How to Change Your Password in Windows GA S REGULAR Menu Lifewire Tech for Humans Newsletter! Search Close GO Software & Apps > Windows

How to Change Your Password in Windows

Change your password in Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, Vista, and XP

By Tim Fisher Tim Fisher Senior Vice President & Group General Manager, Tech & Sustainability Emporia State University Tim Fisher has more than 30 years' of professional technology experience. He's been writing about tech for more than two decades and serves as the VP and General Manager of Lifewire. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on August 22, 2022 Reviewed by Jessica Kormos Reviewed by Jessica Kormos Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College Jessica Kormos is a writer and editor with 15 years' experience writing articles, copy, and UX content for Tecca.com, Rosenfeld Media, and many others. lifewire's editorial guidelines Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email

In This Article

Expand Jump to a Section Windows 11, 10, and 8 Windows 7 Windows Vista and Windows XP Tips and More Information Frequently Asked Questions

What to Know

Windows 11, 10, and 8: Type sign in options in the search bar, select Sign-in options > Password > Change.Earlier versions: Go to Start > Control Panel > User Accounts > User Accounts > Change your password.
You can change your password in Windows 11 through Windows XP via the User Accounts applet in Control Panel. However, the steps involved differ somewhat depending on which operating system you use, so be sure to take note of those differences when they're called out below.

Change Your Password in Windows 11 10 and 8

Follow these instructions to change your password in Windows 8, 10, or 11.
Using the search bar, type sign in options and then choose Sign-in options from the list of results. If that doesn't work, open Control Panel, choose User Accounts (Windows 11/10) or User Accounts and Family Safety (Windows 8), then the User Accounts link, followed by the Make changes to my account in PC Settings. In Windows 11 & 10, select Password and then choose Change. In Windows 8, choose Change from the Password section. Enter your current password in the first text box and then select Next. Enter your new password twice to verify that you've typed it correctly. You can type a password hint, too, which will help remind you of your password should you forget it when logging in. It's required in Windows 11 and Windows 8. Select Next. Select Finish. You can now exit any other open Settings, PC settings, and Control Panel windows. Lifewire / Maritsa Patrinos

Windows 7 Windows Vista and Windows XP

Select Start and then​ Control Panel. Choose User Accounts and Family Safety if you're using Windows 7. If you're using Windows XP (or some versions of Windows Vista), this link is instead called User Accounts. If you're viewing the Large icons, Small icons, or Classic view of Control Panel, you won't see this link. Simply choose User Accounts and proceed to Step 4. Select User Accounts. In the Make changes to your user account area of the User Accounts window, choose Change your password. For Windows XP users, look instead for the or pick an account to change section, and select your user account, and then choose Change my password on the following screen. In the first text box, enter your current password. In the next two text boxes, enter the password you would like to start using. Entering the password twice helps to make sure that you typed your new password correctly. In the final text box, you're asked to enter a password hint. This step is optional but we highly recommend that you use it. If you try logging in to Windows but enter the wrong password, this hint will display, which hopefully will jog your memory. Select Change password to confirm your changes. You can now close the User Accounts window and any other Control Panel windows.

Tips and More Information

Now that your Windows password has been changed, you must use your new password to log in to Windows from this point forward. Trying to change your password in Windows (because you forgot it) but can't get into Windows (again, because you forgot your password)? See our list of ways to find lost passwords in Windows for some options. Another option is to create a Windows password reset disk. While not a required part of changing your password, we highly recommend that you do this. You do not need to create a new password reset disk if you already have one. Your previously created password reset disk will work no matter how many times you change your Windows password. How To Change Your Laptop Password Your Guide to User Account Settings in Windows 11 FAQ How do you force-quit in Windows 11? To force-quit a program, simultaneously press Alt+F4 on your keyboard. You can also use the Task Manager or the Run service to quit apps. How do you upgrade to Windows 11? To upgrade your computer from running Windows 10 to Windows 11, first check if your device meets the requirements. Then, go to Start > Windows Update Settings > Check for updates. Under Upgrade to Windows 11, select Download and Install. How do you screen record in Windows 11? To take a screen recording, open the Xbox Game Bar and select the record icon. This feature comes with the software by default. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How to Create a Password in Windows How Do I Reset My Windows Password? How to Change Another User's Password in Windows How Do I Remove My Windows Password? How Do I Create a Windows Password Reset Disk? How to Change Your Facebook Password What to Do If You Forget Your Windows 7 Password How to Find the Windows Administrator Password How to Reset or Change Your Instagram Password I Forgot My Windows 8 Password! What Are My Options? Your Guide to User Account Settings in Windows 11 How to Change the Notes Password on an iPhone How to Reset a Windows Vista Password [Easy, 15-20 Min] What Version of Windows Do I Have? How to Reset a Voicemail Password in Android How To Change Your Laptop Password Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies