The fastest way depends on your operating system

On Windows 10 or 11, open Settings, select Accounts, then Password, and click Change. You'll enter your current password, then type your new one twice. On a Mac, go to System Settings, select General, then Users & Groups, click the lock icon to unlock it, right-click your account name, and choose Change Password. Both take about two minutes if you remember your current password.

If you've forgotten your password entirely, the process is longer — you'll need to use a recovery method like a PIN, security questions, or a recovery key you set up earlier. That's covered in a separate section below.

The steps differ slightly between Windows versions and between Intel and Apple Silicon Macs, but the principle is the same: you prove you own the account by entering the old password, then set a new one.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows users go to Settings > Accounts > Password > Change and enter their current password before creating a new one.
  • Mac users go to System Settings > General > Users & Groups, unlock the panel, and select Change Password from the account menu.
  • Your new password should be at least 8 characters and include uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols to be harder to guess.
  • If you forget your password, you can use a PIN, security questions, or a recovery key — but only if you set one up before you forgot it.
  • Changing your password does not affect your files, programs, or settings — it only changes how you log in.

Step-by-step for Windows 10 and 11

Click the Start button (the Windows logo in the bottom left), then type "Settings" and press Enter. In the Settings window, select Accounts on the left side. Click Password, then click the Change button.

Type your current password in the first box and click Next. Now type your new password in the first blank, then type it again in the second blank to confirm it. You can see what you're typing by clicking the eye icon if you want. Click Next, then Finish. Windows will confirm the change, and you're done — you'll use the new password the next time you log in.

If you see a message that says "You can't change your password right now," your account may be linked to a Microsoft account instead of a local account. In that case, you'll need to change it through Microsoft's website instead, which is covered in the section below.

Step-by-step for Mac

Click the Apple menu in the top left corner and select System Settings. On the left sidebar, click General. Then click Users & Groups. You may see a lock icon at the bottom of the window — if you do, click it and enter your password to unlock the settings.

Right-click (or Control-click) your account name in the list on the left, then select Change Password from the menu that appears. Type your current password, then type your new password twice. Click Change Password to save it. The next time you log in, use the new password.

If you don't see Users & Groups in System Settings, your Mac is running an older version of macOS. On those versions, go to System Preferences instead of System Settings, and the steps are the same from there.

What to do if your account is linked to Microsoft or Apple ID

If you sign into Windows with a Microsoft account (not a local account), changing your password through Settings won't work. Instead, go to account.microsoft.com, sign in, and look for Security or Password in the menu. Click Change Your Password, enter your current password, then create a new one. This password will work on any device where you use that Microsoft account.

On a Mac with an Apple ID, the process is similar. Go to appleid.apple.com, sign in, click Security, then Change Password. Your new password will work on your Mac, iPhone, iPad, and any other Apple device linked to that account.

Changing a Microsoft or Apple ID password takes effect on all your devices within a few hours. You may need to sign out and back in on each device to use the new password.

How to recover your password if you've forgotten it

On Windows, the login screen has a "Reset Password" link. Click it and answer the security questions you set up when you created your account, or enter a recovery code if you saved one. If you set up a PIN or Windows Hello (face or fingerprint), you can use those instead of your password to log in and then change your password through Settings.

If you didn't set up any recovery method, you'll need to use a Microsoft account recovery page or contact Microsoft support. This is why setting up a recovery email and phone number when you first create your account matters — without them, recovering a forgotten password is much harder.

On a Mac, restart your computer and hold Command-Q during startup to enter Recovery Mode. Click Utilities in the menu bar, then Terminal. Type "resetpassword" and press Enter. A window will open where you can reset your password. You'll need to know your Apple ID password to complete this.

Creating a strong password you won't forget

A strong password is at least 12 characters long and includes uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols like ! or #. Avoid using your name, birthdate, or common words that appear in the dictionary — these are straightforward to guess. A phrase like "Coffee2024!Morning" is stronger than "Password123" because it's longer and less predictable.

Write your new password down and store it somewhere safe — a locked drawer, a password manager like Bitwarden or 1Password, or even a sealed envelope in a safe. This sounds risky, but it's actually safer than reusing the same password across multiple accounts or writing it on a sticky note on your monitor.

If you use a password manager, it can generate a random strong password for you and remember it, so you only have to remember one master password. This is the easiest way to have different strong passwords for every account you own.

What happens after you change your password

Your files, programs, and desktop settings stay exactly the same. You're only changing the password you type to log in. The next time you restart your computer or lock the screen, you'll need to use the new password.

If you're signed into other devices with the same account (like a phone or tablet), you may need to sign out and back in on those devices to use the new password. Microsoft and Apple accounts will prompt you to re-enter your password on each device within a few hours.

If someone else uses your computer with a different account, their password doesn't change. Only your account is affected.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my password without knowing the old one?

No, you need your current password to change it through Settings. If you've forgotten it, you'll need to use a recovery method like a PIN, security questions, or a recovery code. If you didn't set those up, you'll need to contact Microsoft (Windows) or Apple (Mac) support to regain access to your account.

Will changing my password log me out of everything?

You'll stay logged in on your laptop. On other devices linked to the same account, you may see a prompt to re-enter your password within a few hours, but you won't be when ready logged out. If you want to log out of a device right away, you can do that manually in your account settings.

What if I see an error message when I try to change my password?

The most common error is "You can't change your password right now," which usually means your account is linked to Microsoft or Apple ID instead of being local. Try changing it through account.microsoft.com or appleid.apple.com instead. If you see a different error, restart your computer and try again.

Do I need to change my password regularly?

Changing your password once a year is reasonable. You should change it when ready if you think someone else knows it, if you used the same password on another website that was hacked, or if you haven't changed it in several years. There's no need to change it every month unless your workplace requires it.

Can I use the same password on multiple devices?

You can, but it's not recommended. If one account is hacked, all your devices are at risk. Using a password manager to keep different strong passwords for each account is safer and easier than remembering multiple passwords.