The fastest way depends on whether you use Windows or Mac

On a Windows laptop, you change your password through Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options, then select "Password" and click "Change." On a Mac, you go to System Settings > General > Login Items & Extensions, then click the lock icon and enter your current password before you can set a new one. Both take about two minutes if you remember your current password. If you do not remember it, the process is longer and requires proof you own the device.

The reason to change your password regularly is straightforward: if someone has guessed it, seen it written down, or found it in a data breach, changing it locks them out. A strong new password — one with uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols — makes it much harder for someone to guess their way back in.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows users change passwords through Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options > Password > Change, and the system will ask for your current password first.
  • Mac users go to System Settings > General > Login Items & Extensions, click the lock icon, then use the "Change Password" button after entering their current password.
  • A strong password contains uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols, and is at least 12 characters long.
  • If you forget your current password, you will need to use a recovery email or phone number you set up earlier, or reset the device through your Microsoft or Apple account.
  • 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

Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "Settings," then press Enter. Click "Accounts" in the left sidebar. Select "Sign-in options" from the menu. Under the "Password" section, click the "Change" button.

Windows will ask you to enter your current password to confirm you own the account. Type it in and click "Next." You will then see a field for your new password. Type a password you have not used before — one with at least 12 characters that includes uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and a symbol like ! or #. Windows will show you a strength meter as you type. Click "Next" when you are done, then click "Finish" to save the change.

If you see a message that says "The password does not meet the complexity requirements," add more variety to your password: try including a number or symbol you have not used yet, or make it longer.

Changing your password on Mac

Click the Apple menu in the top left corner and select "System Settings." Click "General" in the sidebar, then scroll down and click "Login Items & Extensions." You will see a lock icon in the bottom right of the window. Click it and enter your current password when prompted.

Once the lock is open, look for the "Change Password" button. Click it. macOS will ask you to enter your current password again, then ask you to type your new password twice — once to enter it and once to confirm it. Use a password with at least 12 characters, including uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and a symbol. Click "Change Password" when you are done.

Your Mac will log you out and ask you to log back in with your new password. This confirms the change worked. If you see an error message, make sure you typed your new password the same way both times — passwords are case-sensitive, so "MyPassword" is different from "mypassword."

What to do if you forget your current password

If you cannot remember your current password, you cannot use the "Change Password" method above. Instead, you will need to reset it using a recovery method you set up earlier.

On Windows, click "Sign-in options" in Settings, then look for "Password" and click "I forgot my password." Windows will ask you to verify your identity using a recovery email address or phone number you provided when you created your account. If you set up a security question, you may be able to answer that instead. Once you verify your identity, Windows will let you create a new password.

On Mac, restart your computer and hold Command + Q when you see the login screen. This opens the reset password utility. Select your user account, then click "Reset Password." You will be asked to enter a recovery key or answer security questions you set up earlier. Once verified, you can create a new password. If you do not have a recovery key or cannot answer the security questions, you will need to use your Apple ID to reset the password instead.

Creating a password that is actually hard to guess

A strong password is long and uses different types of characters. Aim for at least 12 characters. Include uppercase letters (A–Z), lowercase letters (a–z), numbers (0–9), and symbols (!@#$%^&*). Avoid passwords based on your name, birthday, or common words like "password" or "letmein."

Do not reuse a password you have used on other websites or accounts. If someone finds that password in a data breach from another site, they can try it on your laptop. If you have trouble remembering a strong password, consider using a password manager — a program like Bitwarden, 1Password, or KeePass that stores passwords securely and fills them in for you.

Avoid writing your password on a sticky note or storing it in an unencrypted document. If you must write it down, keep it in a locked drawer or safe, not near your laptop.

What happens after you change your password

Once you change your laptop password, you may need to sign back into some apps and services. Cloud services like OneDrive (Windows) or iCloud (Mac) might ask for your new password. Email clients, web browsers that save passwords, and other apps that use your laptop account may also prompt you to re-enter your credentials.

This is normal and expected. When you sign back in, those apps will update their stored password and work normally again. If an app keeps asking for your password after you have entered it correctly, try signing out completely and signing back in once more.

If you use your laptop password to sign into a Microsoft account (Windows) or Apple ID (Mac), changing your laptop password does not automatically change your account password on Microsoft.com or Apple.com. Those are separate passwords. If you want to change those too, you will need to visit those websites separately.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my password if I do not have a recovery email set up?

On Windows, you will have a harder time if you forget the password later, but you can still change it now if you remember your current password. Go through the normal change process. For future protection, add a recovery email in Settings > Accounts > Your Info. On Mac, you can change your password without a recovery email if you know your current one, but Apple recommends setting up a recovery key in System Settings > General > Login Items & Extensions.

How often should I change my laptop password?

Change it if you think someone may have seen it, if you used the same password on a website that had a data breach, or if you have not changed it in over a year. You do not need to change it every month unless your workplace requires it. A strong password that you have not shared is safer than a weak password you change frequently.

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

Use the recovery method for your operating system (recovery email on Windows, recovery key or Apple ID on Mac). If you do not have those set up, you may need to reset your entire device, which will erase your files. Set up recovery options now, before you need them.

Does changing my laptop password change my email password?

No. Your laptop password and your email password are separate. If you use Gmail, Outlook, or another email service, changing your laptop password does not affect your email account. You would need to change your email password on that service's website separately.

Can someone change my password if they have physical access to my laptop?

If your laptop is unlocked and they know your current password, yes. If it is locked, they would need to reset it using recovery methods, which requires access to your recovery email or phone number. Always lock your laptop when you step away (Windows key + L on Windows, or Control + Command + Q on Mac), and do not share your password with anyone you do not trust completely.