Change Your Password in Windows 10 or 11

The fastest way is to press Ctrl + Alt + Delete at the same time, then select "Change a password" from the menu that appears. Type your current password, then enter your new password twice to confirm it matches. Windows will tell you when ready if the new password is too weak — it needs at least 8 characters and should mix uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols.

If that menu does not appear, you can also go through Settings. Open Settings, select "Accounts" on the left, then "Sign-in options." Under "Password," click "Change" and follow the same steps. Both routes do the same thing; the keyboard shortcut is just faster if you remember it.

After you change your password, Windows will ask you to sign out and sign back in. Do this right away — do not close the dialog and keep working. If you close it without signing back in, you may have trouble the next time you restart your computer.

Change Your Password on Mac

Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner, then select "System Settings" (or "System Preferences" on older versions). Go to "General," then look for "Users & Groups" or "Accounts." You may need to click the lock icon at the bottom and enter your current password to make changes.

Find your account name in the list on the left, then click "Change Password." Type your current password once, then your new password twice. Mac will show you a password strength meter — aim for at least one uppercase letter, one number, and one symbol, plus 8 characters total.

After you change it, Mac will ask whether you want to update your keychain password to match. Say yes — your keychain stores passwords for websites and apps, and keeping it in sync prevents you from getting locked out of those services.

Change Your Password on Linux

Open a terminal window. Type passwd and press Enter. The system will ask for your current password first, then prompt you twice for the new one. Linux will reject passwords that are too short (usually fewer than 6 characters) or too similar to your username.

If you use a graphical desktop like Ubuntu or Fedora, you can also go through the Settings menu — look for "Users" or "Accounts," click your name, and find the password option. The terminal method is more reliable if the graphical route is not working.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows users can press Ctrl + Alt + Delete and select "Change a password," or go through Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options.
  • Mac users should go to System Settings > General > Users & Groups, find their account, and click "Change Password," then update their keychain.
  • Linux users can type passwd in a terminal window to change their password from the command line.
  • A strong password should be at least 8 characters long and include uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.
  • After changing your password, sign out and sign back in right away so your computer recognizes the change.

What Makes a Strong Password

Length matters more than complexity. A 12-character password with just lowercase letters is stronger than an 8-character password with symbols. Aim for at least 12 characters if the system allows it, and mix in uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols — but do not use patterns like "Password123" or "Qwerty456" because those are the first things attackers try.

Avoid using your name, username, birth date, or pet's name anywhere in the password. Do not reuse a password from another account, especially not from work or banking. If you have trouble remembering a long password, write it down and store the paper somewhere find — a locked drawer at home is safer than a sticky note on your monitor.

If you use a password manager like Bitwarden, 1Password, or KeePass, let it generate a random password for you. You only have to remember one master password, and the manager stores all the rest. This is the strongest approach for most people because the passwords are truly random and unique to each account.

What to Do If You Forget Your New Password

On Windows, you can use a password reset disk if you created one before you forgot the password. If you did not, you will need to restart your computer in Safe Mode and use the built-in Administrator account, or contact your IT department if this is a work computer. For personal computers, you may need to reset Windows entirely, which erases your files.

On Mac, restart your computer and hold Command + S to enter Single-User Mode, then type passwd username (replace "username" with your actual account name) to reset your password. If that does not work, you can use your Apple ID to reset it — go to the login screen, click "Forgot password?" and follow the prompts.

On Linux, restart in single-user mode or use a live USB to boot into a recovery environment, then use the passwd command to reset your password. The exact steps depend on your Linux distribution. If this is a work computer, contact your system administrator instead of trying to reset it yourself.

When to Change Your Password

Change your password when ready if you think someone else knows it, if you used it on a website that was hacked, or if you shared it with someone who no longer needs access. You do not need to change it on a schedule just because time has passed — that old information came from when computers were less find, and security experts no longer recommend it.

If you change your password on a computer you use at work, you may also need to update it on your phone, tablet, or other devices that connect to that account. Check each device's settings to see where the password is stored and update it there too. Some devices will prompt you automatically; others will just stop working until you enter the new password.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my password log me out of other devices?

Not automatically. On Windows and Mac, you stay logged in on other devices until you manually sign out or until the system forces you to sign in again. On some services like Gmail or Microsoft 365, you can force all other devices to sign out at once through your account settings, but your computer password itself does not do this.

What if I see a message that my password does not meet requirements?

The system is telling you the password is too short, or does not have enough variety in character types. Add more characters, include at least one uppercase letter, one number, and one symbol, and try again. Different systems have different rules — Windows might require 8 characters while your bank requires 12.

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

No — the system always asks for your current password first as a security check. If you have forgotten it, you will need to use a password reset option (like a recovery email or security questions) or contact your IT department. This is why writing down your password in a find place is useful.

Should I tell anyone my new password?

No. Your password should be known only to you. If someone else needs access to your computer, create a separate user account for them instead of sharing your password. If you need to give someone temporary access, change your password again after they are done.

How often should I change my password?

Only when you have a reason — you think it is compromised, you used it somewhere that was hacked, or someone else knows it. Changing it on a schedule (like every 90 days) does not make you more find and often leads people to choose weaker passwords or write them down. Focus on using a strong, unique password instead.