How to Change Your Hotmail Password (Now Managed Through Microsoft Account)
If you've been searching for a way to change your Hotmail password, there's one important thing to know upfront: Hotmail no longer exists as a standalone service. Microsoft retired the Hotmail brand and migrated all accounts to Outlook.com — but your old @hotmail.com email address still works. What changed is where your password actually lives: it's now controlled through your Microsoft account, which means one password covers Hotmail, Outlook, OneDrive, Xbox, and other Microsoft services.
This guide walks you through how the password change process works, what affects how you'll access it, and what variables might change your experience.
What Is a Microsoft Account Password?
Your Microsoft account password is a single credential tied to your email address — whether that ends in @hotmail.com, @outlook.com, or @live.com. Changing it in one place changes it everywhere Microsoft uses that login. There's no separate "Hotmail password" to update anymore.
This unified system is worth understanding because it means:
- Changing your password on a desktop browser will also affect sign-in on your phone, tablet, and any app using that Microsoft account
- If you're signed into multiple devices, those devices may prompt you to re-authenticate after the change
- Two-step verification (also called two-factor authentication) is connected to this same account, which can affect how you verify your identity during the process
How to Change Your Hotmail/Microsoft Account Password
From a Web Browser (Desktop or Mobile)
- Go to account.microsoft.com and sign in with your @hotmail.com address
- Navigate to Security in the top menu
- Select Change my password
- Enter your current password, then your new password twice
- Save the change
Microsoft may ask you to verify your identity before allowing the password change — typically through a code sent to a backup email address or phone number associated with your account.
From the Outlook.com Interface Directly
- Sign in at outlook.com
- Click your profile icon (top-right corner)
- Select My Microsoft Account
- From there, go to Security → Change my password
The path leads to the same destination as going directly to account.microsoft.com.
From a Windows PC
If you're signed into Windows with your Microsoft account:
- Open Settings
- Go to Accounts → Sign-in options
- Under Password, select Change
- Follow the prompts — Windows may route you to the browser-based process depending on your version
🔐 On Windows 11, the flow is slightly different from Windows 10 in terms of interface layout, but both ultimately connect to the same Microsoft account portal.
From an iPhone or Android Device
On mobile, the password change isn't typically done inside the Mail or Outlook app itself — those apps just use stored credentials. To change the password, you'd use a browser on your phone to visit account.microsoft.com, or use the Microsoft Authenticator app if you have it set up, which includes account management features.
Variables That Affect Your Experience
Not everyone will hit the exact same screens or steps. Several factors shape what the process looks like for you:
| Variable | How It Affects the Process |
|---|---|
| Two-factor authentication status | If enabled, you'll need to verify via a code before the change is allowed |
| Recovery info on file | No backup email or phone number makes identity verification harder |
| Device and OS version | Windows 10 vs. 11 vs. mobile shows different UI paths |
| Browser vs. app | Password changes happen through the account portal, not inside mail apps |
| Account age | Older Hotmail accounts migrated years ago may have slightly different security settings |
| Admin or family account | Microsoft Family Safety accounts have additional layers affecting password management |
What If You've Forgotten Your Current Password?
The password reset flow is different from the change flow — and this is where your account recovery setup matters most.
Microsoft will attempt to verify you through:
- A recovery email address (a different email you set up as a backup)
- A phone number (via SMS code)
- The Microsoft Authenticator app
- Security questions (on older accounts that still have them set)
If none of those options are available or accessible, recovery becomes significantly more difficult. Microsoft's account recovery form exists for edge cases, but the outcome depends on how much verifiable information is tied to the account.
What Changes After You Update Your Password
Once you've changed it, expect:
- Signed-out sessions on devices that don't store the new credential automatically
- App passwords (used for older mail clients like Thunderbird) may need to be regenerated if you use them
- Any third-party apps connected via Microsoft sign-in may prompt you to re-authorize
If you use your Microsoft account to sign into non-Microsoft services through "Sign in with Microsoft," those sessions are typically token-based and won't be immediately disrupted — but behavior can vary by service.
The Setup Question That Matters Most
Whether you're changing a forgotten password, doing a routine security update, or responding to a suspected breach, the actual steps are consistent — but what changes is how smoothly the process goes. That comes down to what recovery information and verification methods are already connected to your account. 🔑
Someone with a phone number, backup email, and the Authenticator app configured will move through this in minutes. Someone without any recovery options attached may find themselves in a much longer process. The state of your account's security settings — not the password change itself — is usually where the real friction lives.