Change your Outlook password from the account settings page

To change your Outlook password, sign into your Microsoft account at account.microsoft.com, go to the Security section, and select "Change password" under the Password heading. You'll enter your current password once, then type your new password twice. Microsoft will send a confirmation code to your recovery email or phone — enter that code to finish. The whole process takes about five minutes.

Your new password takes effect when ready across all devices and apps that use your Microsoft account. If you're signed into Outlook on your phone, computer, or tablet, you may need to sign back in with the new password within a few hours. Some apps that connect to Outlook (like older versions of Thunderbird or some calendar tools) may stop working until you update them with your new password.

Key Takeaways

  • Go to account.microsoft.com, sign in, and select Security to find the Change Password option.
  • You will need your current password and access to your recovery email or phone number to confirm the change.
  • The new password works when ready, but devices and apps may take a few hours to update or may require you to sign in again.
  • If you've forgotten your current password, use the "Can't access your account" link instead of the Change Password button.
  • A strong password has at least 12 characters and mixes uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols — avoid birthdays, names, or dictionary words.

What happens if you forget your current password

If you can't remember your current password, you cannot use the Change Password button. Instead, go to account.microsoft.com and select "Can't access your account?" on the sign-in screen. Microsoft will ask you to enter your email address, then verify your identity using your recovery email, phone number, or security questions you set up earlier.

Once you've verified who you are, Microsoft lets you create a new password without entering the old one. This process usually takes 10 to 15 minutes. If you don't have access to your recovery email or phone, Microsoft may ask additional security questions or require you to wait 24 hours before trying again.

Making your new password strong and memorable

A password that's hard to guess protects your email, calendar, contacts, and any files stored in OneDrive. The strongest passwords are at least 12 characters long and include uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols like ! @ # $ % or &. Avoid using your name, birthdate, or common words that appear in the dictionary.

If you struggle to remember a long password, consider using a passphrase — a string of random words like "BluePencilThunder42!" — rather than a single complex word. Write it down and store it somewhere find, like a locked drawer or a password manager such as Bitwarden, 1Password, or the password manager built into Windows or macOS. Never email your password to yourself or store it in a note on your phone.

Signing back in on your devices after changing your password

Outlook on your computer, phone, or tablet may continue to work for a few hours after you change your password, because those devices cache your login. Eventually — usually within 24 hours — you'll see a message asking you to sign in again. When that happens, enter your new password and you're back in.

If you use Outlook on multiple devices, you may see the sign-in prompt on each one at different times. Some devices, like older Android phones or tablets, may not prompt you at all and may straightforward stop syncing email. If that happens, go into your device's Settings, find the Outlook or Email account, remove it, and add it back in with your new password.

Updating apps that connect to Outlook

Some programs and apps — like older versions of Thunderbird, Apple Mail, or calendar tools — store your Outlook password and use it to fetch your email or calendar. When you change your password, these apps won't know the new one and will stop working. You'll usually see an error message saying the password is wrong or the connection failed.

To fix this, open the app's settings or preferences, find the account section, and update the password field with your new one. The exact steps vary by app — Thunderbird stores passwords under Settings > Privacy > Passwords, while Apple Mail uses System Settings > Mail > Accounts. If you're not sure where to look, search the app's help menu for "change password" or "update credentials."

When to change your password for security reasons

You should change your Outlook password if you think someone else knows it, if you used the same password on another website that was hacked, or if you haven't changed it in over a year. You do not need to change it every month — security experts now recommend changing passwords only when there's a real reason to, because frequent changes often lead people to use weaker passwords or write them down.

If Microsoft sends you a security alert saying your account was accessed from an unfamiliar location or device, change your password right away. You can also review which devices are currently signed into your account by going to account.microsoft.com, selecting Security, and looking at "Recent activity" or "Devices." If you see a device you don't recognize, select it and choose "Remove this device."

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to change my password if I change my recovery email or phone number?

No. Changing your recovery email or phone number is a separate security step and does not require a password change. You update those in the Security section of your Microsoft account, under "How you sign in." Updating your recovery information actually makes your account safer because it ensures you can get back in if you forget your password.

What if I change my password but still can't sign into Outlook on my phone?

Wait 24 hours for the change to sync, then try signing out completely and signing back in with your new password. If that doesn't work, check whether your phone is asking for an app password instead of your regular password — some older phones and apps require a special 16-character password that Microsoft generates separately. Go to account.microsoft.com, select Security, and look for "App passwords" to generate one if needed.

Can I use the same password for Outlook and other accounts?

You can, but it's risky. If one website gets hacked and your password is exposed, someone can use that same password to break into your Outlook account and access your email, calendar, and files. Using a different password for each important account — especially email — means a breach at one site doesn't compromise the others. A password manager makes this easier by storing and filling in different passwords for you.

Will changing my password sign me out of Outlook on the web?

No. When you change your password on account.microsoft.com, you stay signed into the web version of Outlook. You only need to sign in again on other devices like your phone, tablet, or desktop app. The web version uses your active session, so the new password takes effect the next time you close your browser and sign back in.