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:

Log On to Yahoo Mail Using Account Key

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

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:

Add Recovery Email Address

To add an email address for recovery:

Add Phone Number for Recovery

To add a phone number for recovery:

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: 

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.