The fastest way to change your 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, then Your Google Account. This takes you to your Google Account page in a browser window. Click Security in the left menu, then Password, and enter your current password when prompted. Type your new password twice to confirm it matches, then click Change Password.

The whole process takes about two minutes. Your new password takes effect when ready on that Chromebook and on any other device where you use the same Google Account.

Key Takeaways

  • You change your Chromebook password through your Google Account settings, not through the Chromebook itself.
  • You need your current password to set a new one, so have it ready before you start.
  • The new password works on all your devices that use the same Google Account, including phones and tablets.
  • If you forget your current password, you will need to use Google's account recovery process, which asks for a backup email or phone number.
  • A strong password has at least 12 characters and mixes uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.

Why you should change your password regularly

Changing your password every few months reduces the window of time a stolen password can be used to access your account. If someone gets your password through a data breach at another website, a regular password change means they can only use it for a limited time before it stops working.

You should change your password when ready if you think someone else knows it, if you used the same password on multiple websites and one of those sites had a breach, or if you logged into your account on a shared or public computer.

What happens if you forget your current password

If you cannot remember your current password, you cannot change it from your Chromebook. Instead, go to accounts.google.com on any device and click Can't sign in? Google will ask you to enter your email address, then walk you through recovery steps. These usually involve entering a code sent to a backup email address or phone number you set up earlier.

Recovery can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours depending on which backup method you use. If you do not have access to a backup email or phone number, the process takes longer and may require you to answer security questions about your account history.

The difference between your Chromebook password and your Google Account password

Your Chromebook password is your Google Account password. When you sign into a Chromebook, you are signing into Google. There is no separate Chromebook-only password. This means changing your Google password automatically changes the password you use to sign into that Chromebook and any other device signed into the same Google Account.

Some workplaces or schools manage Chromebooks differently and may set up a separate sign-in password just for that device. If you are using a Chromebook owned by your employer or school, ask your IT department or help desk before trying to change the password yourself.

How to create a password you will actually remember

A strong password that you can remember uses a phrase instead of a random string. For example, "MyDog8AteMyShoes!" is stronger than "Abc123def" and easier to recall. Start with a sentence only you would know, take the first letter of each word, swap some letters for numbers (like 8 for A), and add a symbol at the end.

Write your new password down on paper and store it in a safe place — a locked drawer, a safe, or a safe deposit box. Do not store it in a document on your computer or phone, and do not email it to yourself. If you use a password manager like Bitwarden or 1Password, you can store it there instead, but only if you trust that service with your passwords.

What to do if someone else is using your Chromebook

If you share your Chromebook with family members or roommates, changing your password does not prevent them from using the device — they can still sign in as themselves with their own Google Account. If you want to be the only person who can sign into this Chromebook, you need to remove their account from the device.

Go to Settings, then People, then Manage other people. Click the account you want to remove, then click Remove this user. Their files on that Chromebook will be deleted, but their Google Account itself will not be affected. They can still sign into other devices or computers with their own password.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to sign out and back in after changing my password?

No. Your Chromebook stays signed in and works normally after you change your password. The new password only matters the next time you sign in to a device or service using your Google Account.

Will changing my password sign me out of Gmail or YouTube?

No. Changing your Google password does not sign you out of any services. You stay signed in on your Chromebook, phone, and any other device until you manually sign out or until Google detects suspicious activity.

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

Use the same recovery process: go to accounts.google.com, click Can't sign in?, and follow the steps. Google will send a code to your backup email or phone number. You do not need to remember your old password to reset to a new one.

Can I use the same password on my Chromebook and my other accounts?

You can, but it is risky. If one website gets hacked and your password is stolen, someone can use that same password to access your Google Account and all your Chromebook files. Use a different password for each important account.