Change your Microsoft password through your account settings

To change your Microsoft password, sign in to your Microsoft account at account.microsoft.com, select Security from the left menu, then choose Change password. You'll enter your current password once, then type your new password twice to confirm it. Microsoft will send a confirmation code to your recovery email or phone number — enter that code to complete the change. The whole process takes about five minutes.

Your new password takes effect immediately across all devices and services tied to that account: Outlook, OneDrive, Xbox, Windows sign-in, and any other Microsoft products you use. You don't need to sign out and back in on most devices — they'll update automatically within a few minutes. On Windows computers, you may be prompted to sign in again the next time you restart.

Key Takeaways

  • Go to account.microsoft.com, select Security, then Change password to update your password from any browser.
  • You must enter your current password and receive a confirmation code sent to your recovery email or phone before the change takes effect.
  • Your new password works immediately across Outlook, OneDrive, Windows sign-in, Xbox, and all other Microsoft services.
  • Windows computers may ask you to sign in again after a restart, but other devices usually update without requiring action.
  • If you forget your current password, use the "I forgot my password" link on the sign-in screen instead of the change password option.

What to do if you're locked out of your account

If you can't remember your current password, you can't use the change password tool — you need the account recovery process instead. On the Microsoft sign-in page, select Can't access your account, then choose I forgot my password. Microsoft will ask you to verify your identity using a recovery email address or phone number you set up earlier.

Once you've verified your identity, you'll be taken directly to a reset screen where you create a new password without needing the old one. This is different from changing a password: a reset removes the old password entirely and replaces it. The recovery process usually completes in minutes, though Microsoft may ask additional security questions if it can't reach your recovery email or phone.

Changing your password on Windows 10 or Windows 11

You can change your Microsoft password directly from your Windows computer without opening a browser. On Windows 10, go to Settings > Accounts > Your info, then select Manage your Microsoft account. On Windows 11, go to Settings > Accounts > Your Microsoft account, then select Password. Either way, you'll be taken to the same account.microsoft.com page, and the process is identical.

Changing your password from Windows is convenient if you're already on your computer, but it requires you to remember your current password. If you use a PIN or Windows Hello (fingerprint or face recognition) to sign in, you'll still need to enter your actual Microsoft password to change it — Windows won't let you use your PIN as a substitute for this step.

Creating a strong password Microsoft will accept

Microsoft doesn't enforce a single set of password rules, but it does reject passwords that appear in known breach databases. If you try to set a password that's been exposed in a public data leak, Microsoft will refuse it and ask you to choose something different. This protects your account even if you don't realize the password was compromised elsewhere.

A strong password is at least 12 characters long and mixes uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Avoid using your name, username, or words from the dictionary. If you use a password manager like Bitwarden, 1Password, or the one built into your browser, it can generate and store a strong password for you — you'll only need to remember one master password.

Updating your password on phones and tablets

On an iPhone or Android phone, open a web browser and go to account.microsoft.com, then follow the same steps as on a computer. You can't change your Microsoft password through the Outlook app or other Microsoft mobile apps — you must use the web version of your account page. After you change your password, close and reopen any Microsoft apps on your phone to make sure they recognize the new password.

If you're signed into Outlook, OneDrive, or another Microsoft app on your phone and you change your password on a computer, you may see a sign-in prompt the next time you open the app. This is normal — just enter your new password and the app will update. You don't need to uninstall and reinstall anything.

What happens to your saved passwords after you change it

If you've saved your Microsoft password in your browser or in a password manager, you'll need to update it there after you change it. Most browsers will prompt you to update the saved password the next time you sign in with the new one — just confirm the prompt and the browser will overwrite the old password. If you use a password manager, open it and manually edit the entry to match your new password.

Devices that are already signed in won't immediately forget your old password. They'll continue to work until you sign out or until Microsoft forces a re-authentication (which usually happens within a few days). To be safe, sign out of any devices you don't recognize or no longer use, especially phones or computers you've sold or given away.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I change my Microsoft password?

Microsoft doesn't require you to change your password on a schedule. Change it if you think it's been compromised, if you've used it on a website that was hacked, or if you haven't changed it in several years. If you reuse the same password across multiple websites, change your Microsoft password immediately — that's the biggest security risk.

Can I change my password if I'm using a PIN to sign in?

Yes. Even if you sign into Windows with a PIN or Windows Hello, you can still change your Microsoft password through Settings or account.microsoft.com. You'll need to enter your actual password (not your PIN) to verify your identity before you can set a new one.

What if I change my password but still can't sign in?

Wait a few minutes — it can take up to 15 minutes for the change to sync across all Microsoft servers. If you still can't sign in after 15 minutes, make sure you're typing the new password correctly (passwords are case-sensitive). If that doesn't work, use the "I forgot my password" option to reset your account.

Do I need to change my password on each device separately?

No. When you change your password at account.microsoft.com, it updates everywhere at once. Devices that are already signed in will continue to work for a while, but they'll eventually prompt you to sign in again with your new password. You don't need to manually update anything on individual devices.

Can I see a list of devices signed into my Microsoft account?

Yes. Go to account.microsoft.com, select Security, then Your devices. You'll see all phones, computers, and tablets currently signed in. You can sign out of any device remotely from this page, which is useful if you've lost a phone or sold a computer.