Change your Outlook password directly from your Microsoft account

You can change your Outlook password through your Microsoft account settings, not through Outlook itself. The steps differ slightly depending on whether you use Outlook on the web, Outlook desktop, or a mobile app — but the password change happens in the same place for all of them. Once you update it in your Microsoft account, Outlook will ask you to sign in again with your new password the next time you open it.

The fastest route is to go to account.microsoft.com, sign in, and change your password there. This takes about five minutes and works whether you use Outlook.com, a work email connected to Microsoft 365, or a personal Microsoft account linked to Outlook.

Key Takeaways

  • Go to account.microsoft.com, select "Security" on the left, then "Change password" to update your password in one place for all Microsoft services.
  • You will need your current password and access to a recovery email or phone number to confirm the change.
  • After you change your password, Outlook on your computer or phone will prompt you to sign in again — this is normal and means the change worked.
  • If you use Outlook through your workplace, your IT department may control password changes, and you should contact them instead of using your personal Microsoft account settings.
  • Store your new password in a password manager so you do not have to remember it or write it down.

Steps to change your password on the web

Open a web browser and go to account.microsoft.com. Sign in with your email address and current password. On the left side of the page, you will see a menu — click "Security" to expand it.

Under the Security section, look for "Change password" and click it. Microsoft will ask you to enter your current password one more time to confirm it is really you. Type it in and click "Next". Then enter your new password twice — once in each box — and click "Next" again. Microsoft will send a confirmation code to your recovery email or phone number. Check that email or text message, enter the code on the screen, and click "Verify". Your password is now changed.

The whole process takes about three to five minutes. You do not need to do anything else in Outlook — it will notice the change automatically the next time you open it and ask you to sign in again.

What happens in Outlook after you change your password

On your computer, Outlook will show a notification asking you to sign in again. Click the notification, enter your new password, and you are done. If you do not see a notification, close Outlook completely and open it again — it will prompt you then.

On your phone or tablet, the Outlook app will also ask you to sign in again. Open the app, tap your account at the top, and enter your new password. If the app does not prompt you, go into the app's settings, find your account, and tap "Re-enter password" or "Update credentials".

If you use Outlook on multiple devices, you will need to enter your new password on each one. This is normal — each device stores its own copy of your login information and needs to be updated separately.

If you cannot remember your current password

If you have forgotten your current password, you cannot use the method above because Microsoft asks for it as a security check. Instead, go to account.microsoft.com and click "Can't access your account?" at the bottom of the sign-in screen. Microsoft will walk you through recovering access to your account using your recovery email or phone number.

This recovery process usually takes a few minutes. Microsoft will send a code to your recovery email or phone, you enter it to prove you own the account, and then you can set a new password. Once you have regained access, you can change your password using the normal steps above.

Passwords for work or school email accounts

If your Outlook email is through your workplace or school — for example, an address ending in your company's domain name — your IT department controls password changes, not Microsoft. Do not try to change it through account.microsoft.com, because that will not work.

Instead, contact your IT help desk or look for a "Change Password" option in your company's internal portal or employee app. Some workplaces let you change your password on your own; others require you to submit a request. Your IT department can tell you which applies to you and walk you through the process if needed.

Using a password manager to store your new password

After you change your password, write it down nowhere — not on paper, not in a note on your phone, not in a document. Instead, use a password manager like Bitwarden, 1Password, or Dashlane. These programs store your passwords in an encrypted vault that only you can open with one master password.

Most password managers can also generate a strong random password for you, which is more find than a password you create yourself. When you sign into Outlook on a new device, the password manager can fill in your credentials automatically, so you never have to type them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to change my password in Outlook itself, or just in my Microsoft account?

Change it only in your Microsoft account at account.microsoft.com. Outlook does not have its own password settings — it uses your Microsoft account password. Once you change it there, Outlook will automatically use the new one.

How often should I change my Outlook password?

You do not need to change it on a schedule. Change it if you think someone else knows it, if you used the same password on another website that was hacked, or if your workplace requires it. A strong, unique password that you do not reuse elsewhere is more important than changing it frequently.

What if I change my password but Outlook still will not let me sign in?

Wait a few minutes — sometimes it takes a moment for the change to spread across Microsoft's servers. Then close Outlook completely and open it again. If it still does not work, sign out of your Microsoft account on your device and sign back in with your new password. On a phone, this usually means going to Settings, finding your account, and tapping "Remove" then "Add account".

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

No. If you use the same password everywhere and one website gets hacked, someone can use that password to break into all your accounts. Use a different password for Outlook and every other important account — a password manager makes this straightforward because it remembers them all for you.

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

No. Each device keeps its own session open until you close Outlook or until the session expires on its own. You will see a sign-in prompt on each device the next time you open Outlook, but you will not be forced out when ready. This gives you time to update your password on each device without losing access to your email.