Change Your Password in Windows 10 or 11

The fastest way to change your Windows password is through Settings. Press the Windows key and the letter I together to open Settings, then select Accounts from the left menu. Click Sign-in options, scroll down to the Password section, and click Change.

Windows will ask you to enter your current password first. Type it in and click Next. Then create a new password — Windows requires at least eight characters, and it will tell you if your password is too weak. Type the new password twice to confirm you did not make a typo, add an optional password hint if you want one, and click Next. Click Finish and you are done. Your new password takes effect the next time you sign in.

If you cannot remember your current password, you cannot use this method. Instead, you will need to reset your password through your Microsoft account online, which requires access to a recovery email or phone number you set up earlier. Go to account.microsoft.com, select Security, find Change password, and follow the prompts to verify your identity.

Change Your Password on Mac

On a Mac, open System Settings (or System Preferences on older versions) and click General in the sidebar. Look for Login Items & Extensions or scroll to find Users & Groups. Click the lock icon at the bottom left to unlock the settings, then select your user account and click Change Password.

Mac will ask for your current password to confirm your identity. Enter it and click OK. Then type your new password twice — once in the New password field and once in the Verify field. You can add a password hint, though it is optional. Click Change Password when you are ready. The new password works when ready, even if you stay signed in.

If you forgot your Mac password, you can reset it using your Apple ID. At the login screen, click the question mark or wait for the password hint to appear. After several wrong attempts, you will see an option to reset using your Apple ID. Click it, enter your Apple ID and password, create a new login password, and you will be back at the login screen.

Key Takeaways

  • On Windows, go to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options > Password > Change, enter your current password, then type your new password twice.
  • On Mac, open System Settings > Users & Groups, unlock the settings with your current password, select your account, and click Change Password.
  • Your new password must be at least eight characters on Windows; Mac has no strict length requirement but recommends a strong password.
  • If you forget your current password, you can reset it through your Microsoft account (Windows) or Apple ID (Mac) if you have recovery information set up.
  • After you change your password, you will use the new one the next time you sign in, or when ready on Mac if you stay signed in.

What Happens If You Forget Your New Password Right After Changing It

If you change your password and then forget it before you sign out, you can change it again using the same steps — just enter the new password you just created as your "current password." This only works while you are still signed in. Once you sign out or restart your computer, you will need to use the password recovery method for your operating system.

To avoid this, write down your new password somewhere safe before you sign out, or use a password manager to store it. A password manager is a program that remembers passwords for you and fills them in automatically — common ones include Bitwarden, 1Password, and the password managers built into Windows and Mac.

Why You Might Want to Change Your Password

You should change your password if you think someone else knows it, if you used the same password on another website that got hacked, or if you have not changed it in over a year. Changing your password regularly makes it harder for someone to access your computer without permission, especially if you share your computer with family members or coworkers.

If you change your password because you suspect a security problem, also check what other accounts use the same password and change those too. If you used the same password on email, banking, or shopping sites, change those first — your email account is the most important one to protect, because someone with access to your email can reset passwords on almost everything else.

Using a Strong Password You Can Actually Remember

A strong password is hard to guess but does not have to be random characters. A good approach is to use a phrase only you would think of, then swap some letters for numbers — for example, "MyDog8AteMyShoes2023" instead of "mydogatemyshoes2023." This is much easier to remember than "Kx9@mL2$pQ" and just as hard to crack.

Avoid passwords based on your birthday, your name, your address, or words from the dictionary. Avoid repeating the same password across multiple accounts, because if one site gets hacked, someone could try that password on your email, banking, or work accounts. If you have trouble remembering multiple passwords, a password manager removes that burden — you only have to remember one strong master password.

Changing Your Password on a Work or School Computer

If your computer is managed by an employer or school, the password change process may be different. Your organization may require you to change your password through a network login page instead of through Settings. Ask your IT department or help desk for instructions specific to your workplace, because they may have rules about password length, complexity, or how often you must change it.

Some organizations also use single sign-on, which means your computer password is the same as your email password or network password. If that is the case, changing one will change all of them. Your IT department can tell you whether your accounts are linked this way.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my password sign me out of everything?

No. Changing your computer login password only affects how you sign into your computer. You will stay signed into websites, email, and apps until they time out or you sign out manually. Your passwords for those services do not change unless you change them separately.

Can I change my password without knowing my current one?

Not through Settings. You will need to reset your password through your Microsoft account (Windows) or Apple ID (Mac). Both require you to verify your identity using a recovery email or phone number you set up before.

What if I type my new password wrong twice and lock myself out?

Windows and Mac do not lock you out after typing a password wrong during setup. If you cannot sign in after changing your password, you likely typed it differently the two times you entered it. Use your password recovery method to reset it and try again, making sure to type it the same way both times.

Do I need to change my password if I use Windows Hello or Face ID?

No, but you should still have a password set up as a backup. Windows Hello and Face ID are convenient, but if they stop working or you need to sign in from another device, you will need your password. Changing your password regularly is still a good security practice.

Can I use the same new password I used before?

Technically yes, but it defeats the purpose of changing your password. If you are changing it because you think someone knows it or because a website was hacked, using an old password again puts you back at risk. Choose something new that you have not used recently.