Change your Chromebook password through your Google Account settings

Your Chromebook password is actually your Google Account password. When you change one, you change the other. You do this through Google's account page, not through your Chromebook itself — the Chromebook is just the device you use to get there. The process takes about five minutes and works the same way whether you use Chrome OS on a school device, a work device, or a personal one.

You will need to know your current password to start. If you have forgotten it, you can recover your account using a backup email or phone number, but that takes longer. If you are locked out, skip to the Frequently Asked Questions section below.

Key Takeaways

  • Your Chromebook password is your Google Account password, so changing one changes both at the same time.
  • You change it on Google's website, not on the Chromebook itself, by signing into myaccount.google.com and selecting Security from the left menu.
  • You will need your current password to create a new one, and Google will ask you to confirm the new password twice.
  • After you change your password, you may need to sign out and sign back into your Chromebook before the new password takes effect.
  • If your Chromebook is managed by a school or employer, your administrator may have locked password changes, and you will need to contact them instead.

Step 1: Open Google Account settings on any browser

Go to myaccount.google.com in any web browser. You can do this on your Chromebook, on another computer, or even on a phone. Sign in with the Google Account whose password you want to change.

Once you are signed in, you will see your account name and profile picture at the top. Look for a menu on the left side of the page. If you do not see it, look for three horizontal lines (called a hamburger menu) near the top left and tap it to open the menu.

Step 2: Find the Security section and locate the password option

In the left menu, click on Security. This takes you to a page showing all the ways your account is protected. Scroll down until you see a section labeled How you sign in to Google or Password. You may see a green checkmark next to it.

Click on Password. Google will ask you to sign in again with your current password to confirm it is really you making this change. Type your current password and click Next.

Step 3: Enter your new password twice

After you confirm your current password, you will see two empty fields: one labeled New password and one labeled Confirm new password. Type your new password in the first field. Google will show you a strength meter — green means strong, yellow means medium, red means weak. A strong password has at least 12 characters and mixes uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.

Type the same new password again in the second field to confirm it. If the two passwords do not match exactly, Google will not let you proceed. Click Change password when both fields match.

Step 4: Sign out and sign back into your Chromebook

After Google confirms the change, close the browser tab or window. On your Chromebook, click the time in the bottom right corner, then click the power icon. Select Sign out. This logs you out of your Chromebook entirely.

At the sign-in screen, click on your account name or picture, then type your new password. If the Chromebook does not accept it right away, wait a few seconds and try again — sometimes it takes a moment for the change to sync. Once you are signed back in, your new password is active on both your Google Account and your Chromebook.

What to do if your Chromebook is managed by a school or employer

If your Chromebook shows a message like "This device is managed by [School Name]" or "This device is managed by [Company Name]" when you sign in, your administrator controls some account settings, including password changes. You cannot change your password through the normal Google Account page.

Contact your school's IT department, help desk, or your employer's IT support team. They can either change your password for you or tell you the correct process for your organization. Some schools and employers use a separate password system that is not the same as your Google password, so ask them which password you are changing.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I forgot my current password and cannot sign in?

Go to myaccount.google.com and click "Can't sign in?" below the sign-in fields. Google will walk you through recovery using a backup email address or phone number linked to your account. This usually takes 24 to 48 hours. If you set up a recovery method when you created your account, the process is faster.

Do I need to change my password on each Chromebook I own?

No. Since your password is tied to your Google Account, changing it once changes it everywhere. Any Chromebook, phone, or computer where you sign in with that account will use the new password the next time you sign in.

Will changing my password sign me out of other apps and websites?

Not when ready. Apps and websites you have already signed into will stay signed in until they time out or you manually sign out. However, if you sign out and try to sign back in anywhere, you will need to use your new 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 it on a website that was hacked, or if you have not changed it in over a year. If your Chromebook is shared with family members, changing it regularly adds a layer of privacy.

Can I change my password if I am using a guest account?

No. Guest accounts are temporary and do not have passwords. You must sign in with a full Google Account to change a password. If you want a permanent account on your Chromebook, set one up by clicking "Add person" at the sign-in screen.