WEBVTT
Kind: captions
Language: en

00:00:01.339 --> 00:00:03.080
Has this ever happened to you?

00:00:03.080 --> 00:00:08.030
You go to log in to a website only to realize...you
can’t remember your password.

00:00:08.030 --> 00:00:10.630
Well don’t feel bad, it happens to everyone.

00:00:10.630 --> 00:00:15.309
The steps to recover your password vary slightly
from site to site, but generally speaking

00:00:15.309 --> 00:00:20.140
the majority of sites will have a few simple
steps you can follow to regain access to your

00:00:20.140 --> 00:00:21.140
account.

00:00:21.140 --> 00:00:23.190
Here are a few tips for getting started.

00:00:23.190 --> 00:00:27.810
On the login screen, most websites will have
a “Forgot Password” link.

00:00:27.810 --> 00:00:31.510
When you click this link, you’ll usually
be prompted to enter your email address, as

00:00:31.510 --> 00:00:36.780
well as additional information like your user
name, phone number, part of your social security

00:00:36.780 --> 00:00:42.120
number, or the answer to a pre-determined
security question - basically any information

00:00:42.120 --> 00:00:47.670
you provided when you first created your account,
that only you would know the answer to.

00:00:47.670 --> 00:00:51.610
Sites use this information in part to verify
that you are the account holder.

00:00:51.610 --> 00:00:55.670
But they’ll also need it for the next step
in the process - sending you information on

00:00:55.670 --> 00:00:57.489
how to get back into your account.

00:00:57.489 --> 00:01:03.280
At this point most sites will give you detailed
instructions on how to reset your password.

00:01:03.280 --> 00:01:08.340
Some sites may send you a temporary password,
though this is less common.

00:01:08.340 --> 00:01:13.000
Depending on the site and what contact information
you provided, you may even receive a text

00:01:13.000 --> 00:01:15.569
with your login details.

00:01:15.569 --> 00:01:19.729
After you’ve followed the steps and instructions
provided to you by the site, you should be

00:01:19.729 --> 00:01:22.060
able to log in to your account...

00:01:22.060 --> 00:01:25.899
But if you’ve tried these things and you’re
still having trouble getting into your account,

00:01:25.899 --> 00:01:28.869
look for the site’s “Contact Us” or
“Help” link.

00:01:28.869 --> 00:01:32.869
You’ll usually be able to find it at the
top or bottom of a page.

00:01:32.869 --> 00:01:36.490
There you’ll be able to fill out a form
or send a message about the issues you’re

00:01:36.490 --> 00:01:37.639
having logging in.

00:01:37.639 --> 00:01:41.719
The site should then be able to provide you
with more specific details about accessing

00:01:41.719 --> 00:01:44.079
your account.

00:01:44.079 --> 00:01:48.399
On the other hand, if you receive an email
or text about an attempt to change a password

00:01:48.399 --> 00:01:52.819
that you didn’t initiate, it could be a
sign that someone is trying to gain unauthorized

00:01:52.819 --> 00:01:55.329
access to one of your accounts.

00:01:55.329 --> 00:01:59.349
If this happens, don’t click any of the
links in the email, or confirm the password

00:01:59.349 --> 00:02:00.899
change.

00:02:00.899 --> 00:02:05.250
In a case like this, it probably wouldn’t
be a bad idea to change your password anyway,

00:02:05.250 --> 00:02:07.209
just to be safe.

00:02:07.209 --> 00:02:12.370
The best way to do this is by navigating directly
to the site by typing the URL into the address

00:02:12.370 --> 00:02:13.690
bar.

00:02:13.690 --> 00:02:17.049
Then just follow the directions on the site
to reset your password.