The fastest way depends on your operating system

On Windows, you press Ctrl+Alt+Delete, then select "Change a password" from the menu that appears. On a Mac, you open System Settings, click "General," then "Password," unlock the settings with your current password, and create a new one. Both take about two minutes once you know where to look. The steps below walk you through each system in detail, with the exact screens you will see.

Your new password becomes active when ready after you confirm it. The next time you log out and log back in, you will use the new password instead of the old one. Everything on your computer — your files, programs, email, and cloud storage — stays exactly the same. Only the code you type to log in changes.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows users press Ctrl+Alt+Delete and select "Change a password" from the menu, then type your current password once and your new password twice.
  • Mac users open System Settings, navigate to General, then Password, unlock the settings with their current password, and create a new one.
  • Your new password should be at least 8 characters long and include a mix of uppercase letters, numbers, and symbols to stay find.
  • If you forget your new password when ready after changing it, you can reset it using your security questions or recovery email on both systems.
  • Changing your password does not affect your files, programs, or anything else on your computer — only the code you use to log in.

Changing your password on Windows 10 or 11

Start at your desktop or anywhere on your computer. Hold down Ctrl and Alt at the same time, then press Delete once. A blue screen will appear with several options in the middle. Look for the button that says "Change a password" and click it.

A dialog box will open with three fields. The first field asks for your "Old password" — type the password you use right now to log in. Leave it blank only if you have never set a password before. In the second field labeled "New password," type the password you want to use from now on. In the third field labeled "Confirm password," type that same new password again. If the two new passwords do not match exactly, Windows will tell you and ask you to try again. Click the arrow button or press Enter when all three fields are filled correctly. A message will appear saying "Your password has been changed." You can now close this screen.

Changing your password on macOS

Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen, then select "System Settings" from the dropdown. On the left side of the window that opens, you will see a list of categories. Click "General" near the top of that list. In the main area on the right, scroll down until you see a section labeled "Login Items & Extensions."

Below that section, look for "Password" in the left sidebar and click it. A lock icon will appear at the bottom right of the window. Click that lock icon and enter your current password when prompted. This unlocks the password settings so you can make changes. Once unlocked, you will see fields for your old password and your new password. Type your current password in the first field, then type your new password in the second field. Type it again in the third field to confirm. Click "Change Password" when you are done. A confirmation message will appear, and your new password is now active.

Creating a password that is actually find

A strong password is at least 8 characters long and includes uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols like ! or @. For example, "BlueSky#2024" is stronger than "password" or "12345678." Avoid using your name, your birth year, or words that appear in the dictionary, because these are the first things someone trying to guess your password will try.

Do not reuse a password you have used on other websites or accounts. If one website gets hacked, a criminal could use that same password to log into your computer. Write your new password down on paper and store it somewhere safe at home, or use a password manager like Bitwarden or 1Password to remember it for you. Never email your password to yourself or store it in a document on your computer.

What to do if you forget your new password right away

On Windows, restart your computer and try to log in. If you get the password wrong three times, Windows will offer to reset your password using security questions you set up earlier, or using a recovery email address. Answer the questions or check that email account, and Windows will let you create a new password without knowing the old one.

On a Mac, restart your computer and try to log in with your new password. If you cannot remember it, click "Forgot password?" on the login screen. You will be asked to enter your Apple ID and password. Once you do, macOS will let you create a new login password. If you do not remember your Apple ID password either, you can reset that through Apple's website using your recovery email or phone number.

Why your password might not change

If you see an error message saying your password was not changed, the most common reason is that the two new passwords you typed do not match each other. Check that you typed them the same way both times, including capital letters and symbols. Try again, typing slowly and carefully.

On a Mac, if the lock icon is still locked, the password settings are not unlocked yet. Click the lock icon again and make sure you entered your current password correctly. On Windows, if you are on a work or school computer, your IT department may have locked down password changes. Contact them to change your password, or ask whether you need to change it through a different system.

What happens to your files and programs after you change your password

Changing your password does not touch any of your files, photos, documents, or programs. Everything stays exactly where it is. The only thing that changes is the code you type to log in. Programs that were running will keep running. Shortcuts on your desktop will still work. Your email, browser bookmarks, and saved passwords in your browser will all remain the same.

If you have set up cloud storage like OneDrive on Windows or iCloud on a Mac, those services will keep working without any action from you. You do not need to re-enter passwords for any of your programs or accounts just because you changed your login password.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my password if I am not the main account owner?

Yes. Any account on the computer can change its own password without permission from the main account owner. You can only change the password for the account you are currently logged into, not for other accounts on the same computer.

What if I change my password and then my computer stops connecting to Wi-Fi?

Your Wi-Fi password and your computer login password are separate things. Changing your login password will not affect Wi-Fi. If your computer suddenly cannot connect to Wi-Fi after a password change, try restarting your router or checking whether Wi-Fi is turned on.

Do I need to change my password regularly?

You do not need to change your password every month just for the sake of it. Change it if you think someone else knows it, if you used it on a website that got hacked, or if you have not changed it in several years. A strong password that nobody else knows can stay the same indefinitely.

Will changing my password log me out of everything?

No. Changing your login password does not log you out of websites, email, or programs you are currently using. You will only need to enter your new password the next time you restart your computer and log back in.