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 Manage other people. Find your account name and click Change password. You'll be asked to enter your current password once, then type your new password twice. That's it — the change takes effect when ready.

If you can't remember your current password, you'll need to reset it through your Google Account instead of through Settings. The process is slightly different and takes a few extra steps, which we cover below.

Key Takeaways

  • You can change your password directly in Chromebook Settings if you remember your current password.
  • If you forget your password, you must reset it through your Google Account online, not through the Chromebook itself.
  • A strong password uses at least 12 characters and mixes uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.
  • After you change your password, you may need to sign back into other devices or apps that use your Google Account.

Step-by-step: changing your password when you remember it

Start by clicking the time in the bottom right corner of your screen. A small menu will pop up. Click the gear icon to open Settings.

In Settings, look for People on the left side menu and click it. Then click Manage other people. You'll see a list of accounts on this Chromebook. Find your own account name in the list.

Click your account name, then click the Change password button. A box will appear asking you to enter your current password first. Type it in and click Next. Then type your new password in the first blank, and type it again in the second blank to confirm you didn't make a typo. Click Change password to finish.

Resetting your password if you forgot it

If you can't remember your current password, you can't change it from the Chromebook. Instead, you'll reset it through your Google Account on any device with internet access — a phone, tablet, or another computer.

Go to accounts.google.com in a web browser and click Sign in. Enter your full email address (the one you use to sign into your Chromebook). On the next screen, click Forgot password? Google will ask you to enter the last password you remember, or to verify your identity another way — usually by sending a code to a backup email or phone number you set up earlier.

Once you've verified who you are, Google will let you create a new password. Make it something you haven't used before and something you can remember. After you reset it, go back to your Chromebook and sign in with your new password. You may see a message asking you to enter your old password one more time — this is normal, and you should enter your new password instead.

Making your new password strong

A password that's straightforward to guess puts your Google Account at risk, and your Google Account controls everything on your Chromebook. A strong password is at least 12 characters long and uses a mix of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.

Avoid using words from the dictionary, your name, your birthday, or anything someone who knows you could guess. A phrase that's meaningful to you but looks random to others works well — for example, "BlueSky$Sunrise2024!" is stronger than "password123" or "MyDog2024".

Write your new password down and store it somewhere safe, like a locked drawer or a password manager app. A password manager is a program that remembers all your passwords for you and fills them in automatically — common ones include Bitwarden, 1Password, and Dashlane. If you use one, you only have to remember one strong master password.

What happens after you change your password

Your Chromebook will sign you out and ask you to sign back in with your new password. This usually takes less than a minute. After you sign back in, everything on your Chromebook works the same way it did before.

However, if you use your Google Account on other devices — a phone, tablet, or another computer — you may need to sign in again on those devices too. Some apps and services will ask for your password the next time you use them. This is a security feature: it makes sure that only you can access your accounts, even if someone else had your old password.

Troubleshooting: common problems and fixes

If you see an error message saying "Password change failed," try signing out of your Chromebook completely and signing back in before you attempt to change it again. Sometimes a temporary connection problem prevents the change from going through.

If you're locked out of your Chromebook entirely and can't sign in at all, you may need to do a Powerwash, which erases everything on the device and returns it to factory settings. Before you do this, make sure any important files are backed up to Google Drive or another cloud storage service. To Powerwash, press Ctrl + Alt + Shift + R at the sign-in screen, then follow the prompts. You'll need to sign in with your Google Account again afterward.

If you're still stuck after trying these steps, contact Google Support directly through support.google.com. They can help you regain access to your account.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my password without signing out of my Chromebook?

No. When you change your password through Settings, your Chromebook automatically signs you out and asks you to sign back in with the new password. This is a security measure to make sure the change worked correctly.

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

Go to accounts.google.com and click "Forgot password?" again. You'll go through the same verification process. Google doesn't limit how many times you can reset your password, so you can do this as often as you need to.

Do I need to change my password regularly?

You don't need to change a strong password on a schedule just to change it. Change your password if you think someone else knows it, if you used it on a website that was hacked, or if you haven't changed it in several years. A strong password that only you know is more important than how often you change it.

Will changing my password delete my files or settings?

No. Your files, bookmarks, extensions, and all your settings stay exactly as they are. Only your password changes. Everything you've saved to Google Drive, Gmail, and other Google services remains accessible.

What if my Chromebook is managed by my school or workplace?

If your Chromebook is managed by a school or employer, you may not be able to change your password through Settings. Instead, contact your school's IT department or your workplace's help desk. They control password policies for managed devices and can walk you through their process.