The quickest way to change your Chromebook password

Open the Settings app on your Chromebook by clicking the time in the bottom right corner, then selecting the gear icon. Go to People in the left menu, then click Manage other people. Find your account name and click the three dots next to it, then select Change password. Enter your current password, then type your new password twice to confirm it matches, and click Change password again.

The whole process takes about two minutes. You will stay signed in after the change, and the new password takes effect when ready on that Chromebook. If you sign into other Chromebooks or devices with the same Google account, you will need to sign out and sign back in on those devices to use the new password.

Key Takeaways

  • You change your Chromebook password through Settings > People > Manage other people, not through your Google account page.
  • Your current password is required before you can set a new one, so you cannot change it if you have forgotten it.
  • The new password applies only to that specific Chromebook unless you also change your Google account password.
  • If you share a Chromebook with other users, each person has their own password and can change it independently.

The difference between a Chromebook password and a Google account password

A Chromebook password is the code you type to unlock that specific device. A Google account password is what you use to sign into Gmail, Google Drive, and other Google services. When you change your Chromebook password through Settings, you are only changing the device password — your Google account password stays the same.

If you want to change your Google account password instead, you would go to myaccount.google.com in any web browser, click Security in the left menu, then find Password and click Change password. That change affects every device and service connected to your Google account, not just your Chromebook.

What to do if you have forgotten your Chromebook password

If you cannot remember the password to your Chromebook, you cannot change it from the Settings menu because the system requires your current password first. Instead, you will need to sign in with your Google account credentials on the login screen. Click Forgot password? below the password field, then follow Google's steps to reset your account password using a recovery email or phone number.

Once you have reset your Google account password, sign back into your Chromebook with the new Google password. Then you can go to Settings and set a new Chromebook-specific password if you want one that is different from your Google account password.

Setting a strong password for your Chromebook

A strong password is at least 12 characters long and includes uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Avoid using words from a dictionary, your name, your birth date, or anything someone who knows you could guess. A phrase like "BlueMoon$42!Laptop" is stronger than a single word like "Password123".

Write your new password down and store it somewhere safe if you are worried about forgetting it — a locked drawer, a password manager like Bitwarden or 1Password, or even a sealed envelope at home. Do not write it on a sticky note attached to your Chromebook or email it to yourself in plain text.

Changing passwords on a shared Chromebook

If multiple people use the same Chromebook, each person has a separate account with their own password. When you sign in, you see only your files and settings. To change your password, sign into your account, open Settings, and follow the steps above — this changes only your password, not anyone else's.

If you are the owner or administrator of the Chromebook, you can also manage other people's accounts from the same Manage other people menu. You can see all accounts on the device, but you cannot change another person's password without their permission — you can only remove their account entirely if needed.

What happens after you change your password

You stay signed into your Chromebook after changing the password. The next time you sign out and sign back in, you will use the new password. If you have other devices signed into the same Google account — a phone, tablet, or another Chromebook — those devices will not be affected. You can still use them with your old Google account password.

If you want all your devices to use the same password, you would need to change your Google account password at myaccount.google.com instead. That change takes effect everywhere you are signed in, though you may need to sign out and sign back in on some devices for it to take effect.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my Chromebook password without knowing my current password?

No. The Settings menu requires your current password to set a new one. If you have forgotten it, you must reset your Google account password first by clicking Forgot password? on the login screen, then sign back in and change your Chromebook password from Settings.

Will changing my Chromebook password change my Gmail password?

No. Changing your Chromebook password only affects that device. Your Gmail and other Google services use your Google account password, which stays the same. To change your Gmail password, go to myaccount.google.com and select Security > Password.

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

You can reset it the same way: click Forgot password? on the login screen and use your recovery email or phone number to reset your Google account password. Then sign back in and set a new Chromebook password if you want.

Do I need to change my password on other Chromebooks I own?

Only if you want them to have different passwords. If you change your Google account password at myaccount.google.com, all your Chromebooks will need the new Google password the next time you sign in. Chromebook-specific passwords are separate on each device.