Change your password through your operating system's built-in settings, not through third-party tools

Your computer password is the first lock between your files and someone who sits down at your machine. Changing it regularly — or after you suspect someone knows it — takes about five minutes and requires no special software. The steps differ slightly depending on whether you use Windows, macOS, or Linux, but all three let you change your password directly in your system settings without leaving your computer.

The key is to use your operating system's official password tool, not a password manager or recovery service. Those tools can help you remember passwords, but they cannot change the password that unlocks your computer itself.

Key Takeaways

  • On Windows 10 or 11, go to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options > Password and select Change.
  • On macOS, open System Settings > General > Login Items & Extensions, then go to Users & Groups and select your account to change the password.
  • On Linux, open a terminal and type passwd, then enter your current password and your new password twice.
  • Your new password takes effect the next time you log in, so write down the new password somewhere safe before you restart.
  • If you forget your new password immediately after changing it, you can reset it using a recovery email or phone number you set up beforehand.

How to change your password on Windows 10 and 11

Open the Start menu and type "Settings" into the search box, then click Settings. In the Settings window, select Accounts from the left sidebar. Click Sign-in options, then scroll down to the Password section and click Change.

Windows will ask you to enter your current password to confirm you are the account owner. Type it in and click Next. Then enter your new password twice — once in the "New password" field and once in the "Reenter password" field. Windows will show you a strength indicator; a strong password uses uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Click Next, then Finish. Your new password is now active, and you will use it the next time you log in.

If you use a Microsoft account to sign in to Windows (rather than a local account), you can also change your password by visiting account.microsoft.com, signing in, and selecting Security > Change your password. This method changes the password for your Microsoft account across all devices that use it, not just your computer.

How to change your password on macOS

Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner and select System Settings (on macOS Ventura or newer) or System Preferences (on older versions). In System Settings, click General in the sidebar, then scroll down and click Login Items & Extensions. In System Preferences, click Users & Groups.

Select your user account from the list on the left. If the lock icon in the bottom-left corner is closed, click it and enter your password to unlock the settings. Once unlocked, click the Change Password button. Enter your current password, then type your new password twice — once in the "New password" field and once in the "Verify" field. Click Change Password. Your new password takes effect immediately, though you will not need to use it until you log out and log back in.

How to change your password on Linux

Open a terminal window. You can usually do this by right-clicking on the desktop and selecting "Open Terminal" or by searching for "Terminal" in your applications menu. Type the command passwd and press Enter.

Linux will prompt you to enter your current password. Type it and press Enter. Then type your new password and press Enter. Linux will ask you to type the new password again to confirm it. If the two entries match, your password is changed. If they do not match, Linux will tell you the passwords do not match and ask you to try again. There is no strength indicator on the command line, but a strong password still uses a mix of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.

What to do if you forget your new password right after changing it

If you change your password and immediately realize you cannot remember it, do not restart your computer yet. Go back into your password settings and change it again — you will need to enter the password you just set, but if you have not logged out, you are still signed in and can make the change.

If you have already restarted and locked yourself out, you can use a recovery email or phone number to reset your password. On Windows, click "I forgot my password" on the sign-in screen and follow the prompts to verify your identity through email or phone. On macOS, restart your computer and hold Command + Q at the sign-in screen to access account recovery options. On Linux, you will need to boot into recovery mode or use a live USB to reset your password; the exact steps depend on your Linux distribution.

When to change your computer password

Change your password if someone else has used your computer without permission, if you have shared your password with someone and no longer want them to have access, or if you suspect your password has been compromised. You do not need to change it on a fixed schedule — security research shows that regular password changes without a specific reason do not meaningfully reduce the risk of a breach.

If you use the same password on multiple devices or websites, change it on all of them, not just your computer. A password that is compromised on one site is compromised everywhere you used it. A password manager can help you create and store different passwords for different places, so you only have to remember one strong master password.

Why your computer password matters more than your other passwords

Your computer password is the master key to everything on your machine — your files, your email, your photos, your financial documents. Someone who knows your computer password can read all of those things, install malware, or change other passwords you have saved in your browser. That makes it worth protecting more carefully than a password for a single website.

A strong computer password is at least 12 characters long and mixes uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Avoid passwords based on your name, birthdate, or common words. If you have trouble remembering a long password, use a passphrase — a string of random words like "purple-elephant-keyboard-mountain" — which is both strong and easier to remember than a random string of characters.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my password if I do not remember my current password?

Not through the normal password change process — you need to enter your current password first. If you have forgotten it, you will need to use your recovery email or phone number to reset it instead. On Windows and macOS, you can do this from the sign-in screen. On Linux, you will need to boot into recovery mode.

Does changing my password log me out of other devices?

On Windows and macOS, changing your password on one device does not automatically log you out of other devices. You may need to sign in again on those devices the next time they ask for your password. If you use a Microsoft account on Windows, changing your password through account.microsoft.com will log you out of all devices and require you to sign in again.

What if my computer does not let me use special characters in my password?

Most modern operating systems accept special characters like !, @, #, $, %, and &. If your computer rejects a special character, try a different one. If none of them work, your computer may have an unusual restriction — in that case, use a longer password with uppercase letters, lowercase letters, and numbers instead.

Should I write down my new password somewhere?

Writing down a password on paper and storing it in a secure physical location — like a locked drawer — is safer than reusing the same password everywhere or writing it in a digital note on your computer. A password manager is even better because it encrypts your passwords and requires only one master password to access them all.

Will changing my password affect my saved Wi-Fi networks or email accounts?

No. Your computer password unlocks your user account, but it is separate from your Wi-Fi password, email password, or any other password you have saved. Changing your computer password will not disconnect you from Wi-Fi or sign you out of email. You only need to re-enter those passwords if you change them separately.