Change your MacBook password through System Settings

Open System Settings (the gear icon in your dock or Applications folder). Click Users & Groups in the left sidebar. If the lock icon at the bottom left is closed, click it and enter your current password to unlock the settings. Select your user account from the list on the left, then click the Password tab.

Click the Change Password button. You will see three fields: your current password, your new password, and a confirmation of the new password. Type your current password first. Then type your new password twice — the second time to confirm you typed it correctly. Click Change Password when you are done.

Your new password takes effect immediately. You will use it the next time you log in or wake your MacBook from sleep.

Key Takeaways

  • You change your password in System Settings under Users & Groups, not in a separate security app.
  • You must know your current password before you can set a new one.
  • The new password becomes active right away, so write it down or save it somewhere safe before you close System Settings.
  • If you forget your password after changing it, you can reset it using your Apple ID or a recovery key, but the process takes longer than changing it while you remember the old one.

What happens if you forget your current password

If you cannot remember your current password, you cannot use the method above. Instead, restart your MacBook and hold Command + Q while it boots. This opens the login screen. Click the question mark icon next to the password field, or click "Reset Password" if that option appears. You will be asked to enter your Apple ID and password.

After you verify your Apple ID, you can set a new MacBook password without knowing the old one. This process works on most MacBooks from 2018 onward. On older models, you may need to use your recovery key instead, which Apple creates when you first set up your MacBook.

Using a recovery key if you do not have Apple ID access

A recovery key is a long string of characters that Apple generates during MacBook setup. If you saved it, you can use it to reset your password without your Apple ID. Restart your MacBook and hold Command + Q at the login screen. Select "Reset Password" and choose "Use Recovery Key" instead of entering your Apple ID.

Type your recovery key when prompted. If you do not have your recovery key and cannot access your Apple ID, you will need to take your MacBook to an Apple Store or contact Apple Support, as there is no other way to regain access to your account.

Creating a strong new password

MacBook passwords work best when they are at least 8 characters long and include a mix of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Avoid using your name, birthdate, or common words that appear in the dictionary. A password like "BlueMoon#2847" is stronger than "password123" because it mixes character types and does not follow a predictable pattern.

Write your new password down and store it in a safe place — a locked drawer, a password manager app, or a notebook you keep at home. Do not email it to yourself or leave it in a text file on your desktop. If you use a password manager like 1Password or Bitwarden, you can store it there instead and let the app fill it in when you need it.

Changing your password on a shared MacBook

If multiple people use the same MacBook, each person has their own user account and their own password. When you change your password, you only change the one for your account. Other users' passwords stay the same. To change another account's password, that person must log in as themselves and follow the steps above, or an administrator can change it for them through Users & Groups (though the person whose password is being changed will need to enter their current password first).

If you are the only administrator on the MacBook and you forget your password, you cannot change another account's password to regain access. You will need to use the Apple ID or recovery key method described earlier.

What to do after you change your password

After you change your MacBook password, you may need to update it in other places where you use it. If you use the same password for your email, banking apps, or work accounts, change those passwords too — do not reuse the same password across multiple services. If you use iCloud or other Apple services, your MacBook password and Apple ID password are separate, so changing one does not change the other.

If you have a keychain saved on your MacBook (which stores passwords for websites and apps), you may be prompted to update it with your new password the next time you log in. Follow the prompts to keep your keychain in sync with your account.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I change my MacBook password?

There is no set rule. Change it if you think someone else knows it, if you used it on a public computer, or if you have not changed it in over a year. Most security experts recommend changing passwords when there is a reason to, rather than on a fixed schedule.

Can I change my password if I do not have administrator rights?

Yes. Any user can change their own password through System Settings. You only need administrator rights if you want to change someone else's password or create a new user account.

What if I see an error message when I try to change my password?

The most common error is "Password too short" — MacBook requires at least 1 character, but 8 or more is recommended. If you see "Passwords do not match," you typed your new password differently in the two fields. Retype both carefully and try again.

Does changing my MacBook password affect my Apple ID?

No. Your MacBook password and your Apple ID password are separate. Changing one does not change the other. If you want to change your Apple ID password, you do that through appleid.apple.com on any web browser.