Quick Answer
There are a few common reasons why a website or app might say your password is incorrect even when you’re sure you’re typing it correctly:
- You have caps lock on – Passwords are case sensitive, so if you have caps lock enabled accidentally, it will think your password is wrong.
- Your keyboard language or layout changed – If you’re using a different keyboard language or layout than what you set the password with, the characters may not match.
- You’re entering your username instead of password – Double check you’re typing your password in the password field, not the username field.
- You’re missing special characters – Don’t forget special characters like !, @, #, etc if they’re part of your password.
- Your password expired – Many sites require periodic password changes for security, so your old password may no longer work.
- It’s the wrong website or account – Make sure you’re using the right password for the right website or account.
1. You Have Caps Lock On
One of the most common reasons your password isn’t working, even when you’re sure you’re typing it correctly, is that you accidentally have caps lock enabled on your keyboard. Passwords are case sensitive, so if your password contains both upper and lower case letters, caps lock will cause it to be incorrect.
For example, if your password is “Password123” with a capital P, but you have caps lock on, you’ll end up typing “password123” instead with a lowercase p. This difference in case will make the site or app think your password is wrong.
The solution is simple – before typing your password, check to make sure caps lock is not enabled on your keyboard. The caps lock key will have an indicator light when enabled. Tap it once to turn it off before proceeding to type your password.
How to Tell If Caps Lock Is On
There are a few ways to check if caps lock is accidentally enabled:
- Look for a light or indicator on your caps lock key – Most keyboards have an LED light that turns on when caps lock is active.
- Type something – Open a note or text field and try typing a sentence. If your text comes out ALL CAPS, then caps lock is enabled.
- Look for an on-screen indicator – Many operating systems will display a caps lock indicator on the screen when it’s turned on.
- Press the caps lock key – Simply press the caps lock key on your keyboard once before typing your password. This will toggle caps lock off if it’s on.
Taking a second to check for caps lock could save you lots of frustration when your password repeatedly doesn’t work correctly!
2. Your Keyboard Language or Layout Changed
Another common reason your password may not be working even when typed correctly is if your keyboard language or layout has changed.
Many keyboards allow you to switch between multiple languages and keyboard layouts. For example, you can switch your keyboard to French or change to a Dvorak layout instead of QWERTY.
When you set a password, it remembers the specific characters you typed. If you then change your keyboard language or layout after the fact, the characters will be different.
For instance, if your password has a question mark ? in it, and you switch your keyboard from English to French, the question mark character may change to a different symbol. Your password will then be incorrect.
To fix this issue, make sure your keyboard is set back to the same language and layout you originally used to create the password. In your keyboard settings, change it back to the language and layout you’re familiar with.
You may have to log out and back in again for the keyboard changes to fully take effect. Now try typing your password again – it should work as expected with the right characters.
How to Change Your Keyboard Layout
Here are the basic steps to change your keyboard layout on some common operating systems:
Windows:
- Go to Settings > Time & Language > Language
- Click “Add a language” and select the desired language and layout
- Click the language you want to use as your default
Mac:
- Go to System Preferences > Keyboard > Input Sources
- Click + and select the language and layout to add
- Click and drag the desired layout to the top of the list to make it default
Linux:
- Go to System Settings > Region & Language
- Click “Configure Layouts” and add the desired layout
- Drag the layout to the top to set as default
iOS/Android:
- Go to Settings > General > Keyboards
- Add the language/layouts you want
- Tap and hold the Spacebar to quickly switch between layouts
3. You’re Entering Your Username Instead of Password
A mistake that many people make without realizing is typing their password in the wrong field. Most login forms have separate fields for your username and password.
If you enter your actual password in the username field, and then type your username again in the password field, it will appear your password is incorrect.
In reality, you’re just mixing up the fields and aren’t entering your credentials properly. This is an easy mistake to make if you’re logging in quickly without paying close attention.
To resolve this, double check that you’re typing your username in the username or email field, and your password in the specifically labeled password field. Don’t swap the two or enter your password in the wrong place.
Take a few extra seconds to carefully input your username first, tab to the password field next, and then type your actual password. This will ensure your credentials are going into the proper fields so the site or app can authenticate you successfully.
Tips for Logging In Carefully
Here are some tips to avoid mixing up your username and password when logging in:
- Read field labels carefully before entering info
- Use the Tab key to move between fields
- Don’t autofill or use a password manager when testing
- Cover other fields as you enter username and password
- Say username and password out loud as you type them
Taking a second to double check you’re typing the right credentials in the right fields will help avoid login errors and confusion.
4. You’re Missing Special Characters
Many password requirements these days enforce the use of special characters for added security. This includes symbols like:
- ! (exclamation point)
- @ (at sign)
- # (number sign)
- $ (dollar sign)
- % (percent)
If your password contains any special characters, it’s easy to forget to include them when typing your password. For example, your password might be “Passw0rd!” but you enter “Passw0rd” without the exclamation point.
Missing a single special character can make your entire password incorrect. When creating passwords with special symbols, be sure to note which ones are required so you remember them when logging in later.
Before concluding your password is wrong, take a close look at it and check for any missing special characters compared to what you originally set. If you notice a symbol is missing, try re-entering the password with the proper special characters included.
Tips for Remembering Special Characters
Here are some tips to help remember special character passwords:
- Write down passwords including symbols when first created
- Say the symbol out loud as you type the password
- Pick symbols that correspond to the website (like $ for a bank)
- Replace common letters with symbols (like @ instead of a)
- Create a memorable phrase using symbols (like #1SoccerFan!)
With practice, special character passwords will become easier to recall and type correctly.
5. Your Password Expired
For security purposes, many online services will set passwords to expire periodically, anywhere from every 30 days to every 90 days usually.
Once your password expires, you’ll be prompted to create a new one before logging in again. Your old password will no longer work.
If you try entering your old expired password, it will appear incorrect even though you’re typing it in properly. This leads to confusion and frustration as users forget that passwords naturally expire.
When logging in, if you get an error about an incorrect password, check to see if you’re being prompted to reset your password for any reason. The site may mention your password is expired and needs to be changed.
Take the steps to create a new strong password as required. Make sure to update any password manager or records where you have the old password stored as well. Your new password will now work as expected.
Tips to Remember Password Expirations
Here are some tips to keep in mind regarding expiring passwords:
- Make a note on your calendar when new passwords expire
- Create password reset reminders to change it early
- Use a password manager that flags expiring passwords
- When prompted, change passwords a few days before expiration
- Review account settings for expiration timelines
Keeping expiration cycles in mind will help avoid scenarios where your password suddenly stops working.
6. It’s the Wrong Website or Account
With the multitude of online accounts people have these days, it’s easy to accidentally try entering your password on the wrong website or service.
For example, you may mindlessly go to log into your email, but type your Instagram password instead without realizing. Or you try to login to Hulu with your Amazon Prime password out of habit.
When your password gets rejected, your first thought may be that your password is wrong. But in cases like these, the actual issue is that you’re using the right password on the completely wrong site or account.
To avoid frustration, take a moment when logging in anywhere to double check that you’re on the correct website or service as expected. Don’t just blindly type your password. Confirm the URL is right and that you’re entering credentials for the intended account.
Cross-checking that the site and password match will help identify situations where your rejection is simply because they don’t align, not because you have the wrong password.
Tips to Avoid Wrong Site Passwords
Here are some tips to avoid using the wrong passwords on websites:
- Read the page logo and branding before logging in
- Confirm the URL and domain are correct
- Use your password manager to auto-fill the right credentials
- Double check the username field before entering password
- Slow down and avoid mindlessly typing passwords
Taking a few seconds to pay attention when logging in can catch incorrect sites and prevent wasted password attempts.
Conclusion
When your password isn’t working as expected, it’s easy to immediately assume you’re typing it wrong. However, there are many reasons beyond a simple incorrect password that could explain login failures.
Checking for things like caps lock, keyboard changes, missing special characters, expired passwords, or wrong websites can identify the real issues. Taking a methodical approach instead of getting frustrated will get you logged in successfully.
In summary:
- Verify caps lock is off when typing passwords
- Use the right keyboard layout that matches password creation
- Carefully enter username and password in the correct fields
- Include any special characters like !, @, # if required
- Check for prompts about expiring passwords needing resets
- Confirm you’re on the right site and account before logging in
Following these tips when troubleshooting login issues will help resolve problems and reduce confusion when your password appears incorrect. With the right debugging approach, you’ll gain access to your accounts in no time.