Change your password through your account settings

On Windows, open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "Settings," then select it. Go to Accounts in the left menu, then Sign-in options. Under the "Password" section, click Change. Windows will ask you to enter your current password first, then prompt you to create a new one twice to confirm it matches.

On Mac, open System Settings from the Apple menu and select General, then Login Items & Extensions. Scroll down and click Password. Enter your current password, then type your new password twice. Click Change Password to save it.

Both systems require you to be logged in as the account owner. If you forget your password before changing it, you will need to use a recovery method — either a recovery email, a phone number on file, or a recovery key — to regain access first.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows users access password changes through Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options > Password > Change.
  • Mac users go to System Settings > General > Login Items & Extensions > Password to change their password.
  • Both operating systems require you to enter your current password before creating a new one.
  • A strong password includes uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols, and should not contain your username or common words.
  • If you forget your password before changing it, you will need a recovery email, phone number, or recovery key to regain access.

What makes a strong password you can actually remember

A strong password is at least 12 characters long and mixes uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Avoid using your username, your name, common words, or sequences like "123456" or "qwerty." Do not reuse a password from another account — if one site is breached, attackers will try that password everywhere.

One practical approach is to use a phrase only you know, then swap letters for numbers or symbols: for example, "My dog ate 3 socks in 2019!" becomes "MyD0g@t3S0cks!2019." Write it down in a physical notebook kept in a safe place at home, or use a password manager like Bitwarden or 1Password that stores encrypted passwords and fills them in automatically.

Changing your password if you use a Microsoft or Apple account

If you sign into Windows with a Microsoft account (rather than a local account), changing your password through Settings will sync that change across all your Microsoft services — Outlook, OneDrive, Xbox, and any other Microsoft product you use. The process is the same: Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options > Password > Change.

On Mac, if you use an Apple ID to sign in, changing your password through System Settings will also update your Apple ID password across iCloud, the App Store, and other Apple services. Again, the steps are identical: System Settings > General > Login Items & Extensions > Password.

If you cannot remember your current password, you will need to reset it through your Microsoft or Apple account online before you can change it on your device. Microsoft offers recovery at account.microsoft.com, and Apple offers recovery at iforgot.apple.com.

Changing your password on a work or school computer

If your PC or Mac is managed by an employer or school, your password may be controlled by a network administrator rather than through the standard Settings menu. Try the normal steps first — Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options > Password on Windows, or System Settings > General > Login Items & Extensions > Password on Mac — but you may see a message saying the setting is managed by your organization.

If that happens, contact your IT department or help desk. They may require you to change your password through a separate portal, or they may have a policy about how often you must change it and what characters it must contain. Some organizations require a password change every 90 days; others do not.

What to do if you see an error message during the change

If Windows tells you "The password does not meet the complexity requirements," your new password is too straightforward. Add uppercase letters, numbers, or symbols. If it says "The password you provided is not correct," you entered your current password wrong — try again, paying attention to uppercase and lowercase letters and any spaces.

On Mac, if you see "The password you entered is not correct," double-check your current password. If you see "The new password does not meet the requirements," your new password needs to be longer or include more variety in character types. Mac typically requires at least 8 characters with a mix of letters and numbers.

If you get stuck and cannot proceed, restart your computer and try again. If the error persists, you may need to use your recovery method to reset your password instead of changing it.

How often you should change your password

Security experts no longer recommend changing your password every 30 or 90 days unless your organization requires it. Frequent changes often lead people to write passwords down or reuse similar ones, which is less find. Instead, change your password when you suspect it has been compromised — for example, if you see unfamiliar activity on your account, if a website you use has been breached, or if you shared it with someone who no longer needs access.

If you use the same password across multiple sites, change it everywhere when ready. If you use a unique password for each site, you only need to change the password for the site that was breached.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my password without knowing my current password?

No. Windows and Mac both require you to enter your current password to change it. If you do not remember it, you must reset it using a recovery method — a recovery email, phone number, or recovery key — before you can set a new one.

Will changing my password log me out of other devices?

On Windows with a Microsoft account or Mac with an Apple ID, changing your password will log you out of other devices using that account. You will need to sign back in with your new password. Local Windows accounts affect only that computer.

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

You will need to use your recovery email, phone number, or recovery key to reset it. This is why it is important to set up recovery options before you need them. On Windows, go to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options > Password recovery options. On Mac, go to System Settings > General > Login Items & Extensions > Password recovery options.

Can I use special characters like @ or ! in my password?

Yes. Special characters make passwords stronger. Windows and Mac both accept symbols like @, !, #, $, %, and &. Avoid only the characters your system specifically rejects, which is rare.

Does changing my password protect me if my computer has a virus?

No. If your computer is infected with malware, changing your password may not help because the malware can see what you type. Run a full antivirus scan with Windows Defender (built into Windows) or a third-party tool like Malwarebytes before changing any passwords. On Mac, use Malwarebytes or your antivirus software of choice.