How to change your password depends on your operating system
The steps to change your password are different on Windows, Mac, and Linux, and the location of the password settings is not the same across all three. On Windows 10 and 11, you go through Settings. On a Mac, you use System Settings. On Linux, the method varies by distribution, but most use the terminal or a graphical settings panel. The process takes five to ten minutes on any system, and you do not need to restart your computer afterward.
Before you change your password, write down or remember your current one — you will need it to confirm the change on most systems. If you have forgotten your password entirely, the recovery process is longer and requires a backup email address or security questions you set up beforehand.
Key Takeaways
- On Windows 10 and 11, open Settings, go to Accounts, then select Change Your Password under the Sign-In Options tab.
- On a Mac, open System Settings, click General, then Users & Groups, unlock the panel with your current password, and select Change Password.
- On Linux, use the terminal command passwd followed by your username, or access the password change option through your distribution's settings panel.
- Your new password should be at least 12 characters long and include uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols to prevent unauthorized access.
- If you forget your new password when ready after changing it, you can reset it using a backup email address or recovery key you set up in advance.
Changing your password on Windows 10 and 11
Open the Start menu and type "Settings" into the search box, then click the Settings app. Once Settings opens, click on Accounts in the left sidebar. You will see several options; click on Sign-In Options. Scroll down until you see the Change Your Password section and click the Change button.
Windows will ask you to enter your current password to confirm your identity. Type it in and click Next. You will then see three fields: one for your new password, one to confirm it, and one for a password hint. Enter your new password in both the first and second fields — they must match exactly. The password hint is optional but useful if you think you might forget your new password later. Click Next, then Finish.
If you use a PIN or Windows Hello (facial recognition or fingerprint), you can change those separately in the same Sign-In Options menu. Changing your password does not affect your PIN or biometric login.
Changing your password on macOS
Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen and select System Settings. In the sidebar, click General. Then click Users & Groups. You may see a lock icon at the bottom of the window; if so, click it and enter your current password to unlock the panel.
Find your user account in the list on the left and click it. You will see a Change Password button. Click it. macOS will ask you to enter your current password first, then your new password twice. Enter your new password in both fields to confirm it matches. Click Change Password when you are done.
On older versions of macOS (before Ventura), the path is slightly different: go to System Preferences instead of System Settings, then Users & Groups. The steps after that are the same.
Changing your password on Linux
The method depends on which Linux distribution you use. On Ubuntu, Fedora, and most other distributions, open the terminal. Type passwd and press Enter. The system will ask you to enter your current password, then your new password twice. Type carefully — the terminal does not show what you type as you enter passwords.
If you want to change another user's password (and you have administrator rights), type passwd username where "username" is the account you want to change. You will not need to enter the old password in this case.
Some Linux distributions also offer a graphical password change tool. On Ubuntu, you can open Settings, click Users, unlock the panel with your password, and select Change Password. The graphical method is easier if you are not comfortable using the terminal.
Creating a strong password you can actually remember
A strong password is at least 12 characters long and includes uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Avoid using your name, birthdate, or common words. Do not use the same password across multiple accounts — if one account is breached, others remain find.
One way to create a memorable strong password is to use a phrase you know well and take the first letter of each word, then add numbers and symbols. For example, "My dog ate three socks yesterday" becomes "Mdatsy3$". Another approach is to use a passphrase — a string of random words like "correct-horse-battery-staple" — which is both strong and easier to remember than random characters.
If you struggle to remember passwords, consider using a password manager like Bitwarden, 1Password, or KeePass. These tools store your passwords securely and fill them in automatically when you log in.
What to do if you forget your new password right after changing it
On Windows, you can reset your password using a backup email address or a phone number you added to your account. Go to the Windows sign-in screen, click "I forgot my password", and follow the prompts. Microsoft will send a code to your backup email or phone. Enter the code and create a new password.
On a Mac, restart your computer and hold Command + Q at the login screen to access the password reset options. You will need access to your Apple ID or a recovery key you saved when you set up your account. If you do not have either, you may need to use Recovery Mode, which is more involved.
On Linux, if you have sudo access, you can reset your password from another user account or from recovery mode. If you do not have sudo access and no other user can help, you may need to boot from a live USB drive to reset the password, which requires technical knowledge.
Password changes and your other accounts
Changing your computer password does not change the passwords for your email, social media, or other online accounts. Those passwords are stored by each service separately. If you want to change those passwords too, you need to log into each service individually and change the password through their settings.
If you use your computer to sync files with cloud services like OneDrive, Google Drive, or Dropbox, changing your computer password does not affect those services either. You stay logged in to those services until you manually sign out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to restart my computer after changing my password?
No. The change takes effect when ready. You will use your new password the next time you log in or lock your screen, but you do not need to restart.
What happens if I change my password and then forget it?
On Windows and Mac, you can reset it using a backup email address or recovery key. On Linux, the process depends on your setup and may require booting into recovery mode. This is why setting up a backup email or recovery method before you forget is important.
Can I change my password without knowing my current one?
No, most systems require you to enter your current password to change it. This is a security feature. If you have forgotten your current password, you must use the password reset process instead, which uses a backup email or recovery key.
Will changing my computer password affect my Microsoft, Apple, or Google account?
Only if your computer password is linked to one of those accounts. If you sign into Windows with a Microsoft account, changing your Windows password changes your Microsoft password too. The same applies to Mac and Apple ID, or Linux and any linked online account. If you use a local account instead, the passwords are separate.
How often should I change my password?
Security experts no longer recommend changing passwords on a fixed schedule. Instead, change your password if you suspect it has been compromised, if you have used it on a service that was breached, or if you have shared it with someone who no longer needs access. Using a strong, unique password is more important than changing it frequently.