Tired of Yahoo Mail refusing to connect to Outlook or Thunderbird even though you know the user name and password to be correct? Two-step authentication adds security but can trip up older programs. Find out here how to generate an app password for Yahoo Mail ⤓ so you can reliably access your emails using IMAP and POP.
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How to Generate a Yahoo Mail App Password
In a Desktop Browser
Time needed: 5 minutes
To set up a new POP or IMAP email password for Yahoo Mail:
- Click your name or avatar in Yahoo Mail on the web.
- Select Manage Your Account, Overview or Account Info on the sheet that has appeared.
- Log in to Yahoo if you are prompted.
- Go to the Security category.
- Now click Create app password under External connections.
- Type a name that will help you recognize the application’s password under Enter your app’s name.
Important: Do create a new password for each application. You can then selectively disable access only for this application (when you no longer use it or, importantly, when it has been compromised) if you remove the associated password.
- Click Generate password.
- Copy and paste the password right into the app.
Important: You cannot recover this password if you do not copy it now.
When it’s lost: You can always delete a lost or forgotten Yahoo app password, of course, and create a new one. - Now click Done.
Their word: Yahoo include information on app passwords in account help.
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In the Yahoo Mail App (Android and iOS)
To create a new application password using the Yahoo Mail app for iOS or Android:
- Tap the Y! menu button.
- Now tap Account key.
- Tap Get an app password.
- Copy and paste the generated password.
How to Delete an Application Password
To revoke an app-specific password and prevent any application from accessing Yahoo email using it:
- Open your Yahoo Account Security section in a browser.
- Go to the App passwords tab under External connections.
- Select the app password you want to delete.
- Click Delete.
- Now click Delete again
How to Generate a Yahoo Mail App Password: FAQ
When should I delete an app password?
Delete app passwords for Yahoo as soon as you stop using the application for which you created the password.
Will deleting one app password disable other app passwords?
No.
All other app passwords will continue to work if you delete one.
(First published November 2020, last updated June 2026)