Change your Hotmail password from your account settings

To change your Hotmail password, sign into your account, go to your account settings, and select the security option for changing your password. Microsoft will ask you to enter your current password once, then type your new password twice. The change takes effect when ready across all devices where you use Hotmail — you'll be signed out everywhere and will need to sign back in with the new password.

The whole process takes about two minutes. You don't need to contact Microsoft support unless you can't sign in at all, which is a different problem covered in the locked-out section of this guide.

Key Takeaways

  • Go to account.microsoft.com, sign in, and select "Security" to find the password change option.
  • You must know your current password to change it — if you don't, use the account recovery process instead.
  • After you change your password, you'll be signed out on all your devices and will need to sign back in.
  • A strong password is at least 12 characters long and mixes uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.
  • If you use the same password on multiple accounts, change those too, especially on email and banking sites.

Step-by-step: changing your password on a computer

Open a web browser and go to account.microsoft.com. Sign in with your Hotmail address and your current password. Once you're in, look for "Security" in the left menu or search for "password" in the search box at the top of the page.

Click "Change password". Microsoft will ask you to enter your current password one more time for security. Type it in and click "Next". Now type your new password in the first box, then type it again in the second box to confirm you didn't make a typo. Click "Next" and you're done — your password is changed.

You'll see a message saying your password has been updated. Sign out and sign back in with your new password to make sure it works.

Changing your password on a phone or tablet

The process is the same on a phone or tablet, but the layout looks different. Open the Microsoft Authenticator app if you have it installed, or go to account.microsoft.com in your phone's web browser. Sign in, then tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) and look for "Security" or "Password".

Tap "Change password", enter your current password, then enter your new password twice. Tap "Next" or "Done" depending on what your phone shows. After the change goes through, you'll need to sign back into Hotmail on that device using your new password.

What makes a password strong enough to protect your account

A strong password is hard for someone else to guess and hard for a computer program to crack. Use at least 12 characters — longer is better. Mix in uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols like ! @ # $ % or &. Avoid using your name, your birthday, or words from the dictionary, because those are the first things someone trying to break in will try.

Don't use a password you've used before, and don't use the same password on multiple sites. If one site gets hacked, a criminal can try that password on your email, your bank, and everywhere else. If you have trouble remembering passwords, use a password manager like Bitwarden, 1Password, or the password manager built into your phone — these programs generate strong passwords and remember them for you.

Why you should change your password regularly and after certain events

You don't need to change your password every month just because time has passed. But you should change it if you think someone else might know it — for example, if you typed it in at a public computer, if you told it to someone and they no longer work with you, or if you used the same password on another site that got hacked.

Change your password when ready if you see sign-in activity you don't recognize in your account security settings, or if you get an email from Microsoft saying someone tried to access your account. These are signs that someone else has your password or is trying to get in.

What happens after you change your password

You'll be signed out of Hotmail on every device — your phone, your tablet, your computer, anywhere. This is a security feature: it makes sure that if someone else had your old password, they can't use it anymore. When you sign back in on each device, use your new password.

If you have Hotmail set up in an email app like Outlook, Apple Mail, or Gmail's app, you'll need to update the password there too. The app will usually prompt you to enter your new password the next time it tries to check for mail. If it doesn't prompt you, go into the app's settings, find your Hotmail account, and update the password manually.

If you can't remember your current password

If you don't know your current password, you can't use the "Change password" option — you'll need to use the account recovery process instead. Go to account.microsoft.com and click "Can't access your account?" on the sign-in screen. Microsoft will ask you to verify who you are using a recovery email address or a phone number you set up earlier.

Once you've verified your identity, you can set a new password without knowing the old one. This process usually takes a few minutes, though it can take longer if Microsoft needs extra time to confirm it's really you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to change my password if I just changed it last month?

No. Change your password when something specific happens — you think someone knows it, you see suspicious activity, or you used it on a site that got hacked. Changing it just because time passed doesn't make your account safer.

What if I forget my new password right after I change it?

Use the account recovery process at account.microsoft.com. Click "Can't access your account?" and verify your identity using a recovery email or phone number. You can then set another new password.

Will changing my password delete my emails?

No. Your emails stay in your account. Changing your password only changes how you sign in — it doesn't affect the messages, contacts, or files stored in your account.

Do I have to change my password on all my devices at once?

You'll be signed out everywhere at once, but you can sign back in on each device whenever you want. You don't have to do them all at the same time. Just use your new password each time you sign in.

Can I use a password I used before?

Microsoft won't let you reuse a password you've used recently on that account — usually not within the last five passwords. This prevents you from cycling back to an old password that might have been compromised.