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PayPal my account: how to log in

Updated May 18, 2026 · 12 min read

PayPal login

Whether you are sending money to a friend, paying a freelancer, checking out at an online store, or running your own e-commerce business, your PayPal account is one of the most important digital wallets you own. This complete English-language guide walks you through every way to log in to PayPal in the United States, from the classic paypal.com sign-in page to biometric login on the mobile app, 2-step verification, FIDO2 security keys, Login with PayPal single sign-on, password resets, suspicious activity alerts, the link with Venmo, customer service contacts, and the differences between buyer, seller and business accounts.

A quick look at PayPal

PayPal was founded in 1998 in California under the name Confinity, and merged with X.com (Elon Musk's online bank) in 2000 before being renamed PayPal. The company quickly became the default payment method on eBay, which acquired it in 2002 for around $1.5 billion. PayPal was spun off from eBay as an independent public company in 2015 and is now listed on the Nasdaq under the ticker PYPL.

Today, PayPal serves more than 430 million active accounts across more than 200 countries and territories, and supports payments in 25 currencies. In the United States, PayPal is widely used for peer-to-peer transfers, online shopping checkout, invoicing, donations, recurring subscriptions, and merchant payment processing. The platform also owns Venmo, Xoom (international money transfers), Honey (coupons and cashback), Braintree (developer-focused payments) and Hyperwallet (mass payouts).

How to log in on paypal.com

The standard way to access your PayPal account from any web browser in the United States is through paypal.com. Here is the step-by-step process:

  1. Open your preferred browser (Chrome, Safari, Edge, Firefox) and go to https://www.paypal.com.
  2. Click "Log In" in the top-right corner of the homepage.
  3. Enter your email address or the mobile phone number linked to your PayPal account.
  4. Click "Next", then type your password.
  5. If 2-step verification is enabled, enter the 6-digit code sent to your phone or generated by your authenticator app.
  6. Click "Log In" to reach your dashboard.

Once logged in, your dashboard shows your current USD balance, recent activity, linked cards and bank accounts, and shortcuts to send money, request money, pay with QR code or manage subscriptions. Always make sure the URL starts with https://www.paypal.com and that the lock icon is visible in the address bar before you type your credentials. PayPal will never ask you to log in through a link in a text message or email.

Log in from the PayPal mobile app

The official PayPal mobile app is available for free on the App Store (iOS) and Google Play (Android). It is by far the fastest way to log in on your phone because it supports biometric authentication.

  1. Download "PayPal - Send, Shop, Manage" from the App Store or Google Play.
  2. Open the app and tap "Log In".
  3. Type your email or phone number, then your password.
  4. Approve the 2-step verification prompt if required.
  5. When prompted, accept to enable Touch ID, Face ID or fingerprint unlock for future sessions.

From the app, you can scan a QR code to pay in store, send up to $10,000 per transaction to friends and family (limits vary by account verification level), deposit checks remotely, transfer money to your linked bank account instantly for a small fee, or move funds for free in 1 to 3 business days.

2-step verification (2SV)

2-step verification, sometimes called two-factor authentication (2FA), is a free security feature that PayPal strongly recommends for every account. Once enabled, logging in requires both your password and a second factor.

To turn it on:

  1. Log in to paypal.com.
  2. Click the gear icon (Settings) in the top-right corner.
  3. Open the "Security" tab.
  4. Find the "2-step verification" section and click "Set Up".
  5. Choose your second factor: SMS code, authenticator app (Google Authenticator, Authy, Microsoft Authenticator, 1Password) or security key.

We strongly recommend the authenticator app option rather than SMS, because SMS-based codes can be intercepted through SIM swap attacks. Save your backup codes in a safe place such as a password manager.

Biometric login: Touch ID and Face ID

On iPhone and iPad, the PayPal app supports both Touch ID (fingerprint, older devices) and Face ID (facial recognition). On Android, the app supports any fingerprint sensor or face unlock module certified by Google. Once enabled, you simply open the app, glance at your phone or place a finger on the sensor, and you are logged in within a second.

Biometric data is stored locally on your device in the secure enclave; it is never sent to PayPal's servers. If you change phones, you will need to log in with your password and 2-step verification code once on the new device, then re-enable biometrics.

Login with PayPal: single sign-on (SSO)

Login with PayPal is a single sign-on service that lets you use your PayPal credentials to log in to third-party websites and applications, without creating a new account. You will often see a "Log in with PayPal" button on travel sites, ticketing platforms, charities and crowdfunding sites.

When you click the button, a secure PayPal pop-up opens, you authenticate (password + 2SV or biometrics), and the merchant receives only the limited profile information you agreed to share (name, email, sometimes shipping address). You can revoke any of these connections at any time from Settings > Data & Privacy > Permissions you've given.

FIDO2 security keys

For the highest level of protection, PayPal supports physical FIDO2 / WebAuthn security keys such as YubiKey 5 NFC, Google Titan, Feitian and SoloKeys. A security key is a small USB or NFC device that you plug in or tap during login.

  1. Open Settings > Security > 2-step verification.
  2. Click "Add a security key".
  3. Insert the key in a USB port (or tap it on your phone for NFC keys).
  4. Touch the key's golden disc when it blinks to register it.
  5. Give the key a name (e.g. "YubiKey home") and save.

We recommend registering at least two security keys — one primary and one backup stored in a safe place — to avoid being locked out if you lose the first one. Security keys are immune to phishing because they cryptographically verify the domain you are logging in to (paypal.com).

Password reset

If you forgot your password, follow these steps:

  1. Go to https://www.paypal.com and click "Log In".
  2. Click "Having trouble logging in?".
  3. Enter the email address linked to your PayPal account, then click "Next".
  4. Choose how to verify your identity: email link, SMS code, confirm a linked card number, or answer security questions.
  5. Create a new password (minimum 8 characters, mix of upper and lower case, numbers and symbols).
  6. Log in again with your new credentials.

A strong password should be at least 14 characters long and unique to PayPal. Use a password manager such as 1Password, Bitwarden, Dashlane or Apple's iCloud Keychain to generate and store it.

Suspicious activity alerts

PayPal continuously monitors logins, transactions and devices using machine-learning fraud models. If something unusual happens — a login from an unknown country, a large transfer to a new recipient, multiple failed password attempts — you will receive an alert by email and push notification, and PayPal may temporarily freeze the transaction.

If you receive an alert:

PayPal's Purchase Protection may refund you in full if an unauthorized transaction is confirmed, provided you reported it within 180 days.

Venmo and PayPal integration

PayPal acquired Venmo in 2013 as part of the Braintree acquisition. Venmo is hugely popular in the United States for splitting bills, paying rent to a roommate or sending money to friends with a fun social feed. Although the two apps remain separate, they are increasingly integrated.

You can link your PayPal and Venmo accounts to transfer money between them instantly, use Venmo as a payment method at PayPal checkouts on selected merchants, and apply for the Venmo Credit Card or PayPal Cashback Mastercard. To link the two services, open the Venmo app, go to Settings > Connected Accounts, and follow the on-screen prompts. Note that PayPal Balance and Venmo Balance are separate FDIC pass-through insured accounts through PayPal's partner banks.

Customer service contact

If you cannot log in or suspect fraud, contact PayPal customer service in the United States:

Before calling, log in to paypal.com to get a one-time 6-digit passcode. You will be asked to read it to the agent so they can identify you securely. Never share this code with anyone who calls or emails you first.

Buyer vs Seller (Business) account features

PayPal offers two main account types in the United States:

Business accounts pay transaction fees: 2.99% + $0.49 for standard online card transactions in the US, 2.29% + $0.09 for in-store QR code payments, and additional fees for cross-border or currency conversion transactions. You can switch a Personal account to a Business account at any time from Settings > Account Options > Upgrade to a Business account.

Sub-users on Business accounts

PayPal Business accounts allow you to create up to 200 sub-users (employees, accountants, customer service agents) with limited permissions. This way you do not need to share your master password.

  1. Log in as the primary account owner.
  2. Open Settings > Account Access > Manage users.
  3. Click "Add user" and enter the employee's name and email.
  4. Select the permissions: send money, refund transactions, view reports, manage invoices, settle disputes, etc.
  5. The user receives an invitation email and creates their own password.

You can revoke a sub-user's access at any time without changing your main password — for example when an employee leaves the company. All actions performed by sub-users are logged in the Activity report under their name.

Frequently asked questions

Is it free to open a PayPal account in the United States? Yes. Opening and maintaining a Personal or Business PayPal account is free. You only pay fees on specific transactions, mainly when you receive payments for goods and services or when you convert currency.

What if I no longer have access to my phone number for 2-step verification? Use one of the backup codes you saved when enabling 2SV. If you don't have them, click "Having trouble?" and PayPal will guide you through a manual identity verification process (photo ID, last 4 digits of a linked card, recent transactions).

Is the PayPal balance FDIC-insured? The funds you keep in your PayPal balance are eligible for FDIC pass-through insurance up to $250,000 through PayPal's partner banks, provided you have a linked debit card or have used the Direct Deposit feature.

Can I have multiple PayPal accounts? Yes, but you may have one Personal and one Business account, each with a unique email address and a unique linked bank account.

How do I delete my PayPal account? Withdraw any remaining balance first. Then go to Settings > Account > Close your account. The closure is permanent and you will keep read-only access to past transaction history for tax purposes for at least 10 years.

Is Login with PayPal safe on third-party sites? Yes, it uses OAuth 2.0 and OpenID Connect, the same standards used by major identity providers. You can revoke access at any time from your permissions page.

Can I use PayPal without a bank account? Yes, you can fund your account with a debit card, credit card, or by adding cash at participating retailers (CVS, Rite Aid, 7-Eleven, Dollar General) using PayPal's barcode feature in the app.

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