How to Change Your Password in Outlook (All Versions Explained)
Changing your password in Outlook isn't always as straightforward as it sounds — and that's because Outlook doesn't actually store your password independently. It connects to an email account hosted elsewhere, whether that's Microsoft 365, Gmail, Yahoo, or a corporate mail server. So where you change the password depends entirely on your account type and setup.
Here's what's actually happening under the hood, and what variables determine your specific path.
Why Outlook Doesn't Have Its Own Password Setting
Outlook is an email client — a program that sends and receives mail on behalf of accounts you've configured. The password belongs to the email provider, not Outlook itself.
When you change a password, you're doing one of two things:
- Changing the password on your email provider's platform (Microsoft, Google, Yahoo, your company's IT system, etc.)
- Updating the saved password inside Outlook so it stops prompting you for credentials after you've already changed it at the source
Both steps are often needed. Skipping either one causes problems — either your account stays compromised or Outlook keeps throwing authentication errors.
How to Change Your Microsoft Account Password (Outlook.com / Microsoft 365)
If your email ends in @outlook.com, @hotmail.com, @live.com, or you use a Microsoft 365 work or school account, the password lives on Microsoft's servers.
To change it:
- Go to account.microsoft.com
- Sign in with your current credentials
- Navigate to Security → Change password
- Follow the prompts — you may need to verify via email, phone, or authenticator app
For Microsoft 365 business accounts, your IT administrator may control password resets. In that case, you typically use your company's self-service password reset portal, or contact your IT helpdesk directly — Outlook on your desktop won't expose a password-change option at all.
Updating Outlook's Saved Credentials After a Password Change 🔑
Once you've changed your password at the source, Outlook needs to learn the new one. In most modern versions, a sign-in prompt will appear automatically the next time Outlook tries to sync mail.
If that prompt doesn't appear — or disappears before you can enter it — you may need to clear the saved credential manually.
On Windows (Outlook desktop app):
- Open Control Panel → Credential Manager
- Select Windows Credentials
- Find any entries related to Microsoft Office, Outlook, or your email domain
- Click the entry and select Remove or Edit
- Restart Outlook — it will prompt for new credentials
On Mac (Outlook for Mac):
- Open Keychain Access from Spotlight
- Search for your email address or "Microsoft Outlook"
- Delete the relevant entry
- Relaunch Outlook and re-authenticate
On mobile (Outlook for iOS/Android):
You'll typically be prompted automatically, but if not:
- Go to Settings → your account → Re-enter password
- Or remove and re-add the account entirely
Variables That Determine Your Exact Steps
There's no single universal path because several factors shift the process:
| Variable | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Account type | Microsoft, Google, Yahoo, IMAP/POP3, Exchange — each has a different password portal |
| Outlook version | Outlook 2016, 2019, 2021, Microsoft 365, or the web app behave differently |
| Operating system | Windows and macOS store credentials in different locations |
| Organization vs. personal | Corporate accounts are often IT-managed; self-service options may be locked |
| Authentication method | Modern OAuth-based accounts (like Gmail in Outlook) may not use a traditional password prompt at all |
| Two-factor authentication | Enabling 2FA changes how re-authentication works after a password update |
When You've Added a Gmail or Third-Party Account to Outlook
If you've added a Gmail, Yahoo, or other non-Microsoft account into the Outlook app, you change the password on that provider's platform, not Microsoft's.
For Gmail specifically:
- Go to myaccount.google.com → Security → Password
- After changing it, Outlook may redirect you through a Google sign-in window (OAuth) to reauthorize — rather than asking for a plain password
This is increasingly common as providers move away from simple username/password combinations inside email clients. Some providers also require you to generate an app-specific password if you're using older connection protocols like IMAP with basic authentication.
What Happens If You Skip Updating Outlook After a Password Change
Outlook will begin failing silently or loudly — depending on the version. 🚫
Common symptoms:
- "Need Password" notification in the bottom status bar
- Emails stuck in the Outbox and not sending
- The inbox stops refreshing with new messages
- Repeated sign-in prompts that don't clear even after entering credentials
These symptoms point to a credential mismatch between Outlook's stored login and the updated password on the server.
The Part That Depends on Your Setup
What makes this topic genuinely variable is that the right sequence — and even the right portals — shift based on whether your account is personal or organizational, which version of Outlook you're running, whether modern authentication is enabled, and how your IT environment is configured. Someone on a managed corporate device has a completely different experience than someone running Outlook with a personal Gmail account on their home PC.
Understanding the mechanism — provider controls the password, Outlook stores a copy — gives you the framework. But the specific screens, portals, and steps you'll encounter depend on the exact configuration in front of you.