If you have an old Yahoo email account that you no longer use regularly, you may still want to access the account to retrieve old emails or contacts. Yahoo allows you to access inactive and closed email accounts for up to 90 days after closing. Here are some tips on how to access your old Yahoo email account.
Try logging in directly
The easiest way to access your old Yahoo email is to simply try logging in directly at the Yahoo login page. Go to https://login.yahoo.com/ and enter your old Yahoo email address and password. If the account is still active or has been closed within the last 90 days, you should be able to log in and access your emails.
Reset your password if needed
If you don’t remember your old Yahoo password, you can reset it by clicking the “Forgot password?” link on the Yahoo login page. Yahoo will send a password reset link to the alternate email you have listed on the account. Follow the instructions to create a new password and then try logging in again.
Check your account recovery options
Make sure you have a recovery email or phone number listed on your old Yahoo account. This allows Yahoo to verify your identity and send you a password reset link if you forget your password. To check your recovery options, try logging in and clicking “Account Info.”
Search your old emails
Once you’ve successfully logged into your old Yahoo account, you can search through your old emails. Click on the “Mail” icon and use the search bar at the top of the page to search for specific emails by subject, sender, keywords, etc. You can also browse your Yahoo email folders like Inbox, Sent, Drafts, etc.
Restore deleted emails
If you find emails missing from your old account, check the Deleted and Spam folders. Emails stay in those folders for 30 days before being permanently deleted. You may be able to restore deleted emails within that 30 day period.
Export or download your emails
To save copies of your old Yahoo emails outside of the account, you have a few options:
- Download individual emails by opening them and clicking the download icon.
- Select multiple emails at once, click the download icon, and choose “Download as .zip file.”
- Export your emails to another service like Google Takeout. Yahoo supports exporting emails via IMAP.
Update account information
While you have access to your old Yahoo account, you may want to update any recovery contact information like your alternate email or phone number. This will make it easier to get back into the account in the future if needed.
To update your account info:
- Click your profile icon at the top right of the page.
- Select “Account Info.”
- Click “Account security” and update your recovery options.
Choose what to do with the account
Once you’ve accessed your old emails and contacts, you have a few options in terms of what to do with the Yahoo account going forward:
- Keep the account active: If you want ongoing access to the account, make sure to log in periodically so Yahoo knows it is still in use.
- Close the account: You can choose to close the Yahoo account permanently if you no longer need it. You will have 90 days to reactivate it if you change your mind.
- Delete the account: For complete removal of the account, you can choose to delete it. Deleted accounts cannot be reactivated.
Access from a desktop email client
In addition to accessing your old Yahoo emails through the Yahoo Mail website, you can also set up the account in a desktop email client like Outlook or Thunderbird to view messages offline.
IMAP setup
To access your Yahoo account through IMAP, use these server settings:
| IMAP Server | imap.mail.yahoo.com |
|---|---|
| IMAP Port | 993 |
| Encryption | SSL/TLS |
Make sure “IMAP” is enabled under Account Settings in your Yahoo account.
POP setup
To access your Yahoo account through POP, use these server settings:
| POP Server | pop.mail.yahoo.com |
|---|---|
| POP Port | 995 |
| Encryption | SSL/TLS |
Make sure “POP” is enabled under Account Settings in your Yahoo account.
Get additional help
If you still can’t access your old Yahoo account after trying these steps, here are some additional options:
- Check the Yahoo Help site for tutorials and FAQs on accessing old accounts.
- Submit a request to Yahoo Customer Care explaining the issue and what steps you’ve tried already.
- Consider professional data recovery services if account access seems impossible.
Conclusion
With the right login details, you can access your old Yahoo emails for up to 90 days after closing an account. Make sure to update your recovery contact info, download important emails, and decide whether to keep or permanently delete the account. If you need additional assistance, Yahoo provides help resources online and via customer support. With a few simple steps, you can access your Yahoo email history even after no longer using an old account regularly.