Can’t Login to Experian: most common fixes
Experian login issues can happen when your username and password fail to log into your Experian CreditWorks, Experian CreditLock, or Experian Boost accounts. You can reset your password, verify your identity, and choose a new password to fix the issue for all products.
New Experian Users
If you’ve never had a security freeze account with Experian, called Experian CreditWorks, you can create one by registering. Be careful to sign up for the correct Experian product! You will not have to pay for anything, nor will you need to sign up for any trial service if you select the correct option. During sign-up, you will be asked identity verification questions, but you will not need to enter a payment method.
Existing Experian Users
If you are an existing user and your Experian username is not working, your username will probably be your email address. If you have multiple email accounts and are unsure which email address you used when registering, try searching your inboxes. Experian sends a large volume of emails that you can’t unsubscribe from, so whichever inbox has those emails will be the correct one.
If you can’t log in to your account and are certain your username/email address is correct, the problem may be your password. If you are sure it is correct but still not working, try resetting it. For an extra-secure password, consider using a simple random password generator.
Third-Party Logins Sharing your Experian Account
Because other companies can use Experian accounts, your account credentials may be tangled with a third party. For example, creditchecktotal.com is a partner that can be linked to your Experian CreditWorks account. Updating your password at creditchecktotal will update your Experian account login.
The fix is simple: Check those third parties for the most recent credentials, and try those usernames and passwords to log in to your Experian account.
Make a Brand New Account (Give up on recovering your Experian account)
Assuming you have completed basic troubleshooting below, the fix that works for most users will require a new email address. You cannot use the one you signed up for Experian with. If you don’t already have a second “burner” email address, several free services, such as Firefox Relay, offer unique email addresses that will forward all received mail to your current inbox.
With your new email address, register for a brand new Experian account and choose a new password. You will need to enter your SSN and other personal info and answer identity verification questions. After registering, log in to your new account, and you should be able to toggle your credit freeze and unfreeze status successfully.
Why does this work? Experian online accounts and the Experian main database (the source of truth for all Experian credit records) are two different systems. If your data, such as your primary address, recorded in your online Experian account conflicts with the main database, you may be blocked from logging in. This can also occur when a relative with your same name moves into or out of your zip code or home address, creating an identity conflict. The proper fix would be for Experian to update the data. Creating a new, second account for Experian with updated data can fix the alignment issue with the main database, letting you log in.
Basic Troubleshooting Checklist
- Check the web address is: https://usa.experian.com/login. Experian has multiple online consumer credit products that do different things. For example, Experian’s credit lock service is similar, but less secure than a federally-supported credit freeze. Don’t confuse the two.
- Check your credentials and/or reset your password. Make sure you’re entering the correct username/email and password.
- If you’re using one, turn off your VPN. Financial institutions like Experian often use IP-based geo-location technology to prevent fraud. Depending on your VPN provider and server location, your VPN use could raise a fraud flag and prevent you from logging in.
- Turn off any browser extensions. Many browser extensions can access all of your cookies and website data. Disabling your extensions eliminates the possibility of an extension being the problem.
- Try a different browser. Certain websites are only built and tested to work in certain browsers. For example, if you’re using Firefox, try Chrome.
Wrap Up
If you can’t resolve your Experian login not working problem yourself, you may need to call Experian for help. You can reach Experian’s customer care team at 1-855-962-6943 and can find their operating hours on the Experian website. You can also try sending them physical mail, although that’s not recommended.
Whatever you do, know that you do not need to pay Experian any money to fix the problem. If you contact support, there’s a chance an agent may try to cross-sell you into a different Experian credit product. Experian is notorious for this behavior since it has so many consumer offerings.
Links to additional documentation to fix Experian not working: