Standardize the Password Reset Experience

Password resets are a frequently used part of the sign-in experience. Users will make mistakes and, as UX professionals, it’s our job to help them out as best we can.

When it comes to passwords, unless you’re using a password manager, you’ve either got a password that’s way too easy to remember (and way too easy to guess), or you’ve forgotten your password.

Allowing users to reset their password with an email or text message is a useful pattern, and it’s so well-known that it should be standardized by now. Even so, there are plenty of examples around the web and in mobile apps where unusual terminology or UI makes it unnecessarily hard to reset a password and get back into your account.

Call the control Forgot password and not Reset your password, Can’t access your account?, or Get a reset link. Most users won’t necessarily understand that this is the route for their most...