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Right now I have an account on Stack Overflow that was created automatically when I logged in using my Google account.

The point is, what happens if I lose access to my Google account? It seemed unlikely when I registered, but now that Google accounts are tied to YouTube accounts, which can get closed for a number of reasons, I'm starting to worry.

I'd like to know if (and how) I can switch my Stack Overflow account from the Google-login to one that uses a dedicated password.

BTW I don't mind needing to remember one more password.

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  • 3
    That is definitely one of the last sentences I would search on Google. I barely have an idea of what an OpenID is.
    – Agostino
    Feb 18, 2014 at 10:49
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    Yeah, that's true -- in fact that's one of the reasons why we have duplicates (note the comment is an automated message shown if you flag or close a question as a duplicate).
    – Qantas 94 Heavy
    Feb 18, 2014 at 10:53
  • Good to know. I was worried this would get deleted even though it can be easier to spot.
    – Agostino
    Feb 18, 2014 at 10:57
  • I don't think this is a duplicate. Adding OAuth providers to your account is distinctly different than adding a username/password StackExchange login, and I was specifically looking to find that out, not adding other OAuth providers.
    – Nate
    May 12, 2016 at 13:47
  • You can add a password to your account while keeping your social network login (no need to pick one over another). To do this, go to the login form, click Forgot? and put in your email address to get the password reset link.
    – ADTC
    Oct 9, 2017 at 15:22
  • Oh btw, I think having your YouTube account closed would only mean you lose the ability to be a content creator in YouTube (using the said Google account) but other Google services would remain untouched (including, being a content consumer in YouTube).
    – ADTC
    Oct 9, 2017 at 15:22
  • Is it just me, or is this a really bad interface, where computer professionals and experts cannot find how to log out (meta.stackoverflow.com/questions/294881/…), or how to change the login ID used and have to search for documentation of such basic tasks that are meaninglessly scattered (including account access only from Meta Stack Exchange)?
    – kavadias
    Jun 7, 2021 at 14:37

1 Answer 1

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I think the my logins tab does what you want. You can add your Facebook and SE account with your existing account.

enter image description here

Now if you are not sure of your Google account, make a Stack Exchange account and merge with your existing account (You can do that in the my logins tab itself). This is one account you can be sure of.

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  • Well, that was quick. Thanks! It was not so easy to find an answer on Google, maybe upvoting this would help?
    – Agostino
    Feb 18, 2014 at 10:29
  • It worked, so I accepter your answer. I would also upvote if I had enough rep ;)
    – Agostino
    Feb 18, 2014 at 10:40
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    As far as I can see this does not work anymore, no SE login can be added.
    – phk
    Nov 10, 2015 at 8:53
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    Correction: It does work but since everyone gets an implicit SE login now you have to do a password recovery.
    – phk
    Nov 10, 2015 at 8:59
  • Figured out how to add a stack exchange login to a Google Oauth account: Log out of StackExchange, Create a new login with a username and password, click verification link in email, logout, Log back into your old account with Google OAuth, Go to StackExchange, Click your name in the top bar (to view your profile), Click "my logins", Click "add more logins", Click "log in with StackExchange", enter username and password.
    – Nate
    May 12, 2016 at 13:43
  • The "login with StackExchange" has been deleted but you can still type "openid.stackexchange.com" in the OpenID slot and login using your new SE account there.
    – Kent Shikama
    Aug 26, 2016 at 9:35

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