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:

  • Have access to a Yahoo email account (or create a Yahoo email account).

  • An Android or iOS device.

  • The Yahoo Mail app from the Google Play Store or the iOS App Store.

  • Download and launch the Yahoo Mail app.

  • Sign in to your Yahoo email account.

  • 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.

  • Select the Key icon next to your email address.

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

  • Select Set up Account Key.

  • Select the green check mark on the Sample Account Key screen.

  • Select Got it.

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

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

  • 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.

Download and launch the Yahoo Mail app.

Sign in to your Yahoo email account.

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.

Select the Key icon next to your email address.

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

Select Set up Account Key.

Select the green check mark on the Sample Account Key screen.

Select Got it.

Confirm your mobile number by selecting Enable Yahoo Account Key.

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

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

  • Launch a web browser.
  • Navigate to https://yahoo.com.
  • Select Mail in the upper-right corner.
  • Enter your Yahoo email account and select Next.
  • 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.
  • If you don’t receive the notification on your mobile device, select Resend on the link to push it to your mobile device again.
  • After choosing Yes, you will get access to your email account.

Launch a web browser.

Navigate to https://yahoo.com.

Select Mail in the upper-right corner.

Enter your Yahoo email account and select Next.

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.

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

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

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