How to change or reset your Mozilla account password
Mozilla Account
Mozilla AccountLast updated:37% of users voted this helpful
This guide will help you update or recover your Mozilla account password. If you’re signed in, you can change your password directly. If you’re locked out, you have reset options based on your account setup and data needs.
Change your Mozilla account password
If you’re signed in to your Mozilla account, click the heading below to view and follow the steps to change your password.
If you can sign in to your Mozilla account, you can change your password by following these simple steps:
Before you begin, it’s important to understand the two types of data associated with your account.
Browser data includes information such as browsing history, bookmarks, saved passwords and settings, stored directly on your device. This data remains accessible as long as you have the device and haven’t removed the data.
Encrypted data is created when you use Sync. You can choose to sync selected data, which is then stored on Mozilla’s servers in an encrypted form to ensure privacy and security. You can access encrypted data from any device where you’re signed in with your Mozilla account.
Impact on data after a password reset: If you reset your account password with a recovery key, you keep access to encrypted sync data (like bookmarks, passwords and settings) on Mozilla’s servers. The recovery key keeps this data connected to your account. Without the recovery key, this synced data is erased for security. However, if you reset your password on a device that has a local copy of your data, signing in with your new password will re-upload the local data to Sync. On a device without local data, the synced data will be permanently lost. Note: Resetting your Mozilla account password doesn’t impact subscriptions or payment details, as these are managed separately.
Select the reset option below that best fits your setup to keep your data intact.
Reset password and keep encrypted data like bookmarks, history and passwords
If you’re locked out, a recovery key is required to reset your password without losing synced encrypted data. Click the heading below for detailed steps.
After resetting your password, a new account recovery key will be generated for you.
Note: Recovery keys expire after every use, so it’s important to replace the previous one you had saved.
Reset password without keeping encrypted data like bookmarks, history and passwords
Resetting your password without a recovery key deletes synced encrypted data (bookmarks, history, tabs, passwords…) from Mozilla’s servers. Local copies on your device remain and can be re-synced upon login.
Important for Sync users: If you reset your password without a recovery key, all encrypted data saved through Sync on Mozilla’s servers will be erased.
If you have Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) enabled, you will be asked to enter the code from your application at this time.
Create a new password.
Warning: If you are a Sync user and likely to have data stored on Mozilla’s servers, a warning will appear informing you that your encrypted browser data may be deleted. This applies only to data stored on the servers and will not affect the data stored locally on your device.
For users with a recovery key configured
If you have a recovery key but clicked Can't find your recovery key?, you will see a slightly different message regarding data recovery. In this case, you will be prompted with a screen guiding you to retrieve your recovery key or continue without it.
For users with a recovery key who clicked “Can't find your recovery key?”
For users without a recovery key
Reset password without keeping data like bookmarks, history and passwords
If you only need to reset your password and don’t need to recover any data, click the section below and follow the steps.
Enter the confirmation code from the email, and click Continue.
If you have Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) enabled, you will be asked to enter the code from your application at this time.
Follow the on-screen instructions to create a new password.
After signing in with your new password, you’ll need to sign in again on all of your devices.
Note for Sync users: We recommend creating an account recovery key. This allows you to securely restore your information (such as passwords, bookmarks and settings) in the event you forget your password again. This does not include subscription related information, as that is stored separately.
Restore locally stored browser data after a Mozilla account password reset
If you’re using the same device, your data is already safe!
Sign in with Mozilla in Firefox with your new password.
Click Sync now in the Firefox menu .
Sign in with your new password on your original device first.
Click Sync now in the Firefox menu .
Sign in with your new password on the new device and sync.
If you are moving to a new device or using a version of Firefox that no longer supports sync, you can transfer your browser data via the Firefox backup assistant as long as you still have your original device.
If your original device is unavailable or data was erased in a crash or reset, the locally stored data – like passwords, bookmarks and settings – cannot be recovered.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, resetting your password without a recovery key will delete all encrypted data (such as bookmarks, history and saved passwords) stored on Mozilla’s servers. However, if you still have your original device with local copies, signing back in with your new password will re-upload this data to Sync.
Yes, if you have a recovery key set up, you can reset your password and keep your synced data on Mozilla’s servers. The recovery key keeps your account connected to your encrypted data, preventing data loss during a password reset.
A password reset affects encrypted sync data stored on Mozilla’s servers, including bookmarks, history, passwords and settings. Local browser data on your device remains unaffected and accessible as long as you have the device.
This message means you’re trying to sign in with a secondary email address. Your account is associated with a different, primary email address. Make sure to sign in using that primary email.
Primary Passwords are different from Mozilla account passwords. The primary password secures saved logins in the Firefox browser, while your Mozilla account password is used to access your Mozilla account. For details, see Use a Primary Password with Sync.
Last updated:
37% of users voted this helpful
