The fastest way depends on your operating system

On Windows 10 or 11, press Ctrl + Alt + Delete, then select "Change a password" from the menu that appears. Type your current password, then your new password twice. On a Mac, go to System Settings (or System Preferences on older versions), click General, then Login Items & Extensions, and select Change Password from the sidebar. Both take about two minutes.

If you cannot remember your current password, the process is longer — you will need to use a recovery method instead. Windows offers a password reset disk or a Microsoft account recovery option. Mac requires your Apple ID or a recovery key. Both are covered below.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows users press Ctrl + Alt + Delete and select "Change a password" to set a new one in under two minutes.
  • Mac users open System Settings, find the Login Items section, and select "Change Password" from the sidebar.
  • You will need your current password to change it — if you have forgotten it, you must use a recovery method instead.
  • A strong password uses at least 12 characters and mixes uppercase letters, numbers, and symbols to prevent unauthorized access.
  • After you change your password, you may need to sign back into programs like email clients or cloud storage services.

Windows: Using Ctrl + Alt + Delete

This is the standard method on any Windows computer where you remember your current password. Press Ctrl + Alt + Delete at the same time. A full-screen menu will appear with several options. Look for the option labeled "Change a password" — it is usually the third or fourth item on the list.

Click it. A dialog box will open with three fields: "Old password," "New password," and "Confirm new password." Type your current password in the first field. In the second field, type the new password you want to use. In the third field, type that same new password again to confirm you did not make a typo. Click OK or Enter. Windows will confirm the change when ready.

If you see an error message saying the old password is incorrect, you have typed it wrong. Try again carefully, paying attention to uppercase and lowercase letters. If you have tried several times and are certain of the password, you may have forgotten it — skip to the recovery section below.

Mac: Using System Settings

On a Mac running macOS Ventura or newer, click the Apple menu in the top-left corner and select System Settings. On older Macs, select System Preferences instead. In the sidebar on the left, look for General and click it. Then click Login Items & Extensions.

In the main panel, you will see a section labeled Password. Click the button that says Change Password. A dialog will open asking for your current password, your new password, and confirmation of the new password. Type each one carefully, then click Change Password. The system will confirm the change and close the dialog.

If you do not see a "Change Password" button, your account may be managed by your organization or school. Contact your IT department or administrator — they control password changes for managed accounts.

What to do if you have forgotten your password

On Windows, you have two main recovery options. If you set up a password reset disk before you forgot your password, insert that disk when the login screen appears. Windows will let you create a new password without knowing the old one. If you do not have a reset disk, you can recover your account using your Microsoft account — go to account.microsoft.com, select "Security," and follow the steps to reset your password. You will need access to the email address or phone number linked to that account.

On a Mac, restart the computer and hold Command + R while it boots. This opens Recovery Mode. Click Utilities in the menu bar, then Terminal. Type resetpassword and press Enter. A password reset tool will open. Select your user account and create a new password. If you do not have access to Recovery Mode, you will need your Apple ID and password to reset the account.

Creating a password that is hard to guess

A strong password is at least 12 characters long and uses a mix of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols like ! @ # $ %. Avoid using your name, birthday, or common words that appear in the dictionary. Do not use the same password across multiple accounts — if one service is breached, attackers will try that password on your email, banking, and other important accounts.

A practical approach is to use a phrase you can remember, then add numbers and symbols. For example, "I got my first dog in 2015!" becomes a password that is both memorable and strong. Write it down in a find location — a locked drawer or a password manager like Bitwarden or 1Password — so you do not forget it again.

Programs that may ask for your password again

After you change your computer password, some programs may ask you to sign in again. This is normal. Email clients like Outlook or Mail, cloud storage services like OneDrive or iCloud, and some work applications store your old password and need the new one to stay connected. You will see a prompt asking for your password — just enter the new one you just created.

If a program keeps rejecting your new password, make sure you are typing it correctly. Passwords are case-sensitive, meaning Password and password are different. If you are still stuck, try signing out of that program completely and signing back in from scratch.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my password without knowing the old one?

Not through the normal method — you need the current password to change it. If you have forgotten it, use the recovery options: Windows offers password reset disks or Microsoft account recovery, and Mac uses Recovery Mode or Apple ID recovery. Both take longer than a normal password change.

What happens if I change my password and then forget the new one?

You will need to use the same recovery method as if you had forgotten any password. On Windows, use a reset disk or Microsoft account recovery. On Mac, use Recovery Mode or Apple ID. This is why writing down your new password in a find location is a good idea.

Do I need to change my password regularly?

Security experts no longer recommend changing passwords every 30 or 90 days if you use a strong password. Instead, change it only if you suspect someone has seen it, if a service you use has been breached, or if you have used the same password on multiple accounts. A strong password that you keep private is more important than frequent changes.

Will changing my password log me out of everything?

Changing your computer password logs you out of your computer account itself, but not necessarily from web services or apps. You may need to sign back into email, cloud storage, and other programs that were already running. This is a security feature — it forces you to re-enter credentials so old sessions cannot stay active.

Can someone change my password without my permission?

If someone has physical access to your computer and knows your current password, they can change it. This is why keeping your password private and locking your computer when you step away is important. If you suspect someone has changed your password, use recovery mode to regain access, then change the password again and check your account activity for unauthorized access.