Changing Your Password

Regularly updating your password is an important security practice. This guide will show you how to change your Balance password and follow password best practices.

When to Change Your Password

Consider changing your password if:

• Regular maintenance - Every 6-12 months as a security best practice
• Security concern - You suspect unauthorized access to your account
• Shared access - Someone else knows your password
• Weak password - You’re using a simple or common password
• Reused password - You use the same password on other sites
• Data breach - Another service you use was compromised

How to Change Your Password

From the App

Step 1: Access Profile Settings

1. Log in to your Balance account
2. Tap your profile picture (top left) to open the profile page (shown in screenshot above)
3. From the profile page, tap “Change Password” in the menu

Step 2: Change Password Page

The Change Password page opens (shown in screenshot above). Enter: 4. Your current password 5. Your new password 6. Confirm your new password (must match) 7. Tap “Save Changes”

From the Web

1. Go to app.balancebudget.app
2. Log in to your account
3. Click your profile or menu icon
4. Select “Change Password”
5. Follow the same steps as above

Password Requirements

Balance requires strong passwords to protect your financial data. Your new password must meet these requirements:

Minimum Requirements

• ✅ At least 8 characters long - Longer is better
• ✅ One uppercase letter (A-Z) - Required
• ✅ One lowercase letter (a-z) - Required
• ✅ One special character (!@#$%^&*) - Required

Real-Time Validation

As you type your new password, you’ll see indicators showing which requirements are met:

• ✅ Green checkmark = Requirement met
• ❌ Red X = Requirement not met

Example of a strong password: Groceries2024!

• Contains uppercase (G)
• Contains lowercase (r, o, c, e, r, i, e, s)
• Contains number (2, 0, 2, 4)
• Contains special character (!)
• 14 characters long

Password Confirmation

You must enter your new password twice:

1. New Password - Type your desired password
2. Confirm Password - Type the same password again

Why confirm? This ensures you didn’t make a typo when entering your new password.

The “Save Changes” button will only activate when:

• Your current password is entered
• Your new password meets all requirements
• Your confirmation password matches exactly

What Happens After You Change Your Password

Immediate Effects

1. Logged out everywhere - You’ll be logged out on all devices
2. New login required - You’ll need to log in again with your new password
3. Confirmation email - You’ll receive an email confirming the password change
4. Biometric login reset - If enabled, you’ll need to set it up again

Security Alert

If you did NOT change your password:

• Change it immediately
• Contact support@balancebudget.app
• Review recent account activity
• Consider enabling additional security measures

Forgot Current Password?

If you don’t remember your current password, use the password reset flow:

Password Reset Process

1. Go to the login screen
2. Tap “Forgot Password?”
3. Enter your email address
4. Check your email for the reset code (6-digit code)
5. Enter the code
6. Create a new password
7. Confirm your new password
8. Log in with your new password

Note: Password reset codes expire after 15 minutes. Request a new code if yours expires.

Learn more about account recovery →

Creating a Strong Password

Best Practices

DO:

• ✅ Use a passphrase - Multiple words together: BlueOceanSunrise2024!
• ✅ Make it unique - Don’t reuse passwords from other sites
• ✅ Use a password manager - Let it generate and remember strong passwords
• ✅ Include variety - Mix uppercase, lowercase, numbers, symbols
• ✅ Make it memorable - You’ll need to type it occasionally

DON’T:

• ❌ Use personal info - No birthdays, names, or addresses
• ❌ Use common passwords - Avoid “Password123!” or “Welcome2024!”
• ❌ Use dictionary words - Single words are easy to crack
• ❌ Reuse passwords - Each account should have a unique password
• ❌ Share your password - Not even with your partner (use profiles instead)

Password Strength Examples

Weak (Don’t use):

• password123
• Balance2024
• 12345678

Medium (Better):

• MyBalance2024!
• Budget@Home99

Strong (Best):

• BeachVacation&Budget2024!
• Coffee$15Morning!
• SaveMoney&Travel2024

Password Managers

Consider using a password manager:

Popular Options

• 1Password - Family sharing, vault options
• Bitwarden - Open source, affordable
• LastPass - Free tier available
• Apple Keychain - Built into iOS/macOS
• Google Password Manager - Built into Chrome/Android

Benefits

• Generates strong, random passwords
• Remembers passwords for you
• Syncs across devices
• Autofills login forms
• Alerts you to weak or reused passwords

Common Questions

Q: How often should I change my password?
A: Every 6-12 months is recommended. Change it immediately if you suspect any security issues.

Q: Can I use the same password on multiple accounts?
A: No! Always use unique passwords for each service. If one account is compromised, others remain safe.

Q: What if I forget my new password right after changing it?
A: Use the “Forgot Password?” link on the login screen to reset it via email.

Q: Will changing my password affect my bank connections?
A: No. Your bank connections use Plaid, which is separate from your Balance password.

Q: Can I change my password from the mobile app?
A: Yes! The process is the same on iOS, Android, and web.

Q: Does my partner need to change their password too?
A: If you share one account, yes - you’re changing the shared account password. Consider creating separate Balance accounts if needed.

Troubleshooting

New Password Won’t Save

Problem: Save button is disabled or password won’t update

Solution:

1. Check all password requirements are met (green checkmarks)
2. Ensure confirmation password matches exactly
3. Verify you entered your current password correctly
4. Make sure new password is different from current password
5. Try a different password if yours has unsupported characters

Current Password Incorrect

Problem: Error message “Current password is incorrect”

Solution:

1. Double-check you’re typing the right password
2. Check for Caps Lock being on
3. Try copying and pasting if typing fails
4. Use “Forgot Password?” if you truly don’t remember it
5. Contact support if you’re sure the password is correct

Logged Out After Password Change

Problem: Can’t log back in with new password

Solution:

1. Wait a minute and try again (changes need to sync)
2. Check you’re using the NEW password, not the old one
3. Make sure you’re typing it exactly as you set it
4. Check for Caps Lock or autocorrect issues
5. Use password reset if needed

Confirmation Email Not Received

Problem: Didn’t get password change confirmation email

Solution:

1. Check your spam/junk folder
2. Wait a few minutes - emails can be delayed
3. Verify your email address is correct in your profile
4. Check with your email provider about blocking
5. Contact support if still not receiving

Security After Password Change

Additional Security Steps

After changing your password:

1. Review active sessions - Check if you recognize all logged-in devices
2. Update stored passwords - Update in your password manager
3. Enable biometric login - For convenient, secure access
4. Monitor account activity - Watch for unusual transactions
5. Update related services - If you used the same password elsewhere (not recommended)

Signs of Unauthorized Access

Watch for:

• Transactions you didn’t categorize
• Budget changes you didn’t make
• Bank accounts you didn’t connect
• Email notifications for actions you didn’t take

If you see these signs:

1. Change your password immediately
2. Contact support@balancebudget.app
3. Review your bank accounts for fraud
4. Consider filing a report with authorities if needed

Next Steps

Now that you’ve updated your password:

• Enable Biometric Login - For faster, secure access
• Password Best Practices - Learn more security tips
• Account Recovery - Understand password reset process
• How Balance Keeps Data Safe - Our security measures

Need help? Contact our support team - we’re here to assist!