The Basic Steps to Change Your Outlook Password

You can change your Outlook password through your Microsoft account settings, whether you use Outlook.com, Outlook on the desktop, or Outlook through your workplace. The process takes about five minutes and works the same way across all versions. You do not need to uninstall or reinstall anything.

The fastest route is to go directly to your Microsoft account page, sign in, and update your password there. Once you change it, Outlook will ask you to enter the new password the next time you open the app or refresh your browser. If you are using Outlook through your employer or school, the steps may be different — your organization may require you to change the password through their own system instead.

Key Takeaways

  • Go to account.microsoft.com, sign in, and select "Security" to change your password in one place for all Microsoft services including Outlook.
  • After you change your password, Outlook on your phone or desktop will prompt you to enter the new one within a few minutes.
  • If you use Outlook through work or school, contact your IT department or help desk instead, because your organization controls password changes.
  • Write down your new password or store it in a password manager before you sign out, so you do not lock yourself out.
  • If you forget your current password, use the "Can't access your account" link on the Microsoft sign-in page to verify your identity and reset it.

Changing Your Password Through Microsoft Account Settings

Open a web browser and go to account.microsoft.com. Sign in with your email address and current password. Once you are logged in, look for "Security" in the left menu and click it.

Under the Security section, find "Password" and click "Change password." Microsoft will ask you to enter your current password one more time to confirm it is really you. Then type your new password twice — once to enter it and once to confirm it matches. Your new password should be at least eight characters long and include uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols if possible.

Click "Next" and Microsoft will confirm the change. You are done on the website. The change takes effect immediately, but Outlook itself may take a few minutes to catch up.

What Happens in Outlook After You Change Your Password

If you have Outlook open on your desktop or phone when you change your password, the app will not immediately know about the change. Within a few minutes, Outlook will prompt you to sign in again. When that happens, enter your new password and Outlook will sync back up.

If Outlook does not prompt you, you can force it to update by signing out and signing back in. On the desktop app, go to File, then Account Settings, then Account Settings again. Find your email address, click it, and select "Remove." Then restart Outlook, click "Add Account," and sign in with your new password.

On Outlook.com (the web version), you do not need to do anything extra — the password change takes effect immediately in your browser.

Changing Your Password if You Use Outlook Through Work or School

If your email address ends in your company or school domain (not @outlook.com or @hotmail.com), your organization controls your password. Do not try to change it through Microsoft account settings, because that will not work.

Instead, contact your IT department, help desk, or system administrator. They can tell you the correct process, which may involve a password portal, a phone call, or an in-person visit depending on your organization's setup. Some workplaces let you change your password by pressing Ctrl+Alt+Delete on Windows or through a settings menu on Mac.

If You Forget Your Current Password

Go to account.microsoft.com and look for "Can't access your account?" or "Forgot my password" on the sign-in page. Click it and Microsoft will ask you to enter your email address.

Microsoft will then ask you to prove you own the account. You can do this by entering a code sent to a backup email address, a phone number on file, or by answering security questions you set up earlier. Once you verify your identity, you can create a new password without knowing the old one.

If you do not have access to your backup email or phone number, Microsoft has additional verification options. The process can take longer in this case, sometimes a few hours or a day.

Keeping Your New Password Secure

Once you change your password, do not share it with anyone — not even IT staff or Microsoft support. Real support staff will never ask for your password.

Write your new password down or save it in a password manager like Bitwarden, 1Password, or the password manager built into your browser. This prevents you from forgetting it and locking yourself out. If you write it down on paper, keep it somewhere safe like a locked drawer.

If you think someone else knows your password, change it again right away. If you notice unusual activity in your Outlook account — emails you did not send, folders you did not create — change your password and then check your account recovery options to make sure no one else added a backup email or phone number.

Troubleshooting Common Problems

If Outlook keeps asking for your password even after you entered the new one correctly, restart the app completely. Close it entirely, wait ten seconds, and open it again. On Windows, you can also go to Settings, Accounts, Email & App Accounts, find your Outlook account, and select "Manage" to re-enter your credentials.

If you changed your password but Outlook on your phone still will not accept it, try removing the account and adding it again. On iPhone, go to Settings, Mail, Accounts, select your Outlook account, and tap "Delete Account." Then go back to Mail, tap "Accounts," select "Add Account," choose Outlook, and sign in with your new password. On Android, open the Outlook app, go to Settings, select your account, and choose "Remove Account," then add it again.

If you see an error message saying your password is wrong even though you know it is correct, wait a few minutes and try again. Password changes sometimes take longer to spread across Microsoft's servers, especially if you changed it on a mobile device.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to change my password in Outlook itself, or can I do it online?

Change it online at account.microsoft.com. You cannot change your Microsoft password inside the Outlook app itself. Once you change it online, Outlook will ask you to enter the new password the next time it needs to sign in again.

Will changing my Outlook password affect my other Microsoft accounts?

Yes. Your Outlook password is your Microsoft account password, which also controls OneDrive, Xbox, Microsoft 365, and any other Microsoft services you use. Changing it updates all of them at once. If you use a work or school account, only that account's password changes.

How often should I change my Outlook password?

Microsoft does not require you to change your password on a schedule. Change it if you think someone else knows it, if you used the same password on another website that was hacked, or if you have not changed it in several years. Using a strong, unique password means you do not need to change it often.

What if I changed my password but still cannot sign into Outlook?

Wait five to ten minutes — the change may not have reached all of Microsoft's servers yet. Then try signing out completely and signing back in. If that does not work, go to account.microsoft.com and make sure you can sign in there with your new password. If you cannot, use the "Forgot my password" option to reset it again.

Can I change my password on my phone instead of a computer?

Yes. Open a web browser on your phone, go to account.microsoft.com, and follow the same steps. The process is identical on mobile and desktop. You can also change it through the Outlook app on some phones by going to Settings and selecting your account, though the web method is more reliable.