Change your Outlook password directly from the account settings

You can change your Outlook password by going to your Microsoft account page and updating it there. This is the most reliable method because it changes the password for your entire Microsoft account — not just Outlook — so all your connected services stay in sync. The process takes about five minutes and you do not need to be in Outlook itself to do it.

The password you change on the Microsoft account page is the one you use to sign in to Outlook.com, Outlook on your phone, Outlook on your computer, OneDrive, and any other Microsoft service linked to that account. If you change it in one place, it changes everywhere.

Key Takeaways

  • Go to account.microsoft.com, sign in, and select "Security" to reach the password change screen.
  • You will need to verify your identity by entering a code sent to your phone or recovery email before you can change the password.
  • Your new password must be at least eight characters long and include uppercase letters, numbers, and symbols.
  • After you change your password, you may need to sign in again on your phone or desktop Outlook app, but the web version updates automatically.

Step-by-step: changing your password on the Microsoft account page

Step 1: Go to account.microsoft.com in any web browser and sign in with your Outlook email address and current password.

Step 2: Look for "Security" in the left menu and click it. You will see options for "Password", "Security info", and "Recent activity".

Step 3: Click "Change password" under the Password section. Microsoft will ask you to sign in again to confirm it is really you.

Step 4: Enter your current password in the first box, then enter your new password twice — once in the "New password" box and once in the "Confirm password" box. Make sure the two new passwords match exactly, character for character.

Step 5: Click "Next" and wait for the confirmation message. You will see "Your password has been changed" when it is complete.

What to do if Microsoft asks you to verify your identity

Before you can change your password, Microsoft may ask you to prove you own the account. This is a security step and happens most often if you have not signed in recently or if you are using an unfamiliar device.

Microsoft will send a code to your phone number or recovery email address — whichever one you set up when you created your account. Check the phone number or email you registered, find the code, and enter it on the screen. If you do not receive the code within a few minutes, click "Didn't get a code?" to try a different method or have it resent.

If you no longer have access to your phone number or recovery email, you will need to go through account recovery instead. This takes longer but Microsoft can still help you regain access.

Requirements for a strong new password

Your new Outlook password must be at least eight characters long. Microsoft requires that it include at least three of these four types of characters: uppercase letters (A–Z), lowercase letters (a–z), numbers (0–9), and symbols (!@#$%^&*).

A password like "Blue2024!" works. A password like "password" or "12345678" does not, because one has no numbers or symbols and the other has no letters. If you try to use a weak password, Microsoft will reject it and ask you to try again.

Write down your new password somewhere safe, or use a password manager to store it. If you forget it, you will have to go through the verification process again to reset it.

Signing back in on your phone and computer after changing your password

On Outlook.com in your web browser, you do not need to do anything — you stay signed in automatically. But on your phone or desktop computer, Outlook may ask you to sign in again with your new password within a few hours.

When Outlook on your phone or computer asks for your password, enter your new one. If you see an error message saying "Password incorrect" even though you are sure you typed it right, wait a few minutes and try again — sometimes the change takes a moment to sync across Microsoft's servers.

If you use Outlook on multiple devices, you may need to update the password on each one separately. The web version updates on its own, but the mobile and desktop apps require you to sign in manually with the new password.

What to do if you forget your new password

If you change your password and then forget it before you write it down, go back to account.microsoft.com and click "Can't access your account?" at the bottom of the sign-in screen. Microsoft will walk you through proving you own the account using your phone number or recovery email, and then you can set a new password.

This process can take 30 minutes to several hours depending on which verification method you use. To avoid this, do not close the tab or browser until you have written down or saved your new password somewhere you can find it later.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to change my password in Outlook itself, or just on the Microsoft account page?

Change it only on the Microsoft account page at account.microsoft.com. You cannot change your password from inside Outlook — that option does not exist. The Microsoft account page is the only place that works.

Will changing my password sign me out of Outlook everywhere?

You will stay signed in on Outlook.com in your web browser. On your phone and desktop Outlook app, you may be signed out and asked to sign back in with your new password. This usually happens within a few hours but can take up to a day.

What if I see "Something went wrong" when I try to change my password?

Wait 10 minutes and try again — this error usually means Microsoft's servers are temporarily busy. If it keeps happening, try a different web browser or clear your browser's cache and cookies, then sign in again. If the error persists, use the "Can't access your account?" option to reset your password instead.

Can I change my password on my phone?

Yes. Open a web browser on your phone, go to account.microsoft.com, and follow the same steps as on a computer. The process is identical — you just need a web browser, not the Outlook app itself.

If I change my password, do I need to update it on my other Microsoft services like OneDrive?

No. Your password works across all Microsoft services — Outlook, OneDrive, Microsoft 365, Xbox, and others. Change it once on the account page and it updates everywhere automatically.