Where to change your password depends on what kind of Outlook account you have

If you use Outlook through Microsoft 365 or a work account, you change your password through your Microsoft account settings or your workplace's system — not inside Outlook itself. If you use Outlook.com (the free email service), you change it in your account settings. If your email is hosted by your employer or another organisation, the process is different again. The first step is knowing which one you have.

Most people who use Outlook.com or Microsoft 365 personal accounts will change the password online, then sign back into Outlook with the new one. People with work email accounts usually change their password through their company's internal system or a dedicated password portal, and Outlook updates automatically within a few hours.

Key Takeaways

  • Outlook.com users change their password at account.microsoft.com, not inside the Outlook app.
  • Microsoft 365 subscribers use the same Microsoft account website to change their password.
  • Work email accounts require you to change the password through your employer's system, usually a portal or your IT department.
  • After you change your password online, you may need to sign out and sign back in to Outlook on your phone or computer for the change to take effect.
  • If you forget your password, you can recover your account using a backup email address or phone number linked to your account.

Changing your Outlook.com or Microsoft 365 password online

Go to account.microsoft.com and sign in with your email and current password. Click Security on the left side of the page, then find the section labeled Password and click Change password. You will be asked to enter your current password once more, then type your new password twice to confirm it matches. Microsoft will show you a strength indicator — a strong password includes uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.

After you click Next, Microsoft confirms the change and you are signed out. The next time you open Outlook on your computer, phone, or tablet, you will need to sign in again using your new password. If you have Outlook open on multiple devices, each one will prompt you to re-enter your credentials within a few hours.

Changing your password if your email is through your workplace

Work email accounts — whether they use Outlook, Gmail, or another system — are managed by your employer's IT department or system administrator. You cannot change the password through Outlook itself or through a public website. Instead, look for a password reset portal on your company's intranet, or contact your IT help desk directly and ask them how to change your password.

Some workplaces use Active Directory, which means you change your password through a dedicated portal or by pressing Ctrl+Alt+Delete on your computer and selecting Change a password. Others use a web portal you access through your company's internal network. Your IT department can tell you which method applies to you. Once you change it through the correct system, Outlook will recognise the new password automatically within a few hours.

What to do if you are locked out or forget your password

If you cannot remember your Outlook.com or Microsoft 365 password, go to account.microsoft.com and click Can't access your account? on the sign-in screen. Microsoft will ask you to verify your identity using a backup email address or phone number you set up when you created the account. You will receive a code by email or text message — enter it to confirm you own the account, then create a new password.

If you do not have access to your backup email or phone number, Microsoft offers other recovery options, including answering security questions you set up previously. The process can take several minutes but does not require you to contact support. For work email accounts, contact your IT help desk — they can reset your password and send you a temporary one to use until you change it to something you choose.

Signing back into Outlook after changing your password

On a Windows or Mac computer, close Outlook completely. Open it again and you will see a sign-in screen asking for your email and password. Enter your new password and click Sign in. Outlook will sync your email and calendar within a few minutes.

On a phone or tablet, open the Outlook app and tap your account at the top. Tap Settings, then find your email account and tap it. Look for an option to update your password or re-enter your credentials. Some phones prompt you automatically when the password changes; others require you to do this manually. If Outlook keeps rejecting your new password after several attempts, sign out completely, close the app, wait a minute, and try signing in again.

Why Outlook might not accept your new password right away

After you change your password online, it can take up to an hour for the change to reach all of Microsoft's servers. If you try to sign into Outlook immediately and it rejects your new password, wait 15 to 20 minutes and try again. This is normal and does not mean something went wrong.

If you changed your password through your workplace system, the delay is usually longer — sometimes up to several hours — because your company's servers need to sync with Outlook's servers. If Outlook still will not accept your password after waiting several hours, contact your IT help desk to confirm the change went through on their end.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

You must change it online through account.microsoft.com (for Outlook.com and Microsoft 365) or through your workplace system. Outlook does not have a built-in password change feature. After you change it online, you sign back into Outlook with your new password.

What happens to my email if I change my password?

Your email stays exactly where it is. Changing your password only affects how you sign in. All your messages, contacts, and calendar remain in your account. You will just need to sign in again on any device where you use Outlook.

Can I change my Outlook password from my phone?

Yes. Open a web browser on your phone, go to account.microsoft.com, and follow the same steps as on a computer. For work email, use your company's password portal or contact IT. After you change it, sign back into the Outlook app with your new password.

What if I change my password but Outlook still will not sign in?

Wait 15 to 20 minutes for the change to sync across Microsoft's servers. Then sign out of Outlook completely, close the app, and try signing in again. If it still does not work after an hour, your account may have a security issue — go to account.microsoft.com and check your recent activity, or contact support.

Do I need to change my password on every device where I use Outlook?

No. You change your password once online, and then sign back in on each device with the new password. You do not change the password separately on your phone, tablet, or computer — you just use the new password when you sign in.