The fastest way to change your Mac password
Open System Settings (or System Preferences on older Macs), click Users & Groups or Users & Accounts depending on your macOS version, then click the lock icon in the bottom left and enter your current password. Select your account name on the left, click the Password tab, and enter your current password once more. Type your new password twice — once in the "New password" field and once in the "Verify" field — then click Change Password. You are done.
The entire process takes about two minutes. You do not need to restart your Mac or sign out. Your new password takes effect when ready for any new logins, but your current session stays open until you manually log out or restart.
If you cannot remember your current password, you will need to use a different method — see the section below on resetting a forgotten password.
Key Takeaways
- Changing your password through System Settings is the standard method and requires you to know your current password first.
- Your new password must be at least one character different from your old one, and macOS will reject it if it is too similar.
- If you forget your password, you can reset it using your Apple ID, a recovery key, or another admin account on the same Mac.
- Changing your password does not automatically update it in apps like Mail, Slack, or your web browser — you will need to update those separately.
Step-by-step for macOS Sonoma, Ventura, and Monterey
Click the Apple menu in the top left corner, then select System Settings. In the sidebar, scroll down and click Users & Accounts. You will see a list of user accounts on the left side of the window.
Click your own account name (the one you are currently logged into). Click the lock icon in the bottom left corner of the window — it will ask you to enter your current password to unlock the settings. Type your current password and press Enter or click Unlock.
Click the Password tab at the top of the window. You will see two fields: "Old password" and "New password". Enter your current password in the Old password field. In the New password field, type the password you want to use going forward. Type it again in the Verify field below it to make sure there are no typos.
Click the Change Password button. The window will close and you are finished. Your new password is now active.
Step-by-step for older Macs (Big Sur and earlier)
Click the Apple menu, then select System Preferences. Click Users & Groups. You will see a list of accounts on the left side.
Click your account name, then click the lock icon at the bottom left and enter your current password. Click Unlock. Click the Password tab at the top of the window.
Click the Change Password button. A small dialog box will appear with three fields: "Old password", "New password", and "Verify". Enter your current password in the first field, your new password in the second, and your new password again in the third. Click Change Password when you are done.
What to do if you forgot your password
If you cannot log into your Mac at all, or you do not remember your current password, you have three main options: use your Apple ID to reset it, use a recovery key if you set one up, or use another admin account on the same Mac.
At the login screen, click the question mark icon or wait for the "If you forgot your password" message to appear. Click it. Enter your Apple ID email address and password. macOS will let you create a new Mac password without needing the old one. This method works as long as you remember your Apple ID password and have internet access.
If you set up a recovery key through Apple ID (a 28-character code), you can use that instead. At the login screen, click the question mark, then select "Use recovery key" and enter the code. You will then be able to set a new password.
If another person has an admin account on the same Mac, they can change your password for you. That person should go to System Settings > Users & Accounts, click the lock icon, unlock it with their admin password, click your account name, and click the Change Password button. They can set a temporary password for you, and you can change it again the next time you log in.
Why your new password might not work in Mail or other apps
Changing your Mac password does not automatically update it everywhere. Apps like Mail, Slack, Microsoft Teams, and others store their own copies of your password and will not know you changed it.
When you try to use Mail after changing your password, you may see an error saying the password is wrong. Open the app, look for Settings or Preferences, find the account section, and enter your new password there. For iCloud Mail, you may need to generate an app-specific password instead of using your full Apple ID password — Apple's website will guide you through this if Mail asks for it.
Web browsers like Chrome and Safari may also prompt you to update saved passwords. When they do, enter your new password and let the browser save it.
How often you should change your password
There is no single rule that applies to everyone. If your Mac password is strong (at least 12 characters, mixing uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols) and you are the only person with access to your Mac, changing it once a year is reasonable. If you share your Mac with others, use it on public networks often, or suspect someone may have seen your password, change it sooner.
If you use the same password on multiple devices or accounts, change it when ready on all of them. A password that works on your Mac, your email, and your bank account is worth protecting more carefully than one that only unlocks your laptop.
If you reuse passwords across different websites and services, consider using a password manager like 1Password, Bitwarden, or Dashlane instead. These tools generate and store unique passwords for each account, so if one service gets hacked, the others stay safe. Your Mac password itself should always be unique and not used anywhere else.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will changing my Mac password log me out of everything?
No. Your current session stays open. You will stay logged into your Mac, your email, and any open apps. The new password only takes effect the next time you log in or when you manually log out and log back in.
Can I change my password if I do not have an Apple ID?
Yes. You can change it through System Settings the normal way if you remember your current password. If you forget it and do not have an Apple ID set up, you will need another admin account on the Mac to reset it for you, or you will need to restart your Mac in Recovery Mode and use the Reset Password utility there.
What makes a strong Mac password?
At least 12 characters long, mixing uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Avoid words from the dictionary, your name, your birth date, or anything someone who knows you could guess. A random string like "Tr0pic@lMango#42" is stronger than "MyDogSpot2024".
Do I need to change my password if I just want to use Touch ID or Face ID instead?
No. Touch ID and Face ID are additional ways to unlock your Mac, not replacements for your password. Your password stays the same and is still needed if your biometric fails or if you restart your Mac.
What if I see a message saying my password is too similar to my old one?
macOS will reject a new password if it is too close to your previous one. Try a password that is more different — change several characters, not just one or two. If you are stuck, try a completely different password that you have not used before.