Where to find the password change option

Your Chromebook password lives in your Google Account settings, not on the device itself. When you sign into your Chromebook, you are signing into Google — so changing your password means going to Google's account page, not hunting through Chromebook menus. The change takes effect when ready on all your devices.

You can start the process from your Chromebook, but you can also do it from any computer or phone with a web browser. The steps are the same either way.

Key Takeaways

  • Your Chromebook password is your Google Account password, which you change through Google's website, not through Chromebook settings.
  • You will need your current password to set a new one, unless you have a recovery email or phone number on file.
  • After you change your password, you will need to sign back into your Chromebook with the new password.
  • If you forget your current password before changing it, use your recovery email or phone number to reset it first.

Step 1: Go to your Google Account page

Open any web browser and go to myaccount.google.com. If you are already signed into your Chromebook, you may already be signed in here — you will see your name and profile picture in the top right corner. If not, click Sign in and enter your email address and current password.

Once you are signed in, you are on your Google Account homepage. This is where Google stores all your account information across Gmail, Drive, YouTube, and every other Google service.

Step 2: Open the Security section

On the left side of the page, you will see a menu with several options. Click Security. This takes you to a page showing what is connected to your account and where you can change your password.

Scroll down until you see a section labeled How you sign in to Google. Under that heading, you will see Password with a blue button next to it that says Change password.

Step 3: Enter your current password

Click the Change password button. Google will ask you to enter your current password again for security — this confirms that you are really the person who owns this account. Type your current password and click Next.

If you do not remember your current password, click Forgot password? instead. Google will send a code to your recovery email or phone number, and you can use that code to reset your password before creating a new one.

Step 4: Create and confirm your new password

Google will now show you two blank fields: New password and Confirm new password. Type your new password in the first field. Google will show you a strength meter — green means strong, yellow means medium. A strong password has at least 12 characters and mixes uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.

Type the same password again in the Confirm new password field to make sure you did not make a typo. Click Change password. Google will show a confirmation message, and your password is now changed.

Sign back into your Chromebook with your new password

Your Chromebook will not automatically know about your new password. The next time you restart your Chromebook or sign out, you will need to sign back in. Click the user icon in the bottom right corner of the lock screen and select Sign out, or restart your Chromebook.

When the sign-in screen appears, enter your email address and then your new password. Your Chromebook will verify the password with Google and sign you in. From that point on, use your new password whenever you sign into any device.

What to do if you get stuck during the process

If Google asks for a verification code before letting you change your password, check your recovery email or the phone number on file. Google sends the code to one of those places. If you do not have access to either, you can answer security questions you set up when you created your account.

If you change your password but your Chromebook still will not sign in, make sure you are typing the new password correctly — passwords are case-sensitive, meaning capital letters matter. If you are certain the password is right, sign out completely, wait 30 seconds, and try again. Sometimes the change takes a moment to sync across Google's servers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to change my password on the Chromebook itself?

No. You change it on Google's website from any device. Your Chromebook just needs to sign in with the new password afterward. You cannot change your Google password through Chromebook settings.

What happens to my files and apps when I change my password?

Nothing. Your files, apps, and settings stay exactly where they are. Changing your password only affects how you sign in — it does not touch anything stored on your account.

Can I change my password if I forgot the old one?

Yes. On the password change page, click Forgot password? and Google will send a reset code to your recovery email or phone number. Use that code to set a new password without needing the old one.

Will changing my password sign me out of other devices?

Not when ready. You will stay signed in on your phone, tablet, and other devices until you sign out manually or until Google detects suspicious activity. For security, it is a good idea to sign out and back in on devices you use regularly after changing your password.

How often should I change my Chromebook password?

There is no set rule. Change it if you think someone else knows it, if you used the same password on another site that was hacked, or if you have not changed it in over a year. For most people, once a year is reasonable.