The fastest way depends on your operating system
On Windows, you open Settings, go to Accounts, and change your password in one place. On Mac, you open System Settings, find Users & Groups, and do the same. Both take about two minutes once you know where to look. The steps are different enough that you need the right path for your machine — trying Windows steps on a Mac will leave you clicking empty air.
You will need to know your current password to start the process. If you have forgotten it, the steps change significantly and are covered in a separate section below. If you remember it, start with the section that matches your computer type.
Key Takeaways
- Windows users open Settings, select Accounts, then choose "Password" to change it in one place.
- Mac users open System Settings, go to General, then Users & Groups to change their login password.
- You must know your current password before you can create a new one on either system.
- A strong new password should be at least 12 characters and mix uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols.
- If you forget your password after changing it, you can reset it using a recovery email or phone number you set up beforehand.
Changing your password on Windows 10 or 11
Click the Start button in the bottom left corner, then type "Settings" and press Enter. The Settings window will open. On the left side, click "Accounts" — it is the fourth option down. Then click "Password" in the menu that appears on the right side.
Click the blue "Change" button. Windows will ask you to enter your current password to confirm you are the account owner. Type it in and click "Next". Now you will see three fields: one for your new password, one to confirm it, and one for a password hint. Type your new password in the first field, type it again in the second field to make sure you did not make a typo, then add a hint you will remember if you forget the password later. Click "Next", then "Finish".
Your password has changed. The next time you log in, use the new password. If you use a PIN or Windows Hello (facial recognition or fingerprint), those still work — changing your password does not disable them.
Changing your password on Mac
Click the Apple menu in the top left corner and select "System Settings". In the sidebar on the left, click "General". Then scroll down and click "Users & Groups". You may see a lock icon at the bottom of the window — if you do, click it and enter your password so you can make changes.
Your account name should already be highlighted. Click the "Password" tab at the top of the window. Click the "Change Password" button. Mac will ask you to enter your current password first — type it in and click "Change Password". Now enter your new password twice (once to set it, once to confirm), add a hint if you want one, then click "Change Password" again.
Your password has changed. The next time you log in or wake your Mac from sleep, use the new password. If you use Touch ID, it still works alongside your password.
What makes a strong password you will not forget
A strong password is at least 12 characters long and uses a mix of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols like ! or #. Avoid using your name, birthdate, or common words that appear in the dictionary. "MyDog2024!" is weak because it uses your pet's name. "Tr0pic@lSunset#89" is stronger because it mixes character types and has no obvious connection to you.
The best passwords are ones you can remember without writing them down, but that are not obvious to someone who knows you. A phrase works well: take the first letter of each word in a sentence you will remember, then swap some letters for numbers or symbols. "I adopted my cat in 2015" becomes "Iamci2015" — then change it to "Iamci@2015!" to add a symbol. Write this method down, not the password itself.
If you forgot your password and cannot log in
On Windows, the login screen has a "Reset password" link below the password field. Click it. Windows will ask you security questions or send a code to your recovery email address — the one you set up when you created your account. Answer the questions or enter the code, then create a new password. If you did not set up a recovery email, you will need to use a password reset disk if you created one, or contact Microsoft support.
On Mac, restart your computer and hold Command + Q while it starts up to enter Recovery Mode. Click "Utilities" in the menu bar, then "Reset Password". Select your account name, then choose whether to reset using your Apple ID or a recovery key. If you use your Apple ID, you will be asked to sign in with that account. Follow the prompts to create a new login password.
If you cannot remember your Apple ID password either, you will need to go to iforgot.apple.com on another device to reset that first, then return to the Mac reset process.
What to do if you are locked out after too many wrong attempts
On Windows, after five wrong password attempts, you will see a message saying you are locked out. Wait 10 minutes and try again. If you keep entering the wrong password, the wait time gets longer. If you know your password but keep making typos, restart your computer and try once more — sometimes a stuck key or autocorrect is the culprit.
On Mac, after five wrong attempts, the login window will show a message and you will have to wait before trying again. The wait time increases with each failed attempt. If you are certain of your password, restart and try once more. If you are still locked out, use the password reset method described in the section above.
Syncing your new password across devices
If you use the same Microsoft account on multiple Windows computers, changing your password on one computer will change it on all of them. You will need to log in with the new password on each device the next time you use it. If you use a local account (one that is not tied to Microsoft), you will need to change the password on each computer separately.
On Mac, if you use an Apple ID, changing your login password does not change your Apple ID password — they are separate. Your login password is what you use to turn on your Mac. Your Apple ID password is what you use for the App Store, iCloud, and other Apple services. If you want to change your Apple ID password, go to iforgot.apple.com on any device.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my password without knowing the old one?
No, both Windows and Mac require you to enter your current password before creating a new one. This is a security measure to prevent someone else from changing your password if they gain access to your unlocked computer. If you have forgotten your password, you will need to use the password reset process instead, which uses your recovery email or security questions.
What happens to my files if I change my password?
Your files remain exactly where they are and stay encrypted with your account. Changing your password does not move, delete, or lock your files. You will still see everything in your Documents, Desktop, and other folders when you log in with the new password.
Do I need to change my password regularly?
There is no rule that says you must change your password on a schedule. Change it if you think someone else knows it, if you used the same password on a website that was hacked, or if you have not changed it in several years. A strong password that only you know does not need to be changed just because time has passed.
Will changing my password log me out of other programs?
No. Programs like email, cloud storage, and messaging apps use their own passwords or sign-in tokens, separate from your computer login password. Changing your Windows or Mac password will not log you out of Gmail, OneDrive, Slack, or anything else. You will stay signed in to those services.
Can I use the same password on my computer and my email account?
You can, but it is not recommended. If someone guesses or steals your computer password, they will also have access to your email, which is often the key to resetting passwords on other accounts. Use a different strong password for your email and your computer login.