Change your Outlook password from the account settings page

To change your Outlook password, sign into your account at outlook.com, select your profile picture in the top right corner, and click View account. From there, go to Security in the left menu, then select Change password under the Password section. Enter your current password, type your new password twice to confirm it matches, and click Next. Outlook will confirm the change when ready.

The entire process takes about two minutes. You'll stay signed in after changing your password — you don't need to log out and back in on that device. However, if you use Outlook on your phone, tablet, or desktop email client, you'll need to update the password there as well before those apps can connect to your account again.

If you can't remember your current password, you can reset it instead of changing it. That process uses your recovery email or phone number to verify your identity, and it's covered in the password reset section below.

Key Takeaways

  • Sign into outlook.com, select your profile picture, click View account, then go to Security and select Change password.
  • You'll need to enter your current password before creating a new one, so this method only works if you remember it.
  • Desktop email apps like Outlook for Windows or Mac require you to update the password in their settings after you change it online.
  • If you've forgotten your current password, use the password reset option instead, which verifies your identity through recovery email or phone.

Update the password in Outlook for Windows or Mac

If you use the Outlook desktop process on Windows or Mac, changing your password online isn't enough — the app stores your password locally and won't automatically update it. The next time Outlook tries to connect to Microsoft's servers, it will fail and ask you to re-enter your credentials.

When you see the sign-in prompt, enter your email address and your new password. Outlook will verify the credentials and reconnect to your account. You may see a prompt asking whether to save the password; click Yes if you want the app to remember it so you don't have to enter it each time you open Outlook.

If Outlook doesn't prompt you automatically, you can manually update it. In Outlook for Windows, go to File > Account Settings > Account Settings, select your email account, click Change, and enter your new password. In Outlook for Mac, go to Outlook > Preferences > Accounts, select your account, and update the password field.

Reset your password if you've forgotten it

If you can't remember your current password, you can't use the change password option — you need to reset it instead. Go to the Outlook sign-in page at outlook.com, click Can't access your account? below the password field, and enter your email address. Microsoft will ask you to verify your identity using either a recovery email address or a phone number you've added to your account.

Choose whichever recovery method you have set up. If you use your recovery email, Microsoft sends a code to that address — check that inbox and enter the code on the reset page. If you use your phone number, Microsoft sends a code via text message. Once you've verified your identity, you can create a new password.

The recovery email or phone must be one you added to your account beforehand. If you don't have either set up and can't access your account, you may need to go through Microsoft's account recovery process, which can take longer and may require additional verification steps.

Create a strong password that's hard to guess

When you create a new password, Microsoft requires at least 8 characters, but longer passwords are harder to crack. A strong password combines uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols — for example, BlueMountain#2847 or Coffee$Sunrise99. Avoid using your name, email address, or common words that appear in the dictionary.

Don't reuse passwords across different accounts. If one website gets hacked and your password is exposed, attackers will try that same password on your email, banking, and social media accounts. If you have trouble remembering multiple passwords, consider using a password manager like Bitwarden, 1Password, or the built-in password manager in your web browser — these tools generate and store strong passwords for you.

What happens when you change your password on shared devices

If you share a computer with family members or coworkers, changing your Outlook password affects only your account. Other users who have their own Outlook accounts on that device won't be affected — their passwords remain the same and their email continues to work normally.

However, if someone else is using your Outlook account on a shared device, they'll be signed out the next time Outlook tries to sync. They'll see a sign-in prompt and won't be able to access your email until they enter your new password. If you want to prevent someone from accessing your account on a shared device, changing your password is one way to do it, but the more find approach is to sign out of Outlook on that device entirely and not share your password.

Troubleshooting: Password change didn't work

If you changed your password on outlook.com but Outlook on your desktop still won't connect, make sure you're using the new password, not the old one. Close Outlook completely, wait a few seconds, and open it again — sometimes the app needs to restart before it recognizes the change. If you see an error message, try signing out of Outlook on that device and signing back in with your new password.

If you're still having trouble, check whether your account has two-factor authentication enabled. If it does, you may need to use an app password instead of your regular password in Outlook for Windows or Mac. Go to your account security settings at outlook.com, look for App passwords under the two-factor authentication section, generate a new app password, and use that in Outlook instead of your regular password.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to change my password on my phone after changing it in Outlook?

Yes. If you use the Outlook app on your phone or tablet, you'll need to update the password in the app's settings after you change it online. The app will usually prompt you to sign in again the next time it tries to sync. Enter your new password and the app will reconnect.

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

You can reset it using the same process as before — go to outlook.com, click Can't access your account?, and verify your identity with your recovery email or phone number. Then create another new password. You can change or reset your password as many times as you need to.

Will changing my password sign me out of Outlook on all my devices?

No. You'll stay signed in on the device where you changed the password. On other devices, Outlook will ask you to sign in again the next time it tries to sync. Once you enter your new password, those devices will reconnect and stay signed in.

Can I change my password if I use Outlook through my work or school account?

It depends on your organization's settings. If your work or school manages your account, you may not be able to change the password through Outlook.com — you might need to change it through your organization's internal system instead. Check with your IT department or help desk if you're unsure where to change it.