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How to Check If Your Email Address Was Leaked in a Breach

Enter your email at Have I Been Pwned to see which known data breaches included it. Your browser’s password manager can also check saved passwords against leaks. If you’re affected, change those passwords, stop reusing them and turn on two-step verification.

Updated
Time
10 minutes
Difficulty
Easy
Applies to
Web, Android, iPhone, Windows, Mac

By Published Oct 6, 2026

Quick answer

  1. 1 Go to haveibeenpwned.com and enter your email address.
  2. 2 Review which breaches it appeared in and what data leaked.
  3. 3 Run Password Checkup: passwords.google.com (Chrome/Android) or Settings > Passwords > Security recommendations (iPhone).
  4. 4 Change any leaked or reused passwords and turn on two-step verification.
  5. 5 Subscribe to breach alerts.
On this page
  1. Before you start
  2. Check your email address
  3. Check your saved passwords
  4. What to do if you were breached
  5. Troubleshooting
  6. Frequently asked questions

Before you start

  • Your email address

Method 1 Check your email address

  1. Step 1: Have I Been Pwned

    Go to haveibeenpwned.com, enter your email and click Check. It lists breaches containing your address and what was exposed (passwords, phone numbers, addresses).

  2. Step 2: Mozilla Monitor

    monitor.mozilla.org offers free breach alerts using the same data.

  3. Step 3: Sign up for alerts

    Use Notify me on Have I Been Pwned to get emails about future breaches.

Method 2 Check your saved passwords

  1. Step 1: Google Password Manager

    Go to passwords.google.com > Password Checkup (or Chrome Settings > Passwords > Checkup). It flags compromised, reused and weak passwords.

  2. Step 2: iPhone and Mac

    Open Passwords (or Settings > Passwords) > Security Recommendations.

  3. Step 3: Other managers

    Bitwarden, 1Password and others have built-in breach reports.

Method 3 What to do if you were breached

  1. Step 1: Change affected passwords

    Change the password for the breached service and anywhere you reused it. Use unique passwords from now on.

  2. Step 2: Turn on two-step verification

    Especially for email, banking and social media.

  3. Step 3: Watch for phishing

    Leaked emails attract targeted scams referencing the breached service.

  4. Step 4: Protect financial info

    If card or ID details leaked, monitor statements and consider a credit freeze where available.

Troubleshooting

I don’t recognise a breached site

You may have signed up years ago, or a company you used shared data with a partner. Change any reused password.

Frequently asked questions

Is Have I Been Pwned safe to use?

Yes. It’s a long-running, widely trusted service run by security researcher Troy Hunt.

Can I remove my data from a breach?

No. Once leaked, data can’t be recalled; focus on changing passwords and enabling 2FA.

Summary

Check your email at haveibeenpwned.com, run a Password Checkup, change leaked or reused passwords, and turn on two-step verification. Sign up for alerts to hear about future breaches.

Sources

Written by

James Chambo

Founder

James is the Founder and Senior Editor of OnlineHow with more than 20 years of experience in internet publishing.