The fastest way to change your password depends on your operating system

On Windows, you open Settings, go to Accounts, select "Password," and click "Change." On a Mac, you open System Settings, choose "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 Mac store passwords in different places, but the result is the same — your next login will require the new password.

Before you start, decide whether you want to use a password you can remember or one that is harder to guess. A strong password has at least 12 characters and mixes uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. If you use the same password on multiple devices or accounts, change those separately — this guide covers only your computer login.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows users open Settings > Accounts > Password > Change, while Mac users open System Settings > General > Login Items & Extensions and click the lock icon next to their account name.
  • You will need to enter your current password before you can set a new one, so have it ready.
  • Your new password takes effect the next time you log in — you stay logged in with the old password until you restart or sign out.
  • If you forget your new password when ready after changing it, you can change it again using the same steps.

Changing your password on Windows 10 or 11

Click the Start button in the bottom left corner and type "Settings" into the search box. Open the Settings app. On the left side, click "Accounts," then click "Password" in the menu that appears.

Click the button labeled "Change." Windows will ask you to enter your current password — this is the one you use right now to log in. Type it and click "Next." Now enter your new password twice: once in the "New password" field and again in the "Reenter password" field. If the two entries do not match exactly, Windows will not let you proceed. Click "Next," then "Finish." You are done. The change takes effect when you log out or restart your computer.

If you see a message that says "We can't change your password right now," your computer may be offline or connected to a work network that manages passwords centrally. Try again when you are connected to the internet, or contact your workplace IT department if this is a work computer.

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." Scroll down and click "Login Items & Extensions." You will see a list of user accounts on your Mac. Find your own account name and look for a small lock icon next to it. Click that lock icon.

A dialog box will appear asking you to enter your current password. Type it and click "Unlock." Now you will see fields for your new password. Enter your new password in the first field and type it again in the second field to confirm. Click "Change Password." The change takes effect the next time you log in.

If the lock icon is already unlocked (open), click it first to lock it, then click it again to unlock and change the password. Some older Mac models may have this option under "System Preferences" instead of "System Settings" — the steps are identical.

What to do if you cannot remember your current password

Both Windows and Mac require you to enter your current password before setting a new one. If you cannot remember it, you cannot change it through the normal steps. On Windows, you can use another administrator account on the same computer to reset your password — go to Settings > Accounts > Other users, find your account, and click "Change password." On a Mac, you can use Recovery Mode: restart your Mac, hold Command and R during startup, go to Utilities > Terminal, and type resetpassword to open the password reset tool.

If you do not have another administrator account and cannot access Recovery Mode, you will need to contact the person who set up your computer or a local computer repair shop. They can verify your identity and help you regain access.

Why your new password does not work when ready after changing it

After you change your password, you remain logged in with your old credentials until you sign out or restart. This means you can keep working without interruption. The new password only becomes active when you log in again. If you want to test the new password right away, sign out of your account (Windows: Start menu > Sign out; Mac: Apple menu > Log Out), then log back in with the new password.

If you log back in and the new password does not work, you may have made a typo when entering it twice. Go back through the change steps and try again. Passwords are case-sensitive, so "MyPassword" is different from "mypassword."

Keeping your new password find

Once you have set a new password, do not write it down on a sticky note or store it in an unencrypted document. If you need to remember it, use a password manager — a program that stores passwords in an encrypted vault and fills them in automatically. Popular options include Bitwarden, 1Password, and Dashlane. Your operating system also has a built-in password manager: Windows has Credential Manager, and Mac has Keychain.

If you suspect someone else knows your password, change it again when ready using the same steps. If you think your computer has been compromised by malware, restart it in Safe Mode (Windows: hold Shift while restarting; Mac: restart and hold Shift) before changing your password, or take it to a repair shop for a security scan.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my password log me out of other devices?

No. Changing your computer login password affects only that computer. Your phone, tablet, and other devices will not be logged out. If you want to change the password for your Microsoft account or Apple ID (which you use across multiple devices), you must do that separately through the account website, not through your computer settings.

Can I change my password if I am connected to a work network?

It depends on how your workplace manages accounts. If your computer is part of an Active Directory domain, your IT department controls password policy and you may not be able to change it yourself. Contact your IT support team. If you are working from home on your own personal computer, you can change the password normally.

What happens if I forget my new password right after changing it?

You can change it again using the same steps, as long as you are still logged in. If you have already logged out and cannot remember the new password, you will need to use the recovery method for your operating system (another admin account on Windows, or Recovery Mode on Mac).

Do I need to change my password regularly?

Security experts now recommend changing your password only when you suspect it has been compromised, rather than on a fixed schedule. However, if your workplace or school requires regular changes, follow their policy. A strong password that you do not reuse elsewhere is more important than how often you change it.