You can change your Ancestry® password or reset it if you forget it. 

If you created an Ancestry account using Sign up with Apple, you might not yet have an Ancestry password. For help adding a password, see Creating an Ancestry® Password. 

Changing your password

To change your password, you must be signed in. If you’re not signed in or you’ve forgotten your password, skip to resetting your password. 

From a browser: 

Change your password   and skip to step 3.

Or, 

1. Go to Account settings. If prompted, sign in.
2. Under Account information, click Password.
3. Enter a new password twice to confirm it. 
   
   Passwords are case-sensitive, should not be common or well-known, and must:
   • be at least 8 characters
   • contain at least 1 number
   • contain 1 letter or special symbol
     
     
4. Enter your current password and click Update password.
   If you’ve forgotten your password, click “Don’t know your password?” and follow the steps under Resetting your password beginning at step 2. 

 

From the app:

1. Open the Ancestry app and sign in.
   If you’ve forgotten your password, see resetting your password.
2. In the top-left corner, tap your profile.
3. Scroll down and tap Account (iOS) or Account settings (android)..
4. Under Account settings (iOS) or Account information (android), tap Change Password.
5. Enter your current password.
6. Enter a new password. 
   
   Passwords are case-sensitive, should not be common or well-known, and must:
   • be at least 8 characters
   • contain at least 1 number
   • contain 1 letter or special symbol
     
     
7. Tap Save. 

 

Resetting your password

To reset your password, you’ll need access to the email address associated with your Ancestry account. If you can no longer access that email address, contact us for help. 

If you can sign in or are signed in, see changing your password to update your password instead of resetting it.

From a browser: 

Reset your password   and skip to step 2. 

Or,

1. On our sign-in page, click Don't know your password?
2. Enter your email address and select Continue. 
   
   Do not close or navigate away from this page. If we have an account linked to that email, we’ll send a password reset code within 5 minutes, and you’ll enter it on this page. Only request it once within 5 minutes.
   
   
3. In a separate tab or window, check your email inbox for a 6-digit code from Ancestry. 
   
   If you don’t get an email:
   • See Not Getting Ancestry® Emails.
   • Your account may be linked with another email address. Try your other email addresses. 
   • Contact us.
     
     
4. Enter the code and click Continue. 
5. On the Reset Password page, enter your new password twice to confirm it, then click Continue.
   
   Passwords are case-sensitive, should not be common or well-known, and must:
   • be at least 8 characters
   • contain at least 1 number
   • contain 1 letter or special symbol
     
     
6. Click Continue. Your password will be updated, and we’ll sign you into your account. 

From the app: 

1. Open the Ancestry app and choose Sign in.
2. On the App’s sign-in page, tap Forgot Password?
3. Enter your email address and select Continue.
   
   Do not close or navigate away from this screen. If we have an account linked to that email, we’ll send a password reset code within 5 minutes, and you’ll enter it here. Only request it once within 5 minutes.
    
4. Check your email inbox for a 6-digit code from Ancestry.
   
   If you don’t get an email:
   • Tap Resend code
   • See Not Getting Ancestry® Emails.
   • Try your other email addresses. 
   • Contact us.
     
     
5. Enter the code and tap Continue.
6. Enter a new password.
   
   Passwords are case-sensitive, should not be common or well-known, and must:    
   • be at least 8 characters
   • contain at least 1 number
   • contain 1 letter or special symbol
     
     
7. Tap Submit. Your password will be updated, and we’ll sign you into the app. 

 

Frequently asked questions

Where is the sign in page?
You’ll find the sign in button in the top-right corner of most Ancestry pages. If you don't see it, you or someone else might already be signed in. To switch accounts, click the profile in the top-right corner and choose Sign Out.

What if I don’t know my username?
If you're unsure of your username, try signing in with your email address or see Finding Your Username for help.

To change your username, follow the steps in Changing Your Username.

What if I can no longer access that email address? 
If you can’t access the email address linked to your Ancestry® account, contact us for help resetting your password.

What do I do if I receive multiple password reset codes?
If you received multiple password reset codes, use the most recent code; only the newest one works.

What if my new password doesn't work?
If you've recently changed or reset your password and it’s not working:

• Make sure you’re entering the new password, not using a saved one.
• If that doesn’t work, clear your cache and cookies and try again.
• If you’re still having problems signing in, contact us. 

What if a page or button isn’t working? 
If a button doesn’t respond or a page won’t load, clear your cache and cookies and try signing in again. If that doesn’t work, follow the steps in Fixing Page or Button Problems on Ancestry and try signing in again. 

What if I used Apple to sign up and don’t know my account details?
If you signed up with Apple, you may not have an Ancestry password. You can sign in with Apple or create an ancestry password.

If you chose “Hide my Email,” Apple might have created an email address for you. For help finding this, see Finding your Apple Relay Email. 

Contact us
How can we help?