Open System Settings and find the password option

To change your Mac password, open System Settings (called System Preferences on older Macs). Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner, then select System Settings. Once it opens, look for General in the sidebar on the left, then click Login Items & Security or Security & Privacy depending on your macOS version.

In that section, you will see a tab or button labeled Password. Click it. Your Mac will ask you to enter your current password to confirm your identity before letting you make changes — this is a security step to prevent someone else from changing your password without permission.

Key Takeaways

  • Open System Settings, go to General, then Security & Privacy (or Login Items & Security), and click the Password tab.
  • Your Mac will ask for your current password before you can change it, so have that ready.
  • Your new password should be at least eight characters and include uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols for better security.
  • If you forget your new password after changing it, you can reset it using your Apple ID or a recovery key, but the process takes time.
  • The change takes effect immediately — you will use the new password the next time you log in or wake your Mac from sleep.

Enter your current password to verify your identity

After clicking the Password tab, a dialog box will appear asking you to enter your current password. Type it in and click OK or press Enter. This step confirms that you are the person authorized to make changes to this account.

If you enter the wrong password, macOS will tell you and let you try again. You get multiple attempts, so take your time. If you have forgotten your current password entirely, you will need to use your Apple ID or a recovery key to reset it — that is a separate process covered below.

Type your new password twice to confirm it

Once your current password is verified, two fields will appear: New Password and Verify. Type your new password in the first field. Then type it again in the second field. Both entries must match exactly, including uppercase and lowercase letters.

macOS will show you a password strength indicator — a colored bar that tells you whether your password is weak, fair, or strong. A strong password has at least eight characters and mixes uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. For example: BlueMoon#2024 is stronger than password123. Avoid using your name, your username, or words that appear in a dictionary, because those are easier to guess.

Add a password hint (optional but useful)

After you enter your new password twice, macOS offers a Password Hint field. This is optional, but it can save you time later. If you forget your password, macOS will show you this hint when you try to log in. The hint should remind you of your password without actually stating it.

For example, if your password is BlueMoon#2024, a useful hint might be favorite color + celestial object + year we moved. Do not make the hint so specific that someone else could guess your password from it. Once you have entered a hint (or decided to skip it), click Change Password to save your changes.

Your new password takes effect immediately

The moment you click Change Password, your old password stops working and your new password becomes active. You do not need to restart your Mac. The next time you log in — whether that is right away or after your Mac goes to sleep — you will use your new password.

If you are currently logged in and your Mac goes to sleep, you will need your new password to wake it up. If you are working on something and want to test the new password right away, you can log out by clicking the Apple menu, selecting Log Out, and then logging back in with your new password.

What to do if you forget your new password

If you change your password and then forget it, you have two main recovery options. The first is to use your Apple ID. At the login screen, enter your username and then click the password field three times in a row. macOS will offer to let you reset your password using your Apple ID credentials. You will need to know your Apple ID email and password.

The second option is a recovery key, which is a long code that macOS can generate and store separately. If you set up a recovery key before forgetting your password, you can use it at the login screen to regain access. To set up a recovery key now, go back to System Settings, Security & Privacy, Password, and look for an option to create or view your recovery key. Write it down or store it somewhere safe — if you lose both your password and your recovery key, resetting your account becomes much harder.

Changing your password does not affect other accounts on your Mac

If your Mac has multiple user accounts, changing your password only affects the account you are currently logged into. Other people who use the Mac will keep their own passwords unchanged. Each account is separate, so you do not need to coordinate password changes with other users.

If you are an administrator on the Mac and need to reset someone else's password, that is a different process that requires admin access and their Apple ID or recovery key. You cannot simply change another person's password from System Settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

No, you cannot change your password through System Settings without entering your current password first. You will need to reset it using your Apple ID or recovery key at the login screen instead. If you have neither of those, you may need to contact Apple Support or take your Mac to an Apple Store.

How often should I change my Mac password?

There is no fixed rule. Change it if you think someone else knows it, if you have used the same password on multiple devices or websites, or if you have not changed it in several years. For most people, changing it once a year or whenever you suspect a breach is reasonable.

Will changing my password log me out of apps and websites?

No. Your Mac password is separate from your Apple ID password and your passwords for individual websites and apps. Changing your Mac login password will not log you out of anything. However, if you also change your Apple ID password, that may log you out of some services that use your Apple ID.

What if the password field is grayed out and I cannot click it?

Your account may not have administrator rights, or parental controls may be restricting changes. Ask the administrator of your Mac to change the password for you, or check System Settings under Family to see if restrictions are in place.

Can I use the same password I used before?

Technically yes, but it defeats the purpose of changing your password. If you are changing it because you think someone knows it, use something completely different. If you are just updating it periodically, a new password is more secure than cycling back to an old one.