Change your password through System Settings

Open System Settings by clicking the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen, then select System Settings from the dropdown. In the sidebar on the left, click Users & Groups (on older Macs, this may say Accounts). You may need to click the lock icon at the bottom of the window and enter your current password to make changes.

Click your user account name in the list on the left. Then click the Change Password button. You will see three fields: your old password, your new password, and a confirmation of the new password. Type your current password in the first field, then type your new password twice — once in each of the remaining fields. Make sure both new password entries match exactly, character for character.

Click Change Password when you are done. Your Mac will confirm the change when ready. You do not need to restart your computer, but you will need to use the new password the next time you log in or wake your Mac from sleep.

Key Takeaways

  • You change your password in System Settings under Users & Groups, not in a separate security app.
  • You must enter your current password before creating a new one, even if you are the only person who uses the computer.
  • Your new password takes effect the next time you log in or wake your Mac from sleep.
  • If you forget your new password when ready after changing it, you can reset it using your Apple ID or a recovery key, but this process takes longer than changing it while you remember the old one.
  • Changing your password does not affect your Apple ID password — those are separate and must be changed in different places.

What to do if the lock icon is already locked

If you see a lock icon at the bottom of the Users & Groups window and it appears locked (closed), click it once. Your Mac will ask you to enter your current password. Type it in and click Unlock. The lock will open, and you can now proceed with changing your password as described above.

If you do not see a lock icon at all, your account may already have administrator permissions, and you can skip this step. If you see a lock icon that is already open (unlocked), you are ready to change your password without entering anything else.

Passwords that are strong enough to actually use

A strong password is one that is hard for someone else to guess but straightforward for you to remember. Avoid using your name, your birth year, or common words like "password" or "123456". A good approach is to use a phrase you know well — like a line from a song or a childhood address — and mix in numbers and symbols.

For example, "BlueSky1975!" or "Coffee@MyDesk#7" are passwords that combine letters, numbers, and symbols in a way that is not a dictionary word but is still something you can type without thinking. Your Mac will not force you to use symbols or numbers, but adding them makes your password much harder to crack if someone gains access to your computer.

Write your new password down on paper and store it somewhere safe — not on a sticky note on your monitor, but in a drawer or a locked box. Once you have used it a few times and it feels natural, you can throw the paper away. This is safer than trying to remember a password you have never typed before.

If you cannot remember your current password

If you have forgotten your current password and cannot log in, you will need to reset it using your Apple ID. Restart your Mac and hold down Command + Q when you see the login screen. This opens the password reset option. Click the question mark icon next to the password field, and your Mac will walk you through resetting your password using your Apple ID credentials.

If you do not remember your Apple ID password either, you can reset that through Apple's website at iforgot.apple.com. You will need access to the email address or phone number associated with your Apple ID. This process can take several minutes and may require you to answer security questions or wait for a verification code.

Changing your password on a shared Mac

If multiple people use the same Mac, each person has their own user account and their own password. You can only change the password for the account you are currently logged into. To change someone else's password, you would need to be logged into an administrator account, which is a separate permission level.

If you are the administrator and need to change another user's password, open System Settings, go to Users & Groups, click the lock icon to unlock it, then click the other user's account name. Click Reset Password instead of Change Password. You will set a temporary password for them, and they can change it to something they prefer the next time they log in.

Your password versus your Apple ID password

Your Mac login password and your Apple ID password are two different things. Changing one does not change the other. Your Mac password is what you type when you turn on your computer or wake it from sleep. Your Apple ID password is what you use to read apps from the App Store, sign into iCloud, or use Apple services like Mail and Photos.

If you need to change your Apple ID password instead, go to iforgot.apple.com or open System Settings, click your name at the top of the sidebar, then click Password & Security. Both of these will let you change your Apple ID password, but they are separate from the steps described above for changing your Mac login password.

What happens after you change your password

Once you change your password, any apps or services that were using your old password may stop working. This is most common with email accounts set up in the Mail app or cloud services like iCloud. If an app asks for your password after you change it, enter your new password and the app will update itself.

If you use your Mac password to unlock your keychain (a storage system for passwords and sensitive information), your keychain will ask you to enter your new password the first time you unlock it after the change. This is normal and is a security feature — it ensures that only someone who knows your new password can access your stored information.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to change my password regularly?

No. Apple does not require you to change your password on any schedule. Change it when you think someone may have learned it, when you have shared it with someone who no longer needs access, or straightforward if you want to. Changing it once a year is reasonable for most people, but there is no technical requirement to do so.

What if I type my new password wrong in the confirmation field?

System Settings will not let you proceed if the two new password entries do not match exactly. You will see an error message. straightforward retype both new passwords carefully and try again. Take your time — it is straightforward to miss a capital letter or number on the first try.

Can I use the same password I used before?

Yes. Your Mac does not prevent you from reusing an old password. However, if you are changing your password because you think someone learned it, you should choose something completely new. If you are just updating it for routine security, a new password is better practice.

Will changing my password affect my backups?

No. If you use Time Machine to back up your Mac, changing your password does not affect existing backups or the backup process itself. Your Mac will continue to back up normally with your new password in place.

What if I see a message saying I cannot change my password?

This usually means your account does not have administrator permissions, or your Mac is managed by an organization. If your Mac is owned by your workplace or school, contact your IT department — they may have restrictions on password changes. If it is your personal Mac, try unlocking the lock icon again and making sure you entered your current password correctly.