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

On Windows, you open Settings, go to Accounts, and choose "Password" to create a new one. On Mac, you open System Settings, select "General," then "Login Items & Extensions," and look for the password option in the Users & Groups section (or System Preferences on older versions). Both take about two minutes once you know where to look. You will need to know your current password to start the process.

The reason you need your current password is a security check — it confirms that the person sitting at the computer is actually the account owner, not someone who walked up to an unlocked machine. If you have forgotten your current password, the process is different and longer, and we cover that separately below.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows users go to Settings > Accounts > Password and click "Change," while Mac users go to System Settings > General > Login Items & Extensions or System Preferences > Users & Groups.
  • You must enter your current password before you can create a new one, as a security verification step.
  • Your new password takes effect the next time you log in — your current session stays active until you sign out.
  • If you have forgotten your current password, you will need to use a password reset disk, a Microsoft account recovery email, or an administrator account on the machine.

Changing your password on Windows 10 or 11

Open the Start menu and type "Settings" into the search box, then click the Settings app. Once it opens, click "Accounts" in the left sidebar. You will see several options across the top — click "Password." A section labeled "Change your password" will appear with a blue button that says "Change." Click it.

Windows will ask you to enter your current password first. Type it in and click "Next." Then you will see two blank fields: one for your new password and one to confirm it by typing it again. Type your new password in both fields — make sure you type it the same way both times, because if the two entries do not match, Windows will reject it. Click "Next," then "Finish." Your new password is now set and will take effect the next time you log in.

Changing your password on Mac

Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner and select "System Settings" (on newer Macs) or "System Preferences" (on older ones). Look for "General" in the sidebar and click it. Then click "Login Items & Extensions" at the top of the window. You may need to scroll down to find the password option, or it may appear under a "Users & Groups" section depending on your macOS version.

Click the lock icon in the bottom-left corner of the window and enter your current password when prompted — this unlocks the settings so you can make changes. Once unlocked, look for your user account and click it, then find the "Change Password" button. Enter your current password, then type your new password twice to confirm it matches. Click "Change Password" to save it.

What happens when ready after you change your password

Your new password takes effect right away, but you will not be forced to log out. You can keep using your computer normally — the change only matters the next time you shut down and log back in, or the next time you lock your screen and unlock it. If someone else uses the same computer with a different account, their password is not affected.

If you are signed into cloud services like OneDrive (Windows) or iCloud (Mac) through your account, you may see a prompt asking you to re-enter your password for those services. This is normal — it is the cloud service confirming that you still own the account. You can usually dismiss these prompts and re-enter the password later.

If you have forgotten your current password

If you cannot remember your current password, you cannot use the method above because Windows and Mac both require you to enter the old password first. You have a few options depending on what you set up beforehand.

On Windows, if you signed in with a Microsoft account (not a local account), you can click "I forgot my password" on the login screen and follow the recovery steps using your phone number or backup email address. If you set up a password reset disk before you forgot your password, you can use that disk to create a new password. If you have another administrator account on the machine, you can log in as that administrator and reset the password for the locked account through Settings > Accounts > Other people.

On Mac, if you set up a recovery key or linked your account to an Apple ID, you can use those to reset your password from the login screen. If you have another administrator account on the machine, you can log in as that administrator, go to System Settings > General > Login Items & Extensions, click the lock, and reset the password for the other account. If none of these options are available, you will need to contact Apple Support or take the machine to an Apple Store.

Choosing a password that is hard to guess but straightforward to remember

A strong password is at least 12 characters long and mixes uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. "Tr0pic@lSunset42" is stronger than "password123" because it uses more variety. Avoid using your name, birth date, or common words that appear in the dictionary — these are the first things someone trying to break in will try.

A practical approach is to think of a sentence you will remember, take the first letter of each word, and add numbers and symbols. For example, "My dog ate three socks on Tuesday" becomes "MdAt3SoT" — then add a symbol like "MdAt3SoT!" to make it even stronger. Write this password down in a physical notebook and store it somewhere safe, or use a password manager like Bitwarden or 1Password that stores passwords encrypted on your device.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to change my password for other accounts like email or social media?

No. Your computer login password and your email password are separate. Changing one does not change the other. If you want to change your email password, you go to that email service's website and change it there. Your computer password only controls who can log into this specific machine.

What if I type my new password wrong and the two entries do not match?

Windows and Mac will show an error message saying the passwords do not match and will not let you proceed. Click back or try again, and type your new password carefully in both fields. Take your time — there is no penalty for trying multiple times.

Can I change my password if I am not the administrator of the computer?

Yes. You can change the password for your own account even if you are not an administrator. You only need administrator access if you want to change someone else's password or reset a forgotten password for another account.

Will changing my password log me out of websites I am signed into?

No. Websites like Gmail, Facebook, or your bank store their own login information separately from your computer password. Changing your computer password will not log you out of any websites. You stay signed in until you manually sign out or the website times you out.

How often should I change my computer password?

If your password has never been compromised, you do not need to change it on a schedule. Change it if you think someone else knows it, if you used the same password somewhere else and that other place had a data breach, or if you have not changed it in several years. There is no magic number — security comes from using a strong password, not from changing it constantly.