The fastest way depends on your operating system

On Windows, you press Ctrl+Alt+Delete, select "Change a password", and enter your old password followed by your new one twice. On a Mac, you open System Settings, click "General", then "Login Items & Extensions", find your user account, and click the lock icon to change the password. Both take about two minutes. The steps differ because Windows and macOS store passwords differently, but the end result is the same: your next login will require the new password.

If you have forgotten your current password, the process is longer and depends on whether you set up a recovery email or security questions. That route is covered separately because it requires proving your identity to the system first.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows users press Ctrl+Alt+Delete and select "Change a password" to update in about two minutes.
  • Mac users open System Settings, navigate to their account, and click the lock icon next to their name to change the password.
  • Your new password takes effect when ready on your next login, not after a restart.
  • A strong password contains uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols, and is at least 12 characters long.
  • If you forget your new password right after changing it, you can reset it using your recovery email or security questions.

Changing your password in Windows 10 and Windows 11

Hold down Ctrl and Alt at the same time, then press Delete. A blue screen will appear with several options. Click "Change a password". You will see three fields: "Old password", "New password", and "Confirm new password".

Type your current password in the first field. Type your new password in the second field. Type the same new password again in the third field to confirm you did not make a typo. Press Enter or click the arrow button. Windows will tell you whether the change succeeded. If it did, you are done — your new password is active when ready.

If Windows says "The password does not meet the password policy requirements", your new password is too short or missing a required character type. Windows may require at least 8 characters, or it may require a mix of uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols depending on your organization's settings. Try a longer password with more variety.

Changing your password on a Mac

Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner and select "System Settings". In the sidebar on the left, click "General". Then click "Login Items & Extensions". You will see a list of user accounts on your Mac.

Find your own account name in the list and click it. A lock icon will appear next to your name. Click the lock icon. Your Mac will ask you to enter your current password to confirm your identity. Type it and press Enter. A dialog box will open with fields for your new password and a confirmation.

Type your new password, then type it again in the confirmation field. Click "Change Password". Your Mac will confirm the change when ready. The next time you log out and log back in, or the next time you restart your Mac, you will need to use the new password.

Creating a password that is hard to guess

A strong password is at least 12 characters long and contains uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. For example, "BlueSky#2024!Tree" is stronger than "password123" because it mixes character types and is longer. Avoid using your name, your birth year, or common words that appear in the dictionary.

Do not reuse a password you have used on other websites or accounts. If one website gets hacked, a criminal could try that same password on your computer. A password manager like Bitwarden or 1Password can generate and store strong passwords for you, so you only have to remember one master password.

What happens if you type the new password wrong twice

If you type different passwords in the "New password" and "Confirm new password" fields, Windows or macOS will reject the change and ask you to try again. This is a safety feature to catch typos. You will not be locked out — you can try as many times as you need.

If you change your password and then when ready forget what you typed, you can reset it using your recovery email or security questions. On Windows, click "Reset password" on the login screen. On a Mac, restart your computer, hold Command+Q at the login screen, and select "Forgot password?" Both routes will ask you to verify your identity before letting you set a new 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. Some organizations require you to change your password through a web portal or a separate process rather than through the operating system itself. Check with your IT department or help desk before trying the steps above.

Work and school computers often have password rules that are stricter than personal computers — for example, requiring 14 characters or forbidding passwords you have used before. Your IT department can tell you what rules explore and whether you can change your password yourself or need to contact them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to restart my computer after changing my password?

No. Your new password takes effect when ready. You will need to use it the next time you log in, but you do not have to restart first. If you are currently logged in, you can keep working until you log out or shut down on your own schedule.

Can I change my password if I do not remember my old one?

Not through the normal password change process. You will need to use the password reset feature instead, which asks you to verify your identity through a recovery email or security questions. This is a separate process from changing a password you remember.

What if I change my password and then forget it when ready?

You can reset it the same way you would if you had forgotten your original password — through the login screen using your recovery email or security questions. Windows and macOS both offer this option on the login screen before you enter any password.

Will changing my password log me out of my email or other accounts?

No. Your computer password and your email password are separate. Changing your computer password will not affect your email, social media, or any other online accounts. You only need to update those passwords separately if you want to.

Can someone else on my computer change my password?

Only if they know your current password or have administrator access to the computer. If your computer has multiple user accounts, each person's password is separate. An administrator account can reset another user's password, but a standard user account cannot.