Losing access to your EarthLink email can feel like getting locked out of your own house, especially when password resets and important messages all funnel through that one inbox. The good news is that EarthLink still runs its own email service directly, so the recovery process happens entirely through EarthLink's own sign-in pages and account tools rather than through a third party. Whether you mistyped your password one too many times or simply have not logged in for months, you can get back in with a few deliberate steps. This guide walks you through every option, from the standard web reset to the automated phone system when the website will not cooperate.
Before You Start the Reset
EarthLink email is self-hosted, meaning EarthLink operates the service itself and has not handed it off to Yahoo, AOL, or Google. That matters because every recovery action stays inside EarthLink's own systems, and you only need two destinations to handle nearly everything.
The first is EarthLink WebMail at webmail.earthlink.net, where you read and send mail in the browser. The second is the EarthLink account portal at portal.earthlink.net, which manages the account itself, including security settings. Both pages present a sign-in form that asks for your EarthLink email address and password, and both can launch the password recovery flow.
Before you begin, confirm you have access to the contact details registered to the account. EarthLink uses your account's on-file information to confirm you are the rightful owner, so keeping that information reachable makes the process far smoother.
Resetting a Forgotten Password Through the Web
If you cannot remember your password at all, the standard browser-based reset is the place to start. It works from either the WebMail screen or the account portal, and the steps are nearly identical once you reach the right link.
- 1.Open a web browser and go to webmail.earthlink.net to use EarthLink WebMail, or go to portal.earthlink.net to use the EarthLink account portal. Each page shows a sign-in form for your email address and password.
- 2.Click the Forgot Password link near the sign-in fields. On the portal you may need to start the sign-in step first before the option appears.
- 3.Enter the email address for the EarthLink account you need to recover. This lets EarthLink locate your account and pull up the correct recovery path.
- 4.Follow the on-screen instructions to verify your identity, then continue through the prompts. Using the same contact details that are registered on your account helps the verification match what EarthLink has on file.
- 5.Follow the prompts to create and confirm a new password, then save it.
Once the new password is saved, return to the sign-in page and log in with it. If the login succeeds, your recovery is complete and you can move on with your inbox intact.
Choosing a Strong New Password
When the reset asks you to create a new password, pick something strong enough to keep the account secure and easy enough for you to remember going forward. A longer passphrase that you do not reuse anywhere else is your best protection.
Mix in different character types where you can, such as uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and a symbol, and avoid obvious words tied to your name or email address. If the reset page lists specific requirements, follow those on-screen rules exactly so your chosen password is accepted on the first try.
Store the new password somewhere safe, such as a reputable password manager, so you are not back at the recovery screen the next time you sign in from a new device. A little care at this step saves you from repeat resets later.
Changing the Password While You Are Still Signed In
Sometimes you have not actually lost access; you just want to swap an old or compromised password for a fresh one. If you are already signed in, you do not need the Forgot Password flow at all, and you can update the password directly from your account.
In the account portal at portal.earthlink.net, open your account security settings and look for the option to change your password. Enter the new password, confirm it, and save the change. This is the quickest route when you are logged into the portal and simply want to rotate your credentials.
From inside WebMail, open your preferences or account settings and find the same change-password option. Enter and confirm the new password there, then save to apply it. Either path updates the same account credential, so use whichever surface you are already signed into.
When the Website Will Not Reset It
Occasionally the web reset stalls, whether because the verification details no longer match or the page simply will not move past a step. When that happens, EarthLink's support channels can help you recover access another way.
If you cannot reset the password through the website, contact EarthLink support and ask about an alternate password reset. Have your account email address and any account details ready before you reach out so you can move through the verification without delays.
The support route is a useful fallback rather than a replacement for the web flow. Try the browser-based reset first, since it is usually faster, and turn to support only when the on-screen process refuses to complete.
Reconnecting Your Email App After a Reset
Changing your password breaks any mail app, phone, or desktop client that stored the old one. After a successful reset, you will likely see authentication or login errors in those apps until you enter the new password. Updating the stored credentials, and confirming the server settings while you are there, gets everything syncing again.
For incoming mail over IMAP, use imap.earthlink.net on port 993 with SSL/TLS. If you prefer POP3 instead, use the POP server for your specific domain, such as pop.earthlink.net or pop.mindspring.com, on port 995 with SSL/TLS.
For outgoing mail, set the SMTP server to smtpauth.earthlink.net on port 587 using STARTTLS, with authentication required. Across all of these, sign in with your full email address as the username and your newly created password. Once the credentials and ports match these values, your client should reconnect and resume sending and receiving.
Keeping Your Recovery Details Current
The single biggest reason a reset fails is outdated contact information. Because EarthLink leans on the details registered to your account to confirm your identity, old or unreachable contact information can stop the process cold.
Once you are back in, take a moment to review your contact details in the account portal's security settings. Confirming that your information is current means the next reset, should you ever need one, goes through without friction. A few seconds of maintenance now spares you a much longer recovery later.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a good new EarthLink password?
Choose something long and unique that you do not reuse on other accounts, mixing letters, numbers, and a symbol where you can. If the reset page lists specific requirements, follow those on-screen rules so your password is accepted, and store it in a password manager so you do not need to reset it again soon.
Can I reset my EarthLink password without using the website?
Yes. If the web reset does not work, contact EarthLink support and ask about an alternate password reset. Have your account email and any account details ready before you reach out so you can move through the verification smoothly.
Do I need to change my email app settings after resetting my password?
You only need to update the stored password in each mail app or device, since the old one no longer works. While you are there, confirm the servers: imap.earthlink.net port 993 (SSL/TLS) or your domain's POP server on port 995 for incoming, and smtpauth.earthlink.net port 587 (STARTTLS) for outgoing, signing in with your full email address.
Why does EarthLink ask me to verify my identity during recovery?
EarthLink confirms that you are the account owner before letting you set a new password, using the contact information registered to the account. Following the on-screen instructions with the same details that are on file lets the verification match, which is why keeping that information current matters.
I still know my password but want to change it. Do I use Forgot Password?
No. If you are already signed in, change it directly: open your account security settings in the portal at portal.earthlink.net, or open preferences in WebMail, and use the change-password option there. Enter and confirm the new password, then save to apply the change.
