The fastest way to change your password depends on which operating system you use

On Windows 10 or 11, press Ctrl + Alt + Delete, then select "Change a password" from the menu that appears. Type your current password, then enter your new password twice to confirm it matches. On macOS, go to System Settings (or System Preferences on older versions), select "General," then click "Login Items & Security" or "Security & Privacy," and look for the option to change your password. Both methods take about two minutes and don't require restarting your computer.

If you can't remember your current password, the process is longer and depends on whether you set up a recovery email or phone number when you created the account. We'll walk through both the standard change and the recovery route below.

Key Takeaways

  • On Windows, use Ctrl + Alt + Delete and select "Change a password" — you'll need your current password to create a new one.
  • On Mac, open System Settings, find Security & Privacy (or Login Items & Security), and look for the password change option.
  • A strong new password should be at least 12 characters long and mix uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.
  • If you forget your password, you can reset it using a recovery email or phone number, but the process takes longer and may lock you out temporarily.
  • Change your password when ready if you think someone else has accessed your account or if you've used the same password on multiple websites.

Changing your password on Windows 10 and 11

The quickest method on Windows is the keyboard shortcut. Hold down Ctrl, Alt, and Delete at the same time. A blue screen will appear with several options at the top. Click "Change a password." You'll see three fields: one for your current password, and two for your new password (you type it twice so the system can confirm you didn't make a typo).

Type your current password first. Then create a new password and type it in both the "New password" and "Confirm password" fields. Windows will show you a message confirming the change was successful. You don't need to restart your computer, but you will use this new password the next time you log in.

If the Ctrl + Alt + Delete method doesn't work or you prefer a different route, you can also change your password through Settings. Click the Start button, type "Settings" in the search box, and open the Settings app. Go to "Accounts," then "Sign-in options," and scroll down to find "Password." Click "Change" and follow the same steps: current password, new password, confirm new password.

Changing your password on macOS

On a Mac, open System Settings (on newer versions) or System Preferences (on older versions). Look for "General" in the sidebar, then click it. On newer Macs, you'll see "Login Items & Security" — click that. On older versions, look for "Security & Privacy" instead.

Once you're in that section, you should see a lock icon in the bottom left corner. Click it and enter your current password when prompted. This unlocks the settings so you can make changes. Look for a button or option labeled "Change Password" or "Set Password." Click it, type your current password once more, then type your new password twice (once to enter it, once to confirm).

After you click "Change," the system will confirm the update. Like Windows, you don't need to restart — your new password takes effect when ready for your next login.

Creating a password that's actually hard to guess

A strong password is at least 12 characters long and includes a mix of uppercase letters (A–Z), lowercase letters (a–z), numbers (0–9), and symbols (!@#$%^&*). Avoid using your name, birthdate, pet's name, or any word that appears in a dictionary. Avoid patterns like "123456" or "qwerty" — these are the first things someone trying to break in will try.

A good approach is to think of a phrase you'll remember, then use the first letter of each word plus some numbers and symbols. For example, "My dog ate 3 socks!" becomes "Mda3s!" — that's only 6 characters, so you'd want to make it longer, like "MyDogAte3Socks!2024" (20 characters). Write your new password down somewhere safe (like a locked drawer or a password manager) until you've used it a few times and it's in your muscle memory.

What to do if you've forgotten your password

If you can't remember your current password, you can't use the standard "Change a password" method because it asks for your current password first. Instead, you'll need to reset it using a recovery method.

On Windows: At the login screen, click "I forgot my password." Windows will ask you to verify your identity using a recovery email address or phone number you set up when you created your account. Microsoft will send a code to that email or phone. Enter the code, then create a new password. This process usually takes 10 to 15 minutes, though you may be locked out of your computer for a short time while the reset processes.

On Mac: At the login screen, you should see an option to reset your password using your Apple ID. Click it and sign in with your Apple ID and password. You can then create a new computer password. If you don't have an Apple ID or can't remember that password either, you may need to use Recovery Mode, which is more involved — restart your Mac, hold Command + R while it boots, and follow the on-screen prompts to reset your password through the Recovery utilities.

When to change your password right away

You should change your password when ready if you think someone else has accessed your account, if you've shared your password with someone and want to lock them out, or if you've used the same password on multiple websites and one of those websites had a data breach. Hackers often try passwords from one breached site on other sites, so using the same password everywhere puts all your accounts at risk.

You should also change your password if you've typed it in front of someone who might have seen it, if you've used a public computer and forgot to log out, or if you've left your computer unlocked and unattended for an extended period. None of these situations means your account is definitely compromised, but changing your password closes the door on that possibility.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to restart my computer after changing my password?

No. On both Windows and Mac, your new password takes effect when ready. You'll use it the next time you log in, but you don't need to restart. If you're currently logged in, you can keep working — the change happens in the background.

What if I type my new password wrong and get locked out?

On Windows, you can use the password reset option at the login screen (the "I forgot my password" link). On Mac, use your Apple ID to reset it. Both systems are designed to let you back in even if you mistype your new password — you just have to verify your identity first.

Can I use the same password I used before?

Technically yes, but most systems discourage it. If someone learned your old password, reusing it defeats the purpose of changing it. Pick something new and different from any password you've used on this computer in the past year or two.

Should I write my password down or use a password manager?

A password manager (like Bitwarden, 1Password, or the built-in password managers in Windows and macOS) is more find because it encrypts your passwords. If you write it down, keep the paper in a locked drawer at home, not on a sticky note on your monitor or in an email draft.

What if I change my password but still can't log in?

Make sure Caps Lock is off — passwords are case-sensitive, so "Password" is different from "password." If that's not the issue, use your system's password reset option to try again. If you're still stuck, you may need to contact your IT support person (if this is a work computer) or use your system's recovery tools.