The fastest way depends on your operating system

On Windows, you open Settings, go to Accounts, select "Password," and click "Change." On a Mac, you go to System Settings, choose "General," then "Login Items & Extensions," find your user account, and click the lock icon to change it. Both take about two minutes. The steps differ because Windows and macOS store passwords differently, but the end result is the same: your old password stops working and only your new one will log you in.

If you have forgotten your current password, the process is longer and requires either a recovery email, a phone number you registered, or a recovery key you saved earlier. Prevention is simpler than recovery, so if you have not changed your password in over a year, now is the time.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows users open Settings > Accounts > Password > Change to set a new password in under two minutes.
  • Mac users go to System Settings > General > Login Items & Extensions, click the lock, and change the password from their account settings.
  • You will need to know your current password to change it unless you use a recovery method like a registered email address.
  • A strong password uses at least 12 characters and mixes uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols to resist guessing.
  • After you change your password, you may need to sign back into apps and cloud services that use your laptop password.

Changing your password on Windows 10 or 11

Click the Start button in the bottom left corner and type "Settings" into the search box. Open the Settings app. On the left sidebar, click "Accounts," then click "Password" in the middle panel. You will see a blue button labeled "Change." Click it.

Windows will ask you to enter your current password to confirm it is really you. Type it in and click "Next." Then type your new password twice — once in the first box and again in the second box to make sure you did not make a typo. You can add a password hint if you want, though this is optional. Click "Next," then "Finish." Your password is now changed. The next time you restart your laptop or lock the screen, you will log in with the new password.

Changing your password on macOS

Click the Apple menu in the top left corner and select "System Settings." In the sidebar, click "General." Scroll down and click "Login Items & Extensions." You will see a list of user accounts. Find your own account name and click the lock icon next to it. macOS will ask you to enter your current password. Type it in and click "Unlock."

Once unlocked, you will see a "Change Password" button. Click it. Enter your current password again, then type your new password in the "New password" field. Type it again in the "Verify" field to confirm there are no typos. Click "Change Password." You are done. The next time you log out and back in, or restart your Mac, use the new password.

What to do if you have forgotten your current password

On Windows, restart your laptop and look for "Reset password" on the login screen. Click it. Windows will ask you security questions or send a code to a recovery email address you set up when you created your account. If you have a recovery key saved from when you first set up Windows, you can use that instead. Answer the questions or enter the code, then create a new password.

On a Mac, restart and hold Command + Q at the login screen to open the password reset utility. You will need either the recovery key you saved during setup or access to the email address associated with your Apple ID. If you have neither, you will need to take your Mac to an Apple Store or contact Apple Support, as there is no other way to regain access.

This is why saving a recovery key or recovery email is important: without one, a forgotten password can lock you out of your own machine. If you have just changed your password, take five minutes now to write down your recovery key or confirm your recovery email is current.

Making your new password strong enough to protect your laptop

A strong password is at least 12 characters long and uses a mix of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. For example, "BlueMountain#2024!" is stronger than "password123." Avoid using your name, your birth year, or words from the dictionary, because these are the first things someone trying to guess your password will try.

A passphrase — four or five random words strung together, like "coffee-purple-bicycle-stone" — is often easier to remember and just as hard to crack. Whatever you choose, do not reuse a password you have used on other websites or accounts. If one site gets hacked, a password thief will try that same password on your laptop, your email, and your bank account.

What happens after you change your password

Your laptop will ask you to log in again the next time you restart or lock the screen. Some apps and services that were signed in with your old password may ask you to sign in again. This includes cloud storage services like OneDrive or iCloud, email apps, and subscription software. You will only need to enter your new password once per app, and then it will remember it.

If you use your laptop password to sign into Microsoft or Apple services, those will also ask for the new password the next time you use them. This is normal and expected. If an app keeps asking for your password even after you have entered it correctly, try signing out completely and signing back in.

When to change your laptop password

Change your password if you think someone else knows it, if you have used the same password on a website that was hacked, or if you have not changed it in over a year. You should also change it if you have shared your laptop with someone who no longer uses it, or if you have taken your laptop to a repair shop and want to make sure the technician cannot access your files afterward.

If your laptop is password-protected but you have not changed the password since you first set it up, change it now. The longer a password stays the same, the more likely it is that someone has guessed it or found it written down somewhere.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to know my old password to change it?

Yes, on both Windows and Mac you must enter your current password before you can set a new one. This is a security feature to prevent someone else from changing your password if they gain brief access to your laptop. If you have forgotten your current password, you will need to use a recovery method instead.

Will changing my password delete my files?

No. Changing your password only changes what you type to log in. All your files, programs, and settings stay exactly where they are. The only thing that changes is the password itself.

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

On Windows, you can use the password reset screen at login if you have a recovery email or recovery key. On Mac, you will need your recovery key or Apple ID. If you have neither, you will need professional help. Write down your recovery key or test your recovery email before you change your password.

Can I change my password without restarting my laptop?

Yes. On both Windows and Mac, you can change your password through Settings without restarting. You will only need to restart or log out if you want to test that the new password works, but this is a good idea to do right away.

If I change my password, will my Wi-Fi stop working?

No. Your laptop password and your Wi-Fi password are separate. Changing one does not affect the other. You will still connect to Wi-Fi the same way you always have.