The fastest way depends on whether you use Windows or Mac

On Windows 10 or 11, press Ctrl+Alt+Delete, then select "Change a password" from the menu that appears. Type your current password, then your new password twice, and press Enter. The system will confirm the change when ready.

On Mac, go to the Apple menu in the top-left corner, select "System Settings" (or "System Preferences" on older versions), then click "General" and look for "Login Items" or "Users & Groups." You may need to unlock the settings first by clicking the lock icon and entering your current password. Find your account, click "Change Password," and follow the prompts.

Both methods take about two minutes. If you have forgotten your current password entirely, the process is longer and requires a recovery method — see the section below on that situation.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows users can change their password in seconds using Ctrl+Alt+Delete, while Mac users access it through System Settings.
  • You will need to know your current password to change it using the standard method on either system.
  • If you have forgotten your password, you can reset it using a recovery email, security questions, or a recovery code you saved earlier.
  • A strong new password should be at least 12 characters long and include uppercase letters, numbers, and symbols.
  • After you change your password, you may need to sign back into apps and cloud services that use that password.

Step-by-step for Windows 10 and 11

Hold down Ctrl and Alt at the same time, then press Delete. A blue screen will appear with several options. Look for "Change a password" and click it.

A dialog box will open with three fields: "Old password," "New password," and "Confirm new password." Type your current password in the first field. In the second field, type the new password you want to use. In the third field, type that same new password again to confirm you did not make a typo. Click the arrow or press Enter.

Windows will tell you whether the change was successful. If it was, you are done — your new password is active when ready. If you see an error message, the most common reason is that the old password was typed incorrectly. Try again, paying attention to whether Caps Lock is on.

Step-by-step for Mac

Click the Apple logo in the top-left corner of your screen. From the dropdown menu, select "System Settings" (on newer Macs) or "System Preferences" (on older ones). Both do the same thing.

In the settings window, look for "General" in the sidebar on the left. Click it. Scroll down until you see your account name and a button that says "Change Password." Click that button. You may see a lock icon next to it — if so, click the lock first and enter your current password to unlock the settings.

A new window will open asking for your old password, then your new password twice. Type each one carefully. Click "Change Password" to save the change. The system will confirm it worked, and you can close the window.

What to do if you have forgotten your password

If you cannot remember your current password, you cannot use the standard change method. Instead, you will need to reset it using a recovery option.

On Windows, restart your computer and look at the login screen. Below the password field, you should see "I forgot my password" or a question mark icon. Click it. Windows will ask you security questions you set up when you created the account, or it will send a code to a recovery email address you provided. Answer the questions or enter the code, then create a new password.

On Mac, restart the computer and hold down Command+Q while it is starting up to enter Recovery Mode. From the Utilities menu, select "Reset Password." Choose your account from the list, then use your Apple ID password or a recovery code to reset your account password. If you do not have either of those, you may need to contact Apple Support or take the computer to an Apple Store.

How to create a password that is hard to guess

A strong password is at least 12 characters long and uses a mix of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols like ! @ # $ % or &. Avoid using your name, birth date, or common words that appear in the dictionary.

A good approach is to think of a phrase you will remember — for example, "I got my first dog in 2015" — and use the first letter of each word plus a symbol: IgmfdI2015!. That is 12 characters, mixes cases, includes numbers, and has a symbol. You can remember it because it is based on something meaningful to you, but it is not a word anyone could guess.

Do not use the same password on multiple accounts. If one service gets hacked, a criminal could use that password to break into your other accounts. If you have trouble remembering many passwords, consider using a password manager — a program that stores passwords securely and fills them in for you.

What happens after you change your password

Your computer password change takes effect when ready on that device. However, if you use cloud services like OneDrive, iCloud, Google Drive, or Outlook, you may need to sign back in to those services on your computer. They will ask for your password the next time they try to sync or update.

Apps on your phone or tablet that use the same account may also ask you to sign back in. This is normal security behavior — it confirms that you own the account and have not been locked out by someone else changing your password without permission.

If you change your password because you think someone else may have access to your account, check your recent login history in any cloud services you use. Most services show you where and when your account was accessed. If you see logins from places you do not recognize, change your password when ready and consider enabling two-factor authentication, which requires a second form of verification (like a code from your phone) when you sign in from a new device.

When to call for help

If you have forgotten your password and do not have access to a recovery email or phone number, or if you cannot remember the security questions you set up, you will need help from Microsoft (for Windows) or Apple (for Mac). Both offer phone support, though wait times vary. You can also visit a local computer repair shop, though they may charge a fee.

If you suspect someone else has changed your password without permission, contact Microsoft or Apple support right away. They can help you regain access and find your account.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my password log me out of everything?

Your computer will stay logged in, but cloud services and apps may ask you to sign back in the next time they connect. This is normal. You will not lose any files or data.

Can I use the same password I used before?

Technically yes, but it defeats the purpose of changing your password. If you changed it because you thought someone else knew it, using the same password again leaves your account at risk. Pick something new.

What if I type the new password wrong and forget what I entered?

If the change went through, you will need to use that new password to log in next time. If you cannot remember it, use the password reset method for your system (security questions on Windows, Apple ID on Mac) to create a different one.

Do I need to change my password regularly?

You do not need to change it every month, but you should change it if you think someone else knows it, if you use the same password on multiple sites, or if a service you use announces a security breach. Otherwise, once a year is reasonable.

Is it safe to write my password down?

Writing it down on paper and storing it somewhere find (like a locked drawer) is safer than using the same password everywhere or writing it on a sticky note on your monitor. A password manager is the best option because it encrypts your passwords and you only need to remember one master password.