How to Deal with Access Key Log-In to Yahoo Mail

Yahoo Mail's replacement for on-demand passwords

What to Know

  • Set up Access Key: Open the Yahoo Mail app and sign in. Select the menu icon, Tap the key icon. Choose Set Up Account Key.
  • Choose Yes > Got It. Verify a recovery email and select Enable Account Key.
  • Use Access Key in browser: Type your Yahoo Mail username to sign in. Click Continue. Open the Yahoo Mail app on phone. Tap Yes.

This article explains how to set up Access Key for Yahoo Mail on your iOS or Android mobile device. It includes information on using the Access Key with a browser, recovery options, and how to disable Yahoo Mail Access Key.

Enable Access Key for Yahoo Mail

The Access Key feature has replaced on-demand passwords in Yahoo Mail. With Access Key, you need just tap on your phone to log in to Yahoo Mail—with no password to type or forget.

To turn on Access Key for your Yahoo Mail account and log in using only the Yahoo Mail app for iOS or Android:

  1. Make sure the Yahoo Mail app is installed on your iOS or Android device.

  2. Open the Yahoo Mail app and sign into your account.

  3. In your Inbox, select the account menu icon (iOS) or the hamburger menu icon (Android).

  4. Select the key icon next to your name.

  5. Select Setup Account Key.

  6. Select Yes under This is a sample Account Key.

    This is how Account Key authentication will look like for Yahoo Mail; note the device, IP address and time for the requested key at the bottom and make sure they are familiar.

    Screenshots of the Yahoo Mail app showing setting up an Account Key
  7. Selecting Yes logs you into Yahoo Mail.

  8. Selecting No denies access.

  9. Select Got it.

  10. Verify Yahoo Mail has a recovery phone number on file where you can receive SMS text messages.

  11. Select Enable Account Key.

  12. Select Great, got it! under You’re using Account Key.

    Screenshots of the Yahoo Mail app showing how to enable Account Key
  13. Make sure to set up application passwords for all email programs you use with Yahoo Mail using IMAP or POP access.

Log On to Yahoo Mail Using Account Key

To sign in to your Yahoo Mail account using Account Key in a browser:

  1. Type your Yahoo Mail username or the complete Yahoo Mail email address over Email address under Sign in to your account.

  2. Click Continue under, well, Click continue to use Account Key.

  3. Open the Yahoo Mail app on your phone.

  4. Check the sign in data (device, browser, IP address, and date) under Are you trying to sign in?.

  5. Tap Yes if you recognize the details.

Add Recovery Options to Your Yahoo Mail Account

To add a recovery email address or phone number which you can use to confirm your account if you ever lose access to the device with Account Key:

  1. Click your name in the top Yahoo Mail navigation bar.

    A screenshot of a Yahoo Mail inbox with the Profile icon highlighted
  2. Select the Account Info link.

    A screenshot of Yahoo Mail with the Account Info link highlighted
  3. Go to the Account security category.

    A screenshot of Yahoo Mail settings with the Account Security section highlighted
  4. If prompted, log on using Access Key.

Add Recovery Email Address

To add an email address for recovery:

  1. Select Add Recovery Email Address.

    If you do not see Add recovery email address, click Email addresses first.

    A screenshot of Yahoo's Account Security page with the "Add Recovery Email Address" link highlighted
  2. Type the email address you want to add over Email address. Select Send verification email.

    A screenshot of Yahoo's Account Security screen with the "Send Verification Email" button highlighted
  3. Check the email account whose address you added for a message from Yahoo with the subject Please verify your alternate email address. Follow the verification link in the email and select Verify.

Add Phone Number for Recovery

To add a phone number for recovery:

  1. Select Add recovery phone number.

    If you do not see Add recovery phone number, click Phone numbers first.

    

    A screenshot of Yahoo Mail's Account Security screen with the Add Recovery Phone Number button highlighted
  2. Enter the phone number over Mobile Number.

    A screenshot of Yahoo Mail's Phone Numbers window with the Mobile Number field highlighted
  3. Select Send SMS or Call Me.

    A screenshot of Yahoo Mail's Phone Numbers window with the "Send SMS" and "Call Me" buttons highlighted
  4. Enter the code you received and select Verify.

Disable Yahoo Mail Access Key

To turn off Access Key for a Yahoo Mail account and return to either a static password alone or two-step authentication:

  1. Select your name in Yahoo Mail and choose Account Info.

    A screenshot of Yahoo Mail with the Account Info link highlighted
  2. Open the Account Security tab.

    A screenshot of Yahoo Mail settings with the Account Security section highlighted
  3. Select Manage next to Yahoo Account Key is enabled.

    A screenshot of Yahoo Mail's Account Security screen with the Manage link highlighted
  4. Select Disable Account Key at the bottom of the window.

  5. Confirm that you want to disable the account key and select Got It to return to Yahoo Mail settings. You can now log in without using the account key.

Security Beyond Passwords for Yahoo Mail

Once you set up Access Key for your account using the Yahoo Mail apps for iOS or Android, the app is all you need to log in anywhere (with the exception of email programs that connect to Yahoo Mail using IMAP or POP; for these, you need to create passwords).

Logging in using Access Key is supremely convenient. When you open Yahoo Mail in a browser, an authentication request is sent to the app, and all you need to do is tap "Yes" to authorize it.

What If You Lose Your Yahoo Mail Access Key Phone?

Without a password to lose, what is there to lose? Ah… your phone; but no worries! It’s not like it now is the key to your Yahoo Mail account.

The key is not to lose the device you have set up for Yahoo Mail Access Key.

Realistically, though, phones get lost and devices, too. So, to keep your Yahoo Mail account secure:

  • Make sure your phone is securely locked; nobody can log in to your account if the phone without unlocking the device.
  • Make sure you have recovery phone numbers and email addresses specified for your Yahoo Mail account so you can log in to your account and disable Access Key on the lost device.
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