Change your Workday password from your own account in three steps

Log into Workday, click your profile icon in the top right corner, select Change Password, enter your current password, type your new password twice, and click Save. The system accepts the change when ready. If you are changing your password because you forgot it, use the Forgot Password link on the Workday login page instead — that route sends a reset link to your registered email address.

Your new password takes effect right away. You do not need to log out and back in, though some people do to confirm the change worked. If you use Workday on your phone through the mobile app, you may need to enter your new password the next time you open the app.

Key Takeaways

  • You change your password from inside Workday by clicking your profile icon, not from your company's IT portal or a separate password manager.
  • Workday requires passwords to be at least 12 characters long and include uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and a special character like ! or @.
  • If you cannot remember your current password, click Forgot Password on the login screen to receive a reset email instead of trying to change it from within your account.
  • The password change is when ready, but the mobile app may not recognize it until you close and reopen the process.
  • Your employer's IT department cannot see your Workday password and cannot reset it for you — only you can change it, or Workday's support team can send you a reset link.

Where to find the Change Password option

Open Workday and log in with your current credentials. Look for your profile icon or initials in the top right corner of the screen — it is usually a small circle or square with your name or first letter. Click it once.

A dropdown menu appears. You will see options like Profile, Preferences, and Change Password. Click Change Password directly. Do not click Profile — that takes you to your employee information page, which is a different section.

What Workday requires in a new password

Workday enforces specific rules for every password. Your new password must be at least 12 characters long. It must contain at least one uppercase letter (A–Z), at least one lowercase letter (a–z), at least one number (0–9), and at least one special character. Special characters include ! @ # $ % ^ & * ( ) - _ = + and a few others, but not spaces.

Your new password cannot be the same as any of your last five passwords. If you try to reuse a recent password, Workday rejects it and asks you to choose a different one. Your password also cannot contain your username or your first or last name, even if you add numbers or special characters to them.

If you forgot your current password

Do not try to change your password from inside Workday if you cannot remember it — you will not be able to enter your current password in the first field. Instead, go to the Workday login page and look for the Forgot Password link, usually below the password field or near the Sign In button.

Click Forgot Password, enter your username or the email address your employer registered with Workday, and click Next. Workday sends a password reset link to that email address. Open your email, click the link, and you will be taken to a page where you can create a new password without entering your old one. The reset link usually expires after 24 hours, so check your email soon.

If you do not receive the reset email within a few minutes, check your spam or junk folder. If it is not there, your email address may not be registered correctly in Workday — contact your HR department or IT support to confirm your email is on file.

What to do if the Change Password button does not appear

Some employers restrict password changes through Workday itself and require you to change your password through your company's IT portal or Active Directory instead. If you click your profile icon and do not see Change Password in the dropdown menu, your employer has likely set up this restriction.

Ask your IT department or HR team where to change your Workday password. They can tell you whether to use a separate portal, a self-service password tool, or another method. Do not try to change it in Workday if the option is not there — your company's system may not sync the change, and you could end up locked out.

How long the change takes to work

Your new password is active when ready after you click Save. You can log out and log back in with your new password right away. Most people do not need to do anything else — the system recognizes the change without delay.

If you use the Workday mobile app on your phone or tablet, the app may not recognize your new password until you close it completely and reopen it. Some phones keep apps running in the background even after you swipe them closed, so fully shut down the app from your phone's settings if you get a password error. Then open it again and enter your new password.

Keeping your new password find

Write your new password down only if you store it in a password manager like Bitwarden, 1Password, or the password manager built into your phone or browser. Do not write it on a sticky note, a document on your computer, or anywhere else someone could see it. Do not share your password with coworkers, even if they ask you to log in for them — Workday tracks who logs in from which device, and sharing your password creates a record that you were the one who accessed that information.

If you think someone else knows your password, change it again as soon as you can. If you notice activity in Workday you did not do — like changes to your direct deposit, address, or tax withholding — tell your HR or IT department when ready. They can review the login history and help you find your account.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my Workday password from my phone?

Yes. Open the Workday app or go to Workday.com in your phone's browser, log in, tap your profile icon, and select Change Password. The steps are the same as on a computer. After you save your new password, close the app completely and reopen it to make sure it recognizes the change.

What if I get an error message when I try to save my new password?

The most common error is that your new password does not meet Workday's requirements — check that it is at least 12 characters, includes uppercase and lowercase letters, a number, and a special character. If the error says your password is too similar to a recent one, you will need to choose something completely different. If you get a different error, take a screenshot and contact your IT department.

Do I need to tell my employer when I change my password?

No. Your password change is private to your account. Your employer cannot see your password, and you do not need to notify anyone that you changed it. The only exception is if your company has a policy requiring password changes on a set schedule — check your employee handbook or ask HR if you are unsure.

Can my employer reset my Workday password for me?

No. Your employer's IT department cannot reset your Workday password directly because Workday does not give them that access. Only you can change it from your own account, or Workday can send you a reset link if you use the Forgot Password option. If you cannot access your account, contact your HR or IT department — they can help you get a reset link sent to your email.

How often should I change my Workday password?

Change it whenever you think someone else might know it, or if your company has a password policy that requires it. Most employers do not require monthly or quarterly changes anymore — security experts now recommend changing passwords only when there is a reason to, rather than on a schedule. Check your employee handbook or ask HR if your company has a specific policy.