You can change your Windows password through Settings in about two minutes

Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "settings", then select the Settings app. Go to Accounts in the left menu, then Sign-in options. Under the "Password" section, click Change. Windows will ask you to enter your current password first, then your new password twice. Once you confirm, you are done — the change takes effect when ready on that device.

If you have forgotten your current password, you cannot use this method. You will need to use the password reset option on the sign-in screen instead, which requires either a recovery email address or a phone number linked to your Microsoft account. That process takes longer and may require you to wait for a code to arrive.

Key Takeaways

  • Changing your password through Settings requires you to know your current password and takes about two minutes.
  • A strong password is at least 12 characters long and mixes uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols — not words from a dictionary.
  • If you use a Microsoft account to sign in, your new password syncs across all your devices the next time you sign in to each one.
  • If you forget your new password, you can reset it using a recovery email or phone number, but this process is slower than changing a password you remember.

Why you should change your password regularly

Changing your password every few months reduces the window of time that a stolen or guessed password can be used to access your account. If someone obtained your password through a data breach at another website, a regular password change means they cannot use it indefinitely. This is especially important if you reuse the same password across multiple sites — changing it on Windows does not change it anywhere else, but it does protect your computer specifically.

You should also change your password when ready if you suspect someone else knows it, if you used it on a website that was breached, or if you shared it with someone who no longer needs access to your computer. A password change is faster and simpler than dealing with unauthorized access later.

How to create a password that is actually hard to guess

A strong Windows password contains at least 12 characters and includes uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Do not use your name, your username, your birth date, or any word you can find in a dictionary — these are the first things someone trying to break in will try. A phrase works better than a single word: "BlueMoon!Laptop7" is stronger than "BlueMoon7" because it is longer and mixes character types.

A password manager like Bitwarden, 1Password, or KeePass can generate a random password for you and remember it, so you do not have to. If you write your password down, keep the paper in a locked drawer at home, not in a notebook at your desk or a sticky note on your monitor. If you must share your password with someone, change it again after they no longer need access.

What happens when you change your password on a Microsoft account

If you sign in to Windows with a Microsoft account (the kind that uses an email address), your new password syncs to all your devices — your laptop, tablet, phone, or any other device where you use that same account. The sync happens the next time you sign in to each device. This is convenient because you only have to change the password once, but it also means that if someone guesses your new password, they can access all those devices.

If you sign in with a local account instead (a username and password that only exists on that one computer), the password change only affects that computer. You do not need an internet connection to change a local account password, and no one can reset it remotely. The trade-off is that if you forget it, you have fewer options to recover access.

Changing your password if you use a PIN or biometric sign-in

Many people set up a PIN or fingerprint to sign in faster than typing a password. If you use either of these, your password still exists in the background — you just do not type it every day. You can still change it through Settings using the same steps described above. You will need to enter your current password (not your PIN or fingerprint) to make the change.

If you have forgotten your password but you remember your PIN, you can still use the PIN to sign in and then change the password through Settings. However, if you forget both your password and your PIN, you will need to use the password reset option on the sign-in screen, which requires a recovery email or phone number.

What to do if the change does not work or you get an error

If you see an error message when you try to change your password, the most common cause is that you typed your current password incorrectly. Try again, paying attention to uppercase and lowercase letters and any numbers or symbols. If you are certain your current password is correct, restart your computer and try again — sometimes a temporary glitch prevents the change from going through.

If you see a message saying "The password does not meet the complexity requirements", Windows is telling you that your new password is too straightforward. Add more characters, mix in uppercase and lowercase letters, or include a number or symbol. If you are still stuck, you can sign out, use the password reset option on the sign-in screen, and set a new password that way — it takes longer but bypasses the Settings interface.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to change my password if I have never done it before?

No, but you should. If you set up Windows years ago and have never changed your password, someone who obtained it during that time could still use it. Changing it now closes that gap. If you cannot remember your original password, use the reset option on the sign-in screen instead.

Will changing my password log me out of everything?

No. You stay signed in on your current device. On other devices, you will be asked to sign in again the next time you use them — this is a security feature that makes sure someone who stole your old password cannot stay logged in everywhere. You can sign back in with your new password in seconds.

Can I change my password without knowing the old one?

Not through Settings. You will need to use the password reset option on the sign-in screen, which requires a recovery email address or phone number linked to your Microsoft account. This process is slower because Microsoft sends you a code to verify your identity first.

What if I change my password and then forget the new one?

Use the password reset option on the sign-in screen. You will need access to the recovery email address or phone number you set up with your Microsoft account. Microsoft sends a code to that address or number, you enter the code, and then you set a new password. This usually takes 10 to 15 minutes.

Does changing my Windows password change my passwords on other websites?

No. Your Windows password only controls access to your computer. Passwords for Gmail, Facebook, your bank, or any other website are separate and do not change. If you want to change those passwords too, you have to do it on each website individually.