How to Change Your Microsoft Account Password

Managing access to your Microsoft account is one of the most straightforward security tasks you can perform — but the exact steps depend on where you're starting from, what device you're using, and whether you're working with a Microsoft account or a local Windows account. These are two very different things, and mixing them up is the most common source of confusion.

Microsoft Account vs. Local Account: Why It Matters First

Before touching any settings, it's worth understanding what kind of account you're actually using.

• A Microsoft account is tied to an email address (like @outlook.com, @hotmail.com, or any email you registered with Microsoft). It syncs across devices and services — including OneDrive, Microsoft 365, Xbox, and the Microsoft Store.
• A local account exists only on your Windows PC. It has no email address attached and doesn't sync anywhere.

The password change process is meaningfully different for each. Changing a Microsoft account password updates your credentials across every device and service connected to that account. Changing a local account password only affects that one machine.

How to Change a Microsoft Account Password Online 🔐

This is the most universal method and works regardless of what device you're on.

1. Go to account.microsoft.com in any browser
2. Sign in with your current credentials
3. Navigate to Security in the top menu
4. Select Change my password
5. Enter your current password, then your new one, and confirm

Microsoft will ask you to verify your identity before proceeding — typically through an authenticator app, a code sent to your email, or a code sent via SMS. This is a standard security checkpoint, not an error.

Password requirements generally include a minimum of eight characters with a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols, though Microsoft may prompt you toward longer, stronger passwords depending on your account's security settings.

Once changed, any device signed in with that Microsoft account will eventually prompt you to re-authenticate with the new password.

How to Change Your Password Through Windows Settings

If you're working directly from a Windows 10 or Windows 11 PC:

1. Open Settings (Win + I)
2. Go to Accounts
3. Select Sign-in options
4. Under the Password section, click Change

If your PC is connected to a Microsoft account, this path will redirect you to the online portal described above. If you're using a local account, the change happens entirely on-device — no internet required.

For Windows 11, the navigation is slightly different: Settings → Accounts → Sign-in options → Password → Change.

Changing a Local Account Password in Windows

For local accounts, the Settings path works, but there's also a faster method:

• Press Ctrl + Alt + Delete
• Select Change a password
• Enter your old password, your new password, and confirm

Alternatively, administrators can reset passwords for other local accounts through Computer Management → Local Users and Groups — useful in household or small-office environments where someone has forgotten their credentials.

What Happens If You've Forgotten Your Microsoft Password

Forgetting your password is a different process from changing it. Microsoft's account recovery flow lives at account.live.com/password/reset. You'll be asked to verify your identity through recovery options you set up previously — an alternate email, phone number, or the Microsoft Authenticator app.

Recovery success depends heavily on what you set up in advance. Accounts with no recovery options attached, or recovery options pointing to inactive email addresses or old phone numbers, are significantly harder to recover. Microsoft does offer an extended identity verification process for these cases, but it can take days and isn't guaranteed.

This is why proactively setting up recovery options — and keeping them current — is one of the most practical account security steps you can take.

Passwords, Passkeys, and Windows Hello: The Changing Landscape

Microsoft has been actively pushing users toward passwordless sign-in options. These include:

A Windows Hello PIN is not the same as your Microsoft account password — changing one doesn't change the other. This distinction trips up a lot of users, especially those who set up Windows Hello shortly after getting a new PC and never used a traditional password at all.

Factors That Affect Your Specific Situation

Several variables determine which method is right for you:

• Account type — Microsoft account vs. local account determines the entire flow
• Device access — Whether you're locked out or simply updating your password changes the process significantly
• Recovery setup — What verification methods you have available affects both security and recovery options
• Organizational accounts — If your Microsoft account is managed by an employer or school (a work or school account using Azure Active Directory), your IT administrator controls password policies and may need to be involved
• Two-step verification status — Accounts with two-factor authentication require an extra verification step during changes
• Which Windows version — Settings menus differ between Windows 10 and Windows 11, and older versions have different navigation paths entirely 🖥️

Whether a simple password update takes two minutes or turns into a recovery process depends almost entirely on which of these variables applies to your situation.