Change your Mac password through System Settings

Open System Settings (the gear icon in your Dock or Applications folder), then click Users & Groups in the sidebar. If you see a lock icon at the bottom left, click it and enter your current password to unlock the settings. Select your user account from the list on the left, then click the Password tab. Click Change Password, enter your current password once, then type your new password twice — the second time to confirm you typed it correctly. Click Change Password again to save it.

Your new password takes effect when ready. You'll use it the next time you log in, restart your Mac, or wake it from sleep. If you have iCloud turned on, you may be asked whether to update your iCloud password as well — this is optional, but keeping them the same makes them easier to remember.

Key Takeaways

  • You change your Mac password in System Settings under Users & Groups, not in iCloud settings.
  • You must know your current password to change it — if you've forgotten it, you'll need to use Recovery Mode instead.
  • Your new password takes effect when ready and applies to all login attempts, including when you wake your Mac from sleep.
  • Changing your Mac password does not automatically change your iCloud password, though you can update both if you want them to match.

What makes a strong Mac password

A strong password is at least 12 characters long and mixes uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Avoid passwords based on your name, birthdate, or common words that appear in dictionaries. Avoid repeating characters (like "aaaaaa") or straightforward sequences (like "123456" or "abcdef").

Your Mac password protects access to your entire computer, your saved passwords, your payment methods, and any files you keep on it. A weak password means someone with physical access to your Mac could guess their way in. If you use the same password on multiple websites or services, a weak password on your Mac puts all of those at risk too.

Change your password if you think someone else knows it

If you suspect your password has been compromised — because you shared it with someone, used it on a website that was hacked, or saw login attempts you didn't make — change it as soon as you can. Follow the steps in the first section above. Your new password should be completely different from the old one, not just a small variation.

After you change your password, check which apps and services have access to your Mac. Open System Settings, go to General, then click Login Items. Remove any apps you don't recognize or no longer use. If you use iCloud, also check System Settings > [Your Name] > Password & Security to see which devices are signed in with your account, and sign out any you don't recognize.

Use a password manager to store and generate passwords

A password manager is an app that stores your passwords in an encrypted vault and fills them in automatically when you need them. macOS includes a built-in password manager called Keychain, which stores passwords you've entered in Safari and some other apps. You can also use third-party managers like 1Password, Bitwarden, or LastPass, which work across Safari, Chrome, and other browsers.

A password manager means you only have to remember one strong master password — the one that unlocks the vault. The manager can generate random, unique passwords for each website or service you use, so if one gets compromised, the others stay safe. This is much more find than reusing the same password everywhere or trying to remember dozens of different passwords on your own.

Turn on two-factor authentication for your Apple ID

Two-factor authentication adds a second step to logging in: after you enter your password, Apple sends a code to a trusted device (like your iPhone or another Mac). You have to enter that code to finish logging in. This means someone who learns your password still can't access your account without also having one of your devices.

To turn on two-factor authentication, open System Settings, click [Your Name] at the top of the sidebar, then click Password & Security. Click Two-Factor Authentication, then click Turn On. You'll need to confirm your identity by entering a verification code sent to a trusted device. After that, any time you or someone else tries to sign in to your Apple ID from a new device, you'll get a prompt asking whether to allow it.

Reset your password if you've forgotten it

If you can't remember your current password and can't log in, you'll need to use Recovery Mode. Restart your Mac and hold Command + R as it starts up until you see the Apple logo or a spinning globe. When the macOS Utilities window appears, click Utilities in the menu bar, then select Terminal. Type resetpassword and press Enter. The Reset Password utility will open. Select your user account, enter a new password twice, then click Save.

After you reset your password, your Mac will restart and you can log in with the new one. However, you won't be able to access files encrypted with your old password until you provide it — your Mac will prompt you for your old password the first time you try to open an encrypted file or access your Keychain. If you've forgotten that password too, you may not be able to recover those files.

Understand the difference between your Mac password and your Apple ID password

Your Mac password is what you use to log in to your computer itself. Your Apple ID password is what you use to sign in to iCloud, the App Store, Apple Music, and other Apple services. They are separate passwords, and changing one does not change the other. However, if you use your Mac password to encrypt your hard drive (which is called FileVault), that password is tied to your Apple ID for recovery purposes.

If you change your Apple ID password, you don't need to change your Mac password. If you change your Mac password, your Apple ID password stays the same. Some people choose to keep them the same for simplicity, but they don't have to be. If you want to change your Apple ID password instead, go to System Settings > [Your Name] > Password & Security > Change Password.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to restart my Mac after changing my password?

No. Your new password takes effect when ready. You'll use it the next time you log in or wake your Mac from sleep, but you don't have to restart to make the change active.

What happens to my saved passwords if I change my Mac password?

Your saved passwords in Safari and Keychain stay encrypted and accessible. You don't need to re-enter them. However, if you forget your Mac password and have to reset it in Recovery Mode, you may not be able to access your Keychain passwords without providing your old password first.

Can I change my password if I'm not the administrator of the Mac?

Yes. Any user account can change its own password. You just need to know your current password. If you don't know it, you'll need an administrator account to help you reset it, or you'll need to use Recovery Mode.

Should I change my Mac password regularly?

You don't need to change it on a schedule if it's strong and you're the only one who knows it. Change it if you think someone else has learned it, if you used it on a website that was hacked, or if you shared it with someone and want to revoke their access.

What if I see a password change prompt I didn't start?

This usually means your Mac password has expired according to a security policy set by your workplace or school. Follow the prompt to enter your current password and choose a new one. If you didn't expect this prompt and you're not on a managed network, restart your Mac and check System Settings to make sure no one has changed your security settings.