IRCTC Password Reset & Account Recovery Guide

Realising you've forgotten your IRCTC password minutes before a booking window opens is a genuinely stressful moment. Here's how to recover access quickly.

Resetting a Forgotten Password

1. Go to the IRCTC login page and click "Forgot Password".
2. Enter your registered username (or the option to search by registered email/mobile, if you've also forgotten your username).
3. Choose a verification method — usually an OTP to your registered mobile number or email.
4. Enter the OTP and set a new password following IRCTC's password rules (typically a mix of uppercase, lowercase, numbers and a special character).
5. Log in immediately with the new password to confirm it works — don't wait until booking time to test it.

If You've Forgotten Your Username Too

Use the "Forgot User ID" option and verify via your registered mobile number or email — IRCTC will send your username to the verified contact.

If Your Registered Mobile/Email Is No Longer Accessible

This is the trickiest case. You'll typically need to raise a request through IRCTC's customer care or grievance portal with proof of identity to update your contact details before you can recover the account — this can take longer, so don't leave it until the last minute if you suspect this applies to you.

Prevent This Before Your Next Booking Window

• Log in a day or two before any important booking date (like a Tatkal date or a 60-day-opening date) just to confirm your credentials still work.
• Keep your registered mobile number and email current in your IRCTC profile.
• Use a password manager so you're never relying on memory during a time-sensitive booking window.

Useful tools: IRCTC booking date calculator · Tatkal booking time · advance reservation period (ARP)