Where to find the password change option
Every service that requires a password — email, social media, banking, streaming — stores a settings page where you can change it. The location varies, but the pattern is almost always the same: look for your account menu, usually marked with your name, initials, or a gear icon in the top right or top left corner of the screen.
Once you click that menu, look for words like "Settings," "Account," "Profile," or "Security." Click into that section. Somewhere on that page — often under a heading like "Password," "Security," or "Change Password" — you will find the option you need. If you cannot find it on the first settings page, look for a subsection labeled "Security" or "Privacy."
On a phone app, the menu button is often three horizontal lines (called a hamburger menu) or three dots in a corner. The process is identical: tap the menu, find Settings or Account, then look for the password option.
Key Takeaways
- The password change option lives in your account settings, usually under a menu with your name or a gear icon in the top corner.
- You will need to enter your current password before creating a new one — this is a security check to prevent someone else from changing it.
- Your new password should be at least 12 characters long and include uppercase letters, numbers, and symbols if the service allows them.
- After you change your password, you may be logged out of all devices and will need to sign in again with the new password.
- If you cannot remember your current password, use the "Forgot Password" link instead of trying to change it.
What happens when you click "Change Password"
Most services ask you to enter three things in order: your current password, your new password, and your new password again (to make sure you typed it correctly). The current password requirement is a security measure — it prevents someone who gains temporary access to your unlocked device from changing your password and locking you out.
Type your current password exactly as it is. Then create a new password. A strong password is at least 12 characters long and mixes uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols like ! or #. Avoid passwords based on your name, birthday, or common words. Do not reuse a password you have used before on this service.
Type the new password a second time in the confirmation field. If the two entries do not match exactly, the system will reject the change and ask you to try again. This catches typos before they lock you out.
What to do if you forget your current password
If you cannot remember your current password, you cannot use the "Change Password" option — that option requires you to prove you know the old one. Instead, look for a "Forgot Password" or "Reset Password" link, usually near the login screen or in the account settings page itself.
Click that link. The service will ask you to verify your identity, usually by sending a reset link to your email address or by answering security questions you set up earlier. Follow the steps in the email or on the screen. This process will let you create a new password without knowing the old one.
If you no longer have access to the email address associated with the account, contact the service's support team directly. They can verify your identity through other means — like asking for information from your account history — and help you regain access.
Why you get logged out after changing your password
Many services log you out of all devices after you change your password. This is intentional and protective. If someone else had access to your account, logging them out everywhere forces them to use the new password to get back in — and they do not have it.
You will need to sign in again on each device you use. Open the app or website, enter your username and new password, and you are back in. This takes a minute per device, but it is worth the security gain. If you see a login attempt from a place you do not recognize, that is a sign someone else knew your old password — change it again and contact the service's support team.
Passwords across multiple devices and browsers
If you use the same email address to sign into a service on your phone, tablet, and computer, changing the password on one device does not automatically update it on the others. You will need to sign out and sign back in on each device with the new password.
Most modern browsers and phones offer to save your password after you sign in. If you let them, they will fill in the new password automatically the next time you visit. If you do not save it, you will need to type it in manually each time until you memorize it or write it down somewhere safe.
A password manager — a program that stores and fills in passwords for you — can reduce the friction here. Services like Bitwarden, 1Password, or the password manager built into your browser or phone can store your new password securely and fill it in across all your devices automatically.
Changing passwords on shared or public computers
If you change your password on a computer at a library, internet café, or someone else's home, take an extra step: after you finish, sign out of the account completely. Do not just close the browser window. Click your account menu and select "Sign Out" or "Log Out."
This prevents the next person who uses that computer from accessing your account. Even if the browser does not save your password, leaving yourself logged in is a risk. If the computer is shared with family members you trust, this is less critical, but it is still good practice.
Never change your password on a computer you suspect is infected with malware or spyware. If you think your device has been compromised, use a different, clean device to change your password instead.
What to do if you cannot change your password
If you enter your current password and the system says it is wrong, try again carefully. Passwords are case-sensitive, meaning capital A is different from lowercase a. If you are still stuck, use "Forgot Password" instead.
If the password change page itself is not loading, or if you see an error message after submitting your new password, the service may be experiencing technical problems. Wait a few minutes and try again. If the problem persists, contact the service's support team through their website or app.
Some services require you to wait a certain amount of time between password changes — usually 24 hours — to prevent abuse. If you see a message saying you cannot change your password yet, you will need to wait until that period passes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to change my password regularly?
Most security experts now say no — changing a strong password regularly does not add much protection and often leads people to create weaker passwords or reuse old ones. Change your password if you suspect it has been compromised, if you used it on a service that was hacked, or if you have not changed it in several years. Otherwise, focus on making it strong in the first place.
What if the service asks security questions when I try to change my password?
Answer them exactly as you did when you set them up. If you cannot remember your answers, look for a "Skip" or "I do not remember" option, which usually sends a verification link to your email instead. If neither option appears, contact support.
Can I use the same password on multiple services?
No. If one service is hacked and your password is stolen, someone can use that same password to access all your other accounts. Use a unique password for each service, especially for email and banking. A password manager makes this much easier.
Will changing my password delete my account data?
No. Changing your password only changes how you sign in. All your photos, messages, files, and settings stay exactly as they are. You will still have access to everything once you sign back in with the new password.
What if I change my password and then when ready forget it?
Use the "Forgot Password" option right away, before you sign out. The sooner you reset it, the easier the verification process usually is. If you have already signed out, use "Forgot Password" from the login screen and follow the recovery steps.