Change your MacBook password through System Settings

Open System Settings (the gear icon in your dock or Applications folder), then click Users & Groups in the sidebar. Click the lock icon at the bottom left and enter your current password to unlock the settings. Select your account name on the left, then click the Change Password button. Enter your current password once, then type your new password twice — the second time to confirm you typed it correctly.

Your new password takes effect immediately. You'll use it the next time you log in, restart your Mac, or wake it from sleep. Make sure you remember it before you close System Settings, because there's no "show password" option while you're typing.

Key Takeaways

  • You change your MacBook password in System Settings under Users & Groups, not in iCloud or Apple ID settings.
  • You must know your current password to change it — if you've forgotten it, you'll need to use your Apple ID or a recovery key instead.
  • A strong password is at least 12 characters and includes uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.
  • If you use iCloud Keychain, your Mac will ask whether to update your saved passwords after you change your login password.

What happens if you forget your current password

If you can't remember your current password, you can't use the method above. Instead, restart your Mac and hold Command + Q when the login screen appears. This opens the password reset options. Click the question mark icon next to the password field, then follow the prompts to reset using your Apple ID or a recovery key.

If you don't have access to your Apple ID password or recovery key, you'll need to use macOS Recovery Mode. Restart your Mac and hold Command + R until the Apple logo appears, then select Utilities > Terminal from the menu bar. Type resetpassword and press Enter. This opens a tool that lets you reset your password without needing your Apple ID, but it requires administrator access to your Mac.

Why your Mac asks about iCloud Keychain after changing your password

After you change your login password, your Mac will prompt you to update your iCloud Keychain — the encrypted storage where your Mac saves passwords for websites and apps. This is a security step: your Keychain is locked with your login password, so when your password changes, the Keychain needs to be re-encrypted with the new one.

Click Update Keychain and enter your new password when prompted. If you skip this step, your Mac will ask again the next time you try to use a saved password. Updating immediately prevents confusion later.

Creating a password your Mac will accept

Your MacBook doesn't require a specific format for passwords — you can use any combination of characters. However, a strong password is harder to guess or crack. Aim for at least 12 characters, and mix uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols like ! @ # $ % or &.

Avoid passwords based on your name, birthdate, or common words. Don't reuse a password from another account, especially not from work or banking sites. If you have trouble remembering a complex password, consider using the same strong password across all your personal accounts — just keep it different from passwords for sensitive accounts like email or banking.

Changing your password on a shared Mac

If multiple people use the same Mac, each person has their own account and their own password. You can only change the password for the account you're currently logged into. To change another person's password, you need administrator access to that account.

If you're the administrator and need to reset someone else's password, open System Settings, click Users & Groups, unlock the settings with your password, select the other person's account, and click Reset Password. You'll be prompted to set a temporary password that the other person can change the next time they log in.

What to do if you're locked out of your Mac entirely

If you can't log in at all — because you've forgotten your password and don't have access to your Apple ID — you have one remaining option: erase your Mac and reinstall macOS. This erases all your files, so it's a last resort.

Restart your Mac and hold Command + R to enter Recovery Mode. Select Disk Utility, choose your main drive, and click Erase. Once that's done, reinstall macOS from the Recovery Mode menu. You'll be able to create a new account and password during setup. If you have backups stored in iCloud or on an external drive, you can restore your files after the reinstall.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my password without restarting my Mac?

Yes. Open System Settings, go to Users & Groups, unlock the settings, select your account, and click Change Password. You don't need to restart. Your new password takes effect the next time you log out or your Mac goes to sleep.

What's the difference between my MacBook password and my Apple ID password?

Your MacBook password is what you use to log into your computer. Your Apple ID password is what you use for iCloud, the App Store, and other Apple services. They're separate and can be different. Changing one does not change the other.

Will changing my password affect my apps or files?

No. Your files and apps will work exactly as before. Your Mac may ask you to update your iCloud Keychain with the new password, but that's a security step and doesn't affect your data. Saved passwords in Safari and other apps will continue to work.

Can I use the same password I used before?

Technically yes, but it defeats the purpose of changing your password. If you're changing your password because you think it's been compromised, choose something completely new. If you're just updating it periodically, pick something you haven't used on this Mac before.