must have the following qualities:

• It must be at least seven characters, including lowercase and uppercase letters, numbers, and special symbols. However, it should be easy for you to remember.
• Your password must be unique only to your Messenger account. That is, you should not use the password of another account.
• Do not use personal information, such as your name or date of birth.

Once you create a strong password, make sure it remains secret. You shouldn’t share it with anyone else. Also, if you save your password in your browser, check that your Google Chrome account password is safe and secure.

Use two-factor authentication

Although two-factor authentication can be annoying when you urgently want to access your account, it adds an impenetrable layer of security to your Messenger account. In addition to using a password to log in, it requires a code sent to your phone or email. Even if someone cracked your password, you won’t be able to log in without the code.

This is how you enable two-factor authentication on your Messenger:

1. Go to your Messenger or Facebook account, go to the “Settings & Privacy” menu, and tap “Settings.”
   
2. In the settings menu, select “Security and sign-in.”
   
3. Choose “Two-factor authentication.” The new page has three authentication methods: authenticator app, text message and security key. Select the right one for you and tap “Continue.”
   
4. Complete the activation process by following the on-screen instructions. The next time you sign in to your Messenger account, you’ll need a password and verification code.

Secure your Messenger account with a new password

If it’s been three months since you changed your Messenger password, consider creating a new one. Cybersecurity experts propose that changing your password once every three months will keep your account safe. With the previous steps, you will be able to change your password whether you have the current one or if you have forgotten it.

When was the last time you changed your Messenger password? Which of the above methods did you use? Tell us in the comments p below.