The fastest way to change your Outlook password

You can change your Outlook password in about two minutes by going to account.microsoft.com, signing in, and selecting Security from the left menu. Click Change password, enter your current password, type your new password twice, and select Next. You will be signed out of Outlook on all devices and will need to sign back in with the new password within 24 hours or your account may lock temporarily.

If you are changing your password because you think someone else has accessed your account, change it immediately and then review your recent activity on the Security page to see which devices have signed in and when. You can sign out of any device remotely from that same page.

Key Takeaways

  • Go to account.microsoft.com, click Security, and select Change password to update your Outlook password in minutes.
  • Your new password must be at least eight characters and include uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.
  • You will be signed out of Outlook everywhere after changing your password and must sign back in within 24 hours.
  • If you suspect unauthorized access, change your password first, then review your sign-in activity and remove any unrecognized devices.

What password requirements Outlook enforces

Microsoft requires your new Outlook password to be at least eight characters long and to include at least three of these four types of characters: uppercase letters (A–Z), lowercase letters (a–z), numbers (0–9), and symbols (!@#$%^&*). Common symbols that work include exclamation marks, at signs, dollar signs, and ampersands.

Passwords that contain your name, username, or email address will be rejected. Passwords you have used in the past 12 months cannot be reused. If you try to set a password that does not meet these rules, Outlook will tell you which requirement you missed and ask you to try again.

Changing your password on a phone or tablet

On an iPhone or Android phone, open the Outlook app, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the bottom right, and select Settings. Tap your email address, then tap Change password. Enter your current password and your new password twice, then tap Save. The app will sign you out and ask you to sign back in with your new password.

On an iPad, the steps are the same: open Outlook, tap the menu, go to Settings, select your email address, and tap Change password. You do not need to use a computer to change your password — the mobile app works just as well.

What happens after you change your password

After you change your password, Outlook will sign you out of the web version at outlook.com and out of the Outlook app on all your phones, tablets, and computers. You will need to sign back in on each device within 24 hours using your new password. If you do not sign back in within 24 hours, your account may lock temporarily as a security measure.

Signing back in is straightforward: open Outlook or go to outlook.com, enter your email address, and when prompted for your password, type your new one. Two-factor authentication (if you have it turned on) will work the same way it did before — you will still receive a code on your phone or authenticator app.

Recovering access if you forget your new password

If you forget your new password shortly after changing it, go to account.microsoft.com/security and select I forgot my password. Microsoft will ask you to verify your identity by sending a code to your recovery email address or phone number. Enter that code, and you will be able to set a new password.

This is why it matters to keep your recovery email and phone number current on your account. If you do not have access to either one, account recovery becomes much harder. You can update your recovery information anytime by going to account.microsoft.com, clicking Security, and selecting Advanced security options.

Changing your password if you think your account was hacked

If you believe someone else has accessed your Outlook account, change your password immediately, then go to account.microsoft.com/security and scroll down to Recent activity. This section shows every device that has signed into your account in the past 30 days, including the device type, location, and date. Look for any sign-ins you do not recognize.

If you see a device you do not own, click on it and select This wasn't me. Microsoft will sign that device out of your account and ask if you want to change your password again (you can, but you just did). Review your email forwarding rules and recovery information to make sure no one changed them. If you use the same password on other accounts, change those passwords too.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to change my password if I change my recovery email or phone number?

No. Changing your recovery information does not require a password change. However, if you are updating your recovery email or phone because you no longer have access to the old one, you should change your password as a precaution in case someone else has access to that old recovery method.

What if I am locked out and cannot sign in to change my password?

Go to account.microsoft.com and select I can't sign in. Microsoft will walk you through identity verification using your recovery email or phone number. Once verified, you can set a new password without signing in first. If you do not have access to your recovery email or phone, account recovery will take longer and may require additional verification steps.

Will changing my Outlook password change my Microsoft account password?

Yes. Your Outlook email is part of your Microsoft account, so changing one changes the other. Your new password will work for Outlook, OneDrive, Xbox, Microsoft 365, and any other Microsoft service tied to that account.

Can I set a password that I use on other websites?

Technically yes, but it is not recommended. Using the same password across multiple sites means that if one site is hacked, someone could access all your accounts. A unique password for Outlook protects your email even if your password leaks elsewhere.