Manage sign in details

If you’re using the myGov app, find out how to update your sign in details in the myGov app.

Updating your username

Before you start

A username can be:

• a myGov username
• an email address
• a mobile number, if set up in account settings.

You can’t change your username to be the same email address or mobile number as another myGov account.

For example, if you share an email address with someone else, only 1 person can use this address as their username in their myGov account.

How to change your username

Follow these steps to change your username:

1. Sign in to your myGov account.
2. Select the My account or Menu option.
3. Select Account settings, and then select Sign in settings.
4. Go to Username and select Edit.
5. Select your preferred username option, then select Update username.

Add your mobile number as a username

Follow these steps to add your mobile number as a username:

1. Sign in to your myGov account.
2. Select the My account or Menu option.
3. Select Account settings, and then select Sign in settings.
4. Go to Username and select Edit.
5. Select add a mobile number.

If your mobile number is already in use on another myGov account, we’ll let you know. Select update your mobile number to add a different mobile number.

Once you’ve added your mobile number, you can update your sign in options to include your number as a username to sign in.

Change your password

Before you start

Your myGov password must:

• have between 10 and 64 characters
• have at least one letter
• have at least one number
• not be the same as one of your last passwords
• not use the same character repeatedly or have any sequential characters (for example, you can't use AAAA or 1234).

Your password can have spaces and any of the following characters: ! @ # $ % ^ & *

Passphrases

You can improve your cyber security by setting up your password as a passphrase.

A passphrase is a set of words, numbers and symbols. They should be something that’s easy for you to remember, but difficult for anyone else to guess.

Choose a passphrase with:

• at least 4 random words you can remember
• numbers or symbols
• at least 14 characters.

For example: BLUEhouse18tomatoTRAIN%

Find out more about creating strong passphrases on the Australian Cyber Security website.

How to change your password

Follow these steps to change your password:

1. Sign in to your myGov account.
2. Select the My account or Menu option.
3. Select Account settings, and then select Sign in settings.
4. Go to Password and select Edit.
5. Enter your current password, your new password and re-enter your new password. Select Change.

Select Show to display your password on screen as you enter it.

Prompt to change your password

If we notice suspicious sign in attempts on your myGov account, we’ll ask you to change your password.

You may receive an email and you’ll get a prompt to change your password immediately when you next sign in to your myGov account.

This doesn’t mean anyone has accessed your account or myGov data.

If you get this prompt, follow these steps to change your password:

1. Sign to your myGov account.
2. When prompted to change your password, select Update password.
3. Enter your current password, your new password and re-enter your new password. Select Next.
4. Select Continue to home.

Change your second sign in option

Your second sign in option will be one of these:

• a code by SMS
• a code from the myGov Code Generator
• secret questions and answers.

Find out how to change your second sign in option.