What is Yahoo Account Key and How Does it Work?

How to use Yahoo's no-password login

Passwords can be a liability. If anyone learns your password, they can access your account from anywhere without you noticing. A Yahoo account key is a security feature that Yahoo enabled for its email services to eliminate the need for a password.

This feature allows you to access your email with a click on your mobile device without needing to remember and enter a password. You have a physical verification from a trusted device whenever you access your email account, instead of relying on a hackable string of characters.

How to Configure Yahoo Account Key

Before you set up your Yahoo Account Key, you need to meet some requirements:

  1. Download and launch the Yahoo Mail app.

    Install, Open, Sign in with Yahoo buttons in Yahoo Mail for Android
  2. Sign in to your Yahoo email account.

    Next, Sign in, Yahoo Mail interface on Android
  3. Select the Menu icon in the upper-left corner.

    In some version of the app on Android, you'll need to tap the Profile icon instead of the Menu icon.

  4. Select the Key icon next to your email address.

    On Android you may need to tap the Account key link.

  5. Select Set up Account Key.

    Menu button, Key icon, Set up Account Key on Yahoo Mail app
  6. Select the green check mark on the Sample Account Key screen.

  7. Select Got it.

  8. Confirm your mobile number by selecting Enable Yahoo Account Key.

    Green checkmark, Got it button, Enable Yahoo Account key button on Android

    If the mobile number that shows up isn't yours, select Update my phone number and enter the correct information.

  9. You have successfully set up your Yahoo Account Key, select Great, got it! to go back to your Yahoo Mail app.

How to Use Your Yahoo Account Key

After setting up your Yahoo Account Key, it is time to use it.

  1. Launch a web browser.

  2. Navigate to https://yahoo.com.

  3. Select Mail in the upper-right corner.

    Mail button for Yahoo on the web
  4. Enter your Yahoo email account and select Next.

    Next button for Yahoo Mail sign in
  5. Follow the prompt on your mobile device where you set up the Yahoo Account Key to allow or deny the sign-in request. Select Yes to proceed or No if you didn't attempt to access your Yahoo email account.

    Yes button sign in confirmation on Android

    If you don't receive the notification on your mobile device, select Resend on the link to push it to your mobile device again.

  6. After choosing Yes, you will get access to your email account.

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