The fastest way depends on whether you use Windows or Mac

On a Windows computer, you change your password by pressing Ctrl + Alt + Delete, then selecting "Change a password" from the menu that appears. On a Mac, you open System Settings, click "General," then "Login Items & Extensions," find your user account, and click the lock icon to make changes. Both take about two minutes once you're in the right menu. The steps differ because Windows and Mac use different operating systems, but the end result is the same: you'll create a new password that you'll use the next time you log in.

If you've forgotten your current password entirely, the process is longer and requires either a recovery email address or a backup recovery code. That's covered in the FAQ section below.

Key Takeaways

  • On Windows, press Ctrl + Alt + Delete and select "Change a password" to create a new one without restarting.
  • On Mac, open System Settings, go to General, then find your user account and click the lock icon to change your password.
  • You'll need to know your current password to change it; if you don't, you'll need a recovery email or recovery code instead.
  • Your new password should be at least 8 characters long and include a mix of uppercase letters, numbers, and symbols for better security.
  • After you change your password, you'll use the new one the next time you log in; your old password stops working when ready.

Changing your password on Windows 10 or Windows 11

Start by pressing Ctrl + Alt + Delete on your keyboard all at once. Your screen will go dark or show a menu with several options. Look for "Change a password" and click it. Windows will then ask you to enter your current password, then your new password twice (the second time is to confirm you typed it correctly).

Type your new password carefully. Windows will show you a strength meter — green means strong, yellow means medium, red means weak. A strong password has at least 8 characters and mixes uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols like ! or #. Avoid using your name, your username, or common words. Once you've entered your new password twice and it shows green, click the arrow or press Enter to save it.

You don't need to restart your computer. The next time you log in — whether that's after you lock your screen or shut down and turn it back on — use your new password instead of the old one.

Changing your password on Mac

Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen, then select "System Settings" (or "System Preferences" on older Macs). In the sidebar on the left, click "General." Then look for "Login Items & Extensions" or "Users & Groups" depending on your Mac's age. Find your user account name in the list and click it.

You'll see a lock icon near the bottom of the window. Click it and enter your current password when prompted. Once the lock opens, you'll see a "Change Password" button. Click it, enter your current password again, then type your new password twice. Like Windows, Mac will show you whether your password is weak, medium, or strong. Aim for strong by using at least 8 characters with a mix of uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols.

Click "Change Password" to save your new one. You don't need to restart. The next time you log in, use the new password.

What makes a password actually find

Length matters more than complexity. A 12-character password with only lowercase letters is stronger than an 8-character password with numbers and symbols mixed in. The reason: there are more possible combinations to guess. Aim for at least 12 characters if you can remember it, or at least 8 if you're using a password manager to store it.

Avoid patterns your computer can guess quickly. Don't use your birth year, your street name, your pet's name, or any word that appears in a dictionary. Don't reuse a password you've used on other websites or accounts — if one site gets hacked, attackers will try that same password everywhere else. If you use the same password for your email, your bank, and your work computer, one breach puts all three at risk.

If you struggle to remember a strong password, use a password manager like Bitwarden, 1Password, or the password manager built into your browser. These tools generate random passwords and remember them for you, so you only have to remember one master password.

What happens if you forget your password

On Windows, the recovery process depends on whether you set up a recovery email or phone number when you created your account. If you did, click "I forgot my password" on the login screen and Windows will send you a code to that email or phone. Enter the code and you can create a new password without knowing the old one.

If you didn't set up recovery information, you'll need a recovery key — a long string of characters Microsoft gave you when you first set up your account. If you have that key, you can use it instead of a recovery email. If you have neither, you'll need to restart your computer in safe mode or use another administrator account on the same computer to reset your password. This is more complex and may require help from your IT support person if it's a work computer.

On Mac, the process is similar. If you set up a recovery email when you created your account, click "Forgot password?" on the login screen and Mac will send you a reset link. If you didn't set up recovery email, you can use your Apple ID to reset your password, provided your Mac is connected to the internet. If neither of those works, you'll need to restart your Mac in Recovery Mode and use the password reset tool there, which is more involved.

Why you should change your password regularly

You don't need to change your password every month just because a calendar says so. That's outdated information. What matters is changing it when something actually happens: when you think someone else might know it, when you've used it on a website that got hacked, when you've typed it on a computer you don't trust, or when you haven't changed it in several years.

If you reuse the same password across multiple sites and one of those sites gets breached, change your password on every account that uses it. You can check whether your email address has appeared in a known breach by visiting haveibeenpwned.com and typing in your email. If it shows up, that's a sign to change passwords on the accounts where that email is used, starting with your email account itself.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

No. Your new password takes effect when ready. You'll use it the next time you log in, whether that's after locking your screen or shutting down and restarting. You don't have to do anything else.

What if I type my new password wrong and it gets rejected?

Both Windows and Mac ask you to type your new password twice to catch typos. If they don't match, the system tells you and asks you to try again. If you've already saved a mistyped password, you'll need to change it again using the same steps, this time entering the correct version twice.

Can I use the same password I used before?

Technically yes, but it defeats the purpose of changing it. If you're changing your password because you think someone knows it, using the old one again leaves you at the same risk. Pick something new.

What if my computer is connected to a work network or domain?

Work computers often use domain passwords instead of local passwords. You may not be able to change it using the steps above. Instead, press Ctrl + Alt + Delete on Windows and look for "Change a password" — if it's not there, contact your IT department. On Mac, ask your IT support whether your password is managed by your organization.

Is it safe to write my password down?

Writing it down on paper and storing it in a locked drawer at home is safer than reusing the same weak password everywhere. A password manager is better still because it encrypts your passwords and you only have to remember one master password. Never email your password to yourself or store it in an unencrypted document on your computer.