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Freedom251 › Blog › Account Security

How to Update Your American Express Account Security Settings (U.S. Guide)

By Freedom251 Team · · 12 min read

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To update a U.S. American Express account, sign in through the official website or Amex App, then review your password, two-step verification, saved devices, contact details, and alert preferences. The exact labels and available methods can vary by account, device, and country, so use the wording shown after you sign in.

Start safely and use the U.S. account route

Open the American Express website by typing the address yourself or launch the Amex App. Do not use an unexpected password-reset or verification link in an email or text. Fake login pages are designed to capture passwords and one-time codes. American Express describes phishing and fake sites in its Security Center.

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This guide follows the current U.S. navigation. Menus can change, and not every account has every authentication option. If your account is outside the United States, follow its regional labels. For example, the Canadian help page uses Manage Accounts and Security and Privacy rather than assuming the same U.S. path.

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Change your American Express password

Use Account Services

  1. Sign in at the official American Express site.
  2. Open Account Services.
  3. Choose the password-change option and complete the verification prompts shown for your account.
  4. Save the new password, then sign in again if Amex asks you to confirm it.

American Express recommends changing a password every three to six months. Change it immediately if another person may know it, if you have reused it on another site, or if you received a fraud alert about unusual account activity. The three-to-six-month interval is Amex’s recommendation, not a universal security rule.

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Choose a password that does not create a second risk

  • Use a different password from the one used for email, banking, shopping, or other card accounts.
  • Do not base it on information visible on social media or on the card itself.
  • Store it in a password manager if that helps you create and remember a unique password. American Express mentions password managers as an optional safety aid; it does not require a particular provider.

If you think the old password was exposed, changing only the Amex password is not enough. Change the exposed password anywhere else it was reused, beginning with your email account because email can be used to reset other accounts.

Review two-step verification and saved devices

Find Authentication Management in a browser

  1. Sign in on the American Express website.
  2. Open Security and Privacy.
  3. Select Authentication Management.
  4. Review the phone number, email address, authentication methods, and devices displayed for your account.

American Express says two-step verification confirms access with a code or a notification. The available controls can differ by account and device, so do not assume that a method shown in one account will appear in another.

Remove devices you no longer trust

Delete a saved device if it was lost, stolen, replaced, sold, or is no longer used. Removing it prevents that device from remaining an approved route for identity prompts. Keep only devices you control and recognize. If you later use a replacement phone or tablet, add that device through the app’s device-management controls and complete the verification requested on screen.

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Compare the available sign-in confirmations

Method What you receive or use Important requirement or limitation
App notification A prompt in the Amex App that you approve Notifications must be allowed in the phone or tablet’s system settings, and the device must be enrolled.
One-time verification code A code delivered by an available Amex channel, such as email or SMS You need access to the contact method on file. Amex provides a code fallback when an expected app notification does not arrive.
Passkey Face ID, a fingerprint, or the device passcode used to unlock the device Passkey availability depends on the account, device, and Amex’s current rollout; it is not guaranteed for every member.

Passkeys are an alternative to entering a password. American Express describes them as using “the same Face ID, fingerprint or passcode you use to unlock your device.” They do not make a lost or shared device safe by themselves, which is why saved-device review remains important.

Make Amex App identity notifications work

Enroll the device correctly

  1. Install the current Amex App, or update it from your device’s official app store.
  2. In the phone or tablet’s system settings, allow notifications for the Amex App.
  3. Sign in to the app and open Manage Devices.
  4. Add the device and complete any identity check Amex presents.

American Express sends an identity notification to the most recently added device. If you enroll a new phone after an old one, future prompts may go to the new phone rather than the older device.

Recover when a prompt does not arrive

  1. Check that the device has an internet connection and that the Amex App is allowed to send notifications.
  2. On the verification screen, select Resend Notification.
  3. If there is still no prompt, choose Send Verification Code Instead and use the code delivered by Amex.

Do not repeatedly approve a prompt you did not initiate. An unexpected approval request can indicate that someone else is attempting to sign in.

Update contact information and alert preferences

Use Contact Information and Alerts

  1. Sign in to your U.S. American Express account.
  2. Click the User Profile icon at the top right.
  3. Choose Contact Information and Alerts.
  4. Edit the email address, phone number, or available alert settings, then complete the verification steps shown.

American Express’s account instructions say some members must first confirm a unique email address and enter a security code before changing these details. If the page asks for that confirmation, it is an account-protection step rather than an error.

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Check the details used for card alerts

In the Amex App, open Card Profile. In a browser, look for Card Profile under Account Management. Confirm that the email address and phone number are current, especially after changing carriers, replacing a phone, or losing access to an old email account.

Fraud alerts are different from ordinary optional notifications. American Express says it sends fraud alerts automatically when it detects unusual activity. Email fraud alerts cannot be turned off, although you may decline to receive them by text. Updating the contact details in Card Profile helps those alerts reach you; it does not guarantee that every transaction will trigger one.

Before changing settings: a short safety checklist

Take a moment to make sure you are changing the settings on the account you intend to protect. Use the U.S. American Express site or the official Amex App, and complete the process on a device you control. Keep your current phone or email available because Amex may send a code or require a confirmation before it lets you edit security information.

  • Check the web address or app source before entering a password.
  • Have access to the email address and mobile number currently listed on the account.
  • Identify phones and tablets that should remain enrolled and those that should be removed.
  • Do not share a password, passkey, or one-time code with a person who contacted you unexpectedly.
  • If you are responding to suspicious activity, change the password first, then review devices, contact details, and recent activity.

Changing contact details without checking saved devices can leave an old phone enrolled. Likewise, adding a new notification device without reviewing the old one can leave prompts going to a device you no longer control. Treat these settings as a group, even though Amex places them in different menus.

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Understand which setting solves which problem

Your password protects the basic sign-in credential. Two-step verification adds another confirmation through an app prompt or code. Saved-device controls determine which phones or tablets can receive identity prompts. Contact Information and Alerts controls the email addresses, phone numbers, and available notification preferences associated with the account. Card Profile is the place to check details used for card-related fraud alerts.

These controls overlap but are not interchangeable. Updating a phone number does not automatically remove a lost phone from Authentication Management. Turning on app notifications does not enroll the device in Manage Devices. A passkey can make sign-in more convenient, but it still depends on the security of the device where its Face ID, fingerprint, or passcode is configured.

When to use a notification, code, or passkey

Choose the method that matches what you can safely access at that moment. An app notification is convenient when your enrolled phone is with you and its system notifications are working. A one-time code is useful when you can access the registered email or mobile number but the app prompt is delayed. Amex specifically provides Send Verification Code Instead as a fallback after a notification fails.

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A passkey can avoid typing a password by using the same device unlock method you already use. Because Amex says availability depends on the account and device, keep another working route until your signed-in account clearly shows that the passkey is active. If none of the available routes is accessible, use the number on the back of the Card rather than attempting repeated guesses or relying on an unsolicited helper.

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Know what to do when fraud or phishing is suspected

Contact American Express through a trusted channel

If you see an unrecognized transaction, receive a suspicious verification request, or believe your account is compromised, call the number printed on the back of your Card. American Express gives this instruction for members in the United States and overseas. Use the physical card or an official account statement to find the number rather than relying on a message that may be fraudulent.

Report fake messages and sites

Forward phishing emails or texts and report fake American Express sites to [email protected]. Do not click additional links in the suspicious message while gathering information for the report.

Protect verification codes

Never tell a person who contacts you unexpectedly a one-time verification code. American Express’s Rewards Checking guidance says it will never call asking for that code; that statement is specific to that product, but the same caution is appropriate whenever an unsolicited caller asks you to read back a code. End the call and contact Amex using the number on the back of the Card.

Troubleshoot the most common settings problems

You do not receive a verification code

  • Check the email address and mobile number shown in Contact Information and Alerts or Card Profile.
  • Confirm that the message is not being filtered by your email service or blocked by your mobile carrier.
  • If you expected an app prompt, verify that notifications are enabled in the device’s system settings.
  • Use Resend Notification, then select Send Verification Code Instead if the prompt still fails.
  • If the contact details are outdated and you cannot pass the account check, call the number on the back of your Card.

The prompt goes to an old phone

The app prompt is directed to the most recently added device. If you still control the old phone, open Manage Devices, add the replacement, and remove the old entry. If the old phone was lost or stolen, remove it in Authentication Management as soon as you can and contact Amex through the number on the Card if you suspect unauthorized access.

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The menu labels do not match

American Express notes that account menus and available methods can vary. Look for the equivalent security area under Security and Privacy, Account Services, or your profile menu, and follow the labels shown after sign-in. Do not use a third-party guide’s path as proof that a missing option is available on your account.

You cannot save a new email address or phone number

The account may require a unique email confirmation and a security code before contact details can be changed. Complete those checks exactly as displayed. If the code goes to an inaccessible address or number, call Amex using a trusted number and explain that the verification destination is no longer available.

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You lost the phone that was used for verification

  1. Sign in from a device you still trust, if possible.
  2. Open Authentication Management and remove the lost phone from saved devices.
  3. Add the replacement device through Manage Devices after installing or updating the Amex App.
  4. Review your contact information and recent account activity.
  5. Call the number on the back of the Card if the phone was stolen or if any activity looks unfamiliar.

Do not confuse SafeKey with account-security settings

SafeKey is American Express authentication for online checkout at participating merchants. It helps verify a card purchase; it is not the same control as changing your account password, managing saved sign-in devices, or selecting account-login verification. Configure both areas when they are available, but troubleshoot them separately.

Passkeys, by contrast, are a sign-in option described in the Security Center. They use the biometric or passcode unlock already configured on a device. Because support depends on the account and device, continue to maintain a usable password and another verification route unless your signed-in account clearly confirms otherwise.

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Use a maintenance schedule that matches the risk

Review When to do it What to check
Password Every three to six months, and immediately after suspected exposure, reuse, or a fraud alert Change it in Account Services and make it unique.
Authentication methods After adding a phone, changing a number, or seeing an unexpected sign-in request Review Authentication Management, verification destinations, and available methods.
Saved devices Whenever a device is lost, stolen, replaced, sold, or no longer used Remove the old device and add the replacement through Manage Devices.
Contact details After changing your email address or phone service Confirm details under Contact Information and Alerts and Card Profile.
Fraud response Immediately when activity or a message looks suspicious Call the number on the Card and report phishing to [email protected].

Regional and account-specific differences

The instructions above describe the U.S. experience. American Express’s Canadian FAQ uses different navigation, including Manage Accounts and Security and Privacy. Country, card product, browser, operating system, and app version can all affect the labels and authentication choices you see.

If an option described here is absent, stay inside the official signed-in website or app, search its help area for the exact setting name, and use the support number on the back of your Card. Never weaken security by sending passwords, passkeys, or verification codes through email or an unsolicited message.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I change my American Express password?

American Express recommends changing it every three to six months. Change it immediately if someone else may know it, you reused it elsewhere, or a fraud alert reported unusual activity. Use a unique password and update it anywhere the old password was reused.

Why do I have to add my device to my account again?

Amex sends identity notifications to the most recently added device. A replacement phone, removed device, app reinstallation, or account-specific security check can therefore require you to add the device again in Manage Devices and complete the requested verification.

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Why don’t I receive an American Express verification code?

Confirm the email address or mobile number in Contact Information and Alerts or Card Profile. Check email filtering, carrier delivery, and app notification permissions. If an app prompt fails, select Resend Notification and then Send Verification Code Instead. If the destination is inaccessible, call the number on the back of your Card.

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Can I turn off American Express fraud alerts?

Not all of them. Amex says fraud alerts are automatic when unusual activity is detected and email fraud alerts cannot be disabled. You may decline text delivery. Keep your details current in Card Profile so alerts can reach you.

What should I do if my old phone still receives the prompt?

The prompt goes to the most recently added device. If you still have the old phone, add the replacement in Manage Devices and remove the old entry. If it was lost or stolen, remove it through Authentication Management and call Amex if you suspect unauthorized access.

Are passkeys the same as two-step verification?

No. Amex describes passkeys as a password alternative using Face ID, a fingerprint, or the device passcode. Two-step verification confirms access with a code or notification. Availability varies by account and device, so keep another usable sign-in route until your account confirms the passkey is active.

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What is the difference between SafeKey and account security settings?

SafeKey authenticates online checkout at participating merchants. Account settings control passwords, sign-in verification, saved devices, contact details, and alerts. They are separate systems, so a SafeKey prompt does not replace reviewing Authentication Management or Contact Information and Alerts.

How do I report a fake American Express message or website?

Do not use links in the suspicious message. Report phishing emails or texts and fake American Express sites to [email protected]. For suspected account fraud or an unrecognized transaction, call the number printed on the back of your Card.

The Bottom Line

For the U.S. route, use Account Services for your password, Authentication Management for verification and saved devices, and Contact Information and Alerts or Card Profile for contact and fraud-alert details. Review those settings after device or contact changes, and contact Amex through the number on your Card whenever a code, device, or transaction looks suspicious.

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