How to Protect Your Alipay Account Security and Solve the Problem of Forgetting the Password?

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Forgot your Alipay password? Don’t panic! It can be fixed in a few steps. Whether it’s your login password or payment password, you can quickly recover it using mobile verification codes or facial recognition.

As of June 2024, over 968.9 million people in China actively use mobile payments.

Resolving the immediate issue is simple, but more importantly, learning how to prevent problems is key. Proactively protecting your Alipay account ensures the safety of your “digital wallet.”

Key Points

• Alipay offers multiple methods to recover passwords, including mobile verification codes, facial recognition, and bank card information.
• Distinguishing between login and payment passwords is important, as they have different recovery steps.
• Setting complex passwords and enabling multi-factor authentication are key to securing your account.
• Regularly checking device management and enabling security locks further strengthens account protection.
• Staying vigilant against scams, avoiding unknown links, and not sharing personal information are critical for safeguarding your funds.

Forgot Your Password? Step-by-Step Recovery Guide

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Forgetting your password can be frustrating, but don’t worry—Alipay provides multiple secure and reliable methods to recover your account. First, you need to determine whether you’ve forgotten your “login password” or “payment password,” as their uses and recovery methods differ.

Login Password vs. Payment Password

Password Type	Main Use	Reset Entry Point
Login Password	Used to log into your Alipay account.	Managed on the Alipay app’s login page.
Payment Password	Used for transactions, payments, and transfers, typically a 6-digit number.	Requires logging into the Alipay app and resetting via “Settings.”

Below, we break down the recovery steps for each type of password.

How to Recover Your Login Password

If you can’t log into your Alipay account, follow these steps to reset your login password:

1. Open the Alipay App: On the login page, enter your phone number, then click the “Forgot Password?” option below.
2. Identity Verification: The system will guide you through identity verification. The most common method is receiving and entering a verification code sent to your phone via SMS.
3. Set a New Password: After passing verification, you can set a new login password. The new password must be 8 to 20 characters long.
4. Confirm and Complete: Enter the new password, confirm it, and click “Save.” The system may notify you that this new password will also sync with your Taobao account. After confirmation, you can log in with the new password.

How to Reset Your Payment Password

The payment password is tied to your funds’ security, so resetting it requires logging into your account first.

1. Open the Alipay app and go to the “My” page at the bottom right.
2. Click the “Settings” icon (⚙️) in the top right corner.
3. Select the “Account and Security” option.
4. Navigate to “Payment Password Management” or a similar option, and the system will guide you through various identity verification methods to confirm it’s you.

Recovering via Security Questions

If you’ve previously set up security questions, they can serve as an additional verification method. During the password recovery process, the system may ask you to answer one or two preset questions, such as “What is your mother’s name?” or “What was the name of your elementary school?” Correct answers allow you to proceed to reset your password.

Recovering via Mobile Verification Code

This is the fastest and most commonly used verification method. Whether recovering a login or payment password, the system typically prioritizes this option.

• Process: During verification, select “Via Mobile Verification Code.” You’ll receive a 6-digit SMS code on your registered phone, which you enter into the app within the specified time to complete verification.

Tip: Never share your verification code with anyone, including those claiming to be customer service. Alipay’s official team will never ask for your code.

Recovering via Facial Recognition

With technological advancements, facial recognition has become a highly secure and convenient verification method. Alipay’s system doesn’t just “recognize” faces but verifies it’s you.

• Process: During identity verification, select the “Facial Recognition” option. Position your face within the designated frame on the screen and follow prompts to perform actions (e.g., blinking, nodding).
• Security Measures: The system combines your device information, usual login locations, and other data for comprehensive verification. In some cases, such as using an unfamiliar device, you may need to enter the last four digits of your phone number for secondary confirmation, significantly enhancing security.

Recovering via Linked Bank Card Information

If your phone can’t receive verification codes (e.g., due to a lost phone), verifying your linked bank card information is a reliable backup option.

• Process: Select “Bank Card Information” during verification.
• Required Information: You need to accurately enter your linked bank card number, name, ID number, and the phone number registered with the bank for that card. For example, if you’ve linked a savings card from a licensed Hong Kong bank, you’ll provide its details.

This method involves sensitive information, making it a high-security backup recovery option.

What If You’ve Changed Your Phone Number?

If you’ve changed your phone number and the old number is no longer active, making it impossible to receive verification codes, don’t panic.

On the page requesting an SMS verification code, look for and click the “Can’t receive SMS?” or similar help link. After clicking, Alipay will offer alternative verification methods, such as:

• Facial Recognition Verification
• Answering Security Questions
• Verifying Linked Bank Card Information
• Contacting Customer Service: If none of the above methods work, you can contact Alipay customer service. They will assist you by verifying your personal information.

With these multiple methods, you’ll always find a suitable way to reset your password. After successfully recovering, we recommend spending a few minutes to further enhance your account’s security settings to better protect your Alipay account.

Proactive Protection: Comprehensive Alipay Account Security

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Recovering a password only solves the immediate issue, but true peace of mind comes from proactive defense. Spending a few minutes checking and strengthening your account settings is like adding a stronger lock to your digital wallet. The comprehensive security checklist below will guide you on how to take proactive steps to better protect your Alipay account.

Set a High-Strength Complex Password

Your login and payment passwords are your account’s first line of defense. A simple password is easily guessed. You should set a high-strength, complex password for Alipay.

Golden Rules for Strong Passwords

• Sufficient Length: Set passwords to at least 8 characters, the longer the better.
• Complex Combination: Include a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters (e.g., !@#$%^&*).
• Avoid Associations: Don’t use your birthday, phone number, name pinyin, or common words as passwords.

Regularly changing your password is also a good habit, as it significantly reduces the risk of password leaks.

Enable Multi-Factor Authentication

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is a core feature for enhancing account security. It requires two or more verification methods to confirm your identity during login or payment, greatly increasing the difficulty for malicious actors to compromise your account.

For cross-border payments or FX, keep security and funds in one flow. BiyaPay is a multi-asset wallet supporting fiat/digital conversions, helping you manage risk and audit trails in one account.

On trust, BiyaPay holds licenses such as U.S. MSB and NZ FSP, with safeguarded segregation and anomaly checks; enable 2FA on both sign-in and withdrawals to reduce misuse.

To gauge costs, start with the free Fiat Rate Comparator, then use Remittance if needed; these are optional aids that won’t alter your current payment habits.

Alipay offers multiple verification methods, which you can combine based on your preferences:

• Password Verification: The most basic verification method.
• Biometric Verification: Uses your unique biometric features, such as fingerprints or facial recognition. This is highly convenient and secure.
• SMS Verification Code: The system sends a one-time password (OTP) to your phone to verify you have access to the registered number.

Check and enable this feature now! You can enable fingerprint or facial payment through this path:

1. Open the Alipay app and go to the “My” page.
2. Click the “Settings” icon in the top right corner.
3. Select “Account and Security,” then go to “Security Center.”
4. In “Security Tools,” find the “Fingerprint” or “Face” option and follow the prompts to enable it.

Manage Your Devices and Authorizations

Have you ever logged into Alipay on a friend’s phone or a public computer? These devices may still retain your login records. Regularly checking and managing your device list is critical.

• Operation Path: Open Alipay App -> My -> Settings -> Account and Security -> Security Center -> Device Management.
• Recommendation: Here, you’ll see all devices that have logged into your account. Remove any devices you no longer use or don’t recognize immediately.

Use Alipay’s Security Lock

The Alipay security lock adds an extra layer of protection for opening the app. When enabled, launching Alipay requires verification via fingerprint, face, or gesture password.

Even if your phone isn’t locked, this feature effectively prevents others from accessing your Alipay app, making it a practical tool for protecting privacy and funds.

Enable Nighttime Protection

If you’re concerned about unusual activity while you’re asleep, enable the nighttime protection feature. This is a thoughtful design.

When enabled, during the designated nighttime period (e.g., 23:00 - 07:00), any login or payment activity triggers a higher level of security verification, such as facial recognition. If verification fails, the transaction is blocked, effectively preventing unauthorized fund losses.

Set Large Transaction Alerts

Enabling large transaction alerts ensures Alipay notifies you via SMS or other methods immediately when a transaction exceeds your preset amount. This allows you to stay informed of significant account activity.

You can set a reasonable alert threshold based on your spending habits, such as transactions over $500 USD.

Stay Vigilant Against Phishing and Scams

Even with robust technical safeguards, staying vigilant is essential. Scammers often use fake messages to steal your account credentials. To better protect your Alipay account, learn to identify these scams.

Common scam tactics include:

• Impersonating Official Entities: Scammers may pose as banks, Alipay customer service, or even police, claiming your account is at risk to trick you into providing passwords or verification codes.
• Sending Phishing Links: Sending seemingly official links via SMS or email that lead to fake Alipay websites, stealing your entered account and password details.
• Requesting Sensitive Information: Any request for your login password, payment password, or SMS verification code is highly likely a scam.

Safety Reminder: Follow Official Advice

• Alipay’s official team will never ask you to log in, verify your account, or reset passwords via links in SMS or emails.
• Do not share your phone screen with strangers.
• When receiving calls claiming to be from any institution, verify their identity through official channels (e.g., the website or in-app customer service).
• If you suspect you’ve received a scam message or visited a suspicious website, stop immediately and consider reporting to the police.

This article reviewed password recovery methods and account security measures. Remember, building good security habits is far more important than fixing issues after the fact. Studies show that many security breaches stem from human error.

Data indicates that approximately 75% of digital payment fraud incidents are related to mobile devices. Thus, staying vigilant is critical.

Spending a few minutes checking and strengthening your account settings is the most effective step to protect your Alipay account. Safeguard your digital wallet to enjoy a convenient mobile lifestyle with peace of mind!

FAQ

What should I do if my Alipay account is stolen?

Take immediate action. First, call Alipay’s official customer service to freeze your account. Second, change your login and payment passwords as soon as possible. Finally, check your account’s transaction history and linked information for any anomalies.

I’ve changed my phone number, and the old number is deactivated. How do I recover my account?

Try recovering via facial recognition or verifying linked bank card information. If these methods don’t work, contact Alipay customer service. They will assist by verifying your personal identity information.

Can I log into Alipay on multiple devices simultaneously?

Yes. You can log into the same Alipay account on multiple devices, such as phones or tablets. For security, we recommend regularly checking the “Device Management” list and removing unrecognized or unused devices.

Is the small-amount password-free payment feature safe?

The small-amount password-free payment is safe within a certain limit, offering convenience. Alipay’s risk control system ensures transaction security. If you’re concerned, you can disable this feature in “Payment Settings” at any time.