How to Change Your Password on Common Accounts

You need to change a password, but the right button is different on every account. Start with the signed-in security page when you know your current password, use recovery only when you are locked out, and handle Windows or work accounts separately. Use these official paths for the major accounts people usually mean.

1. Change Google Apple Microsoft and Amazon first

Use the account's own security settings when you are still signed in and know the current password.

1.Google Account: Open your Google Account, go to Security & sign-in, select Password under How you sign in to Google, enter the new password, then choose Change Password.
2.Apple Account on iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, or Apple Vision Pro: Open Settings, tap [your name], choose Sign-In & Security, select Change Password, then follow the onscreen instructions.
3.Apple Account on Mac: Open the Apple menu, choose System Settings, select [your name], open Sign-In & Security, choose Change Password, enter the password used to unlock your Mac, then follow the onscreen instructions.
4.Microsoft personal account: Go to account.microsoft.com, open Security, choose Change Password, enter the new password, select the 72-day password checkbox when you want that reminder, then choose Save.
5.Amazon: Open Your Account, go to Login & security, select Edit next to Password, then follow the onscreen instructions.

2. Use the phone paths for app changes

Google in the Gmail app on iPhone or iPad: Tap your profile picture or initial, choose Manage your Google Account, open Personal info, tap Password under Other info and preferences for Google services, enter the new password, then tap Next.
Child Apple Account managed through Family Sharing: On an iPhone, iPad, or Apple Vision Pro with the latest iOS, iPadOS, or visionOS and two-factor authentication turned on, open Settings, choose Family, select the child's account, tap Apple Account & Password, choose Change [Child's Name] Password, then follow the onscreen instructions.
Child Apple Account without your own trusted Apple device: If you have access to the account's trusted phone number, open the Apple Support app on a borrowed Apple device, go to Support Tools, choose Reset Password, choose Help Someone Else, enter the Apple Account email address or phone number, choose Continue, then follow the onscreen instructions.

3. Update Facebook Instagram and Threads in Accounts Center

Meta routes Facebook, Messenger-related account access, Instagram, and Threads password changes through Accounts Center.

1.Facebook app: Open Menu, choose Settings & privacy, select Settings, open Accounts Center, choose Password and security, then select Change password.
2.Select the account, enter the current password and new password, then tap Update password.
3.Facebook on desktop: Select your profile picture, choose Settings and privacy, open Settings, select Accounts Center, choose Password and security, then select Change password.
4.Instagram app: Open your profile or profile picture, tap the menu, choose Accounts Center, select Password and security, choose Change password, pick the account, enter the current password and new password, then select Change password.
5.Threads app: Open the top-right menu, choose Accounts Center, select Password and security, choose Change password, pick the account, then follow the prompts.

4. Switch X and Netflix from their own pages

X keeps the signed-in password option under account settings. On iPhone or Android, open the navigation menu, choose Settings and privacy, select Your account, choose Change your password, enter the current password, enter and confirm the new password, then tap Done. On desktop, open the More icon in the navigation bar, choose Settings and privacy, select Your account, choose Change your password, enter Current password, New password, and Confirm password, then select Save.

Netflix uses its Change password page. Enter the new password twice, leave Sign out all devices checked when you want other sessions removed, then select Save. A Kids profile cannot use that signed-in password page. A profile that signs in with an email added to the profile does not use these reset steps when it has no password to reset.

Recovery is for cases where the signed-in route is unavailable.

1.Google: Go to the account recovery page, answer the questions to confirm it is your account, then follow the recovery email or prompts to set a new password.
2.Apple: Go to iforgot.apple.com, choose Reset Password, then follow the onscreen steps to start account recovery. Account recovery takes several days or more, and Apple Support cannot shorten the waiting period.
3.Instagram: From the login screen, select Forgot password?, enter your email address, phone number, or username, then follow the email, SMS, or onscreen reset instructions.
4.X by email: On the X.com, mobile.X.com, or X app sign-in page, select Forgot password?, enter your email address, phone number, or X username, choose the email address, enter the emailed code on the reset page, select Submit, then choose a new password. This email reset logs out all active X sessions.
5.X by SMS: Open Forgot password?, enter your phone number, email address, or X username, enter the phone number, select Search, choose Text a code to my phone ending in [XX], select Continue, enter the code, select Submit, then choose a new password. Accounts enrolled in login verification reset through email instead.
6.Netflix by email: Go to netflix.com/loginhelp, choose Email, enter the email address, select Email Me, open the Netflix email, select Reset your password, enter the new password twice, then choose Save. The reset link expires in 24 hours.
7.Netflix by SMS: Go to netflix.com/loginhelp, choose Text Message (SMS), enter the phone number linked to the account, select Text Me, enter the verification code, select Verify, enter the new password twice, then choose Save. The SMS code expires after 20 minutes.
8.Amazon: Open Password assistance, enter the email address or mobile phone number on the account, receive the one-time password, then follow the prompts to create a new password.

These flows prove account ownership first, then let you set a new password. Netflix also has an account lookup path when you do not remember the email or phone. Go to netflix.com/loginhelp, choose I don't remember my email or phone, enter the first and last name on the account plus the credit or debit card number used to pay, select Find Account, then follow the password reset email sent to the account email. That route applies to credit or debit card accounts and not to every region or third-party billing setup.

Microsoft account while signed in: Open Settings, choose Accounts, select Sign-in options, choose Password, select Change, then follow the instructions.
Microsoft account with a forgotten current password: Open Settings, choose Accounts, select Sign-in options, choose Password, select Change, choose Forgot my current password, then follow the verification directions.
Microsoft account from the Windows sign-in screen: Select I forgot my password. You can also choose Sign-in options, select Web sign-in, follow the prompts, then choose Forgot my password.
Local Windows account while signed in: Open Settings, choose Accounts, select Sign-in options, choose Password, select Change, then follow the instructions.
Local Windows account at the sign-in screen: Select the arrow next to the password field, choose OK, select Reset password, then answer the configured security questions.
Keyboard shortcut route: Press Ctrl + Alt + Del, choose change a password, then change the Windows password shown there. Use this for local or domain Windows passwords, not consumer web accounts such as Google or Apple.

Windows password steps depend on whether the PC uses a Microsoft account or a local account, so match the path to the sign-in type on that device.

7. Treat saved password alerts as website changes

Google Password Manager, Chrome, and Apple's Passwords app help with saved website and app passwords. They do not change your Google Account or Apple Account password by themselves.

On Android, when Chrome warns about a compromised saved password, tap Password Checkup, then follow the prompts to change the password on each site. On Chrome desktop, sign in to a compatible website that uses a saved password; when the alert says Your password was found in a public data breach, select Change it for me. When the automated change succeeds, Chrome shows Password changed. This requires a signed-in Google Account, at least one saved password in Google Password Manager, and password saving enabled.

On iPhone, open the Passwords app, choose All, locate the account, tap the account, select Edit, then choose Change Password. Finish the password change on that website or in that app.

8. Route work and school accounts through the organization

For Microsoft work or school accounts, use organization-controlled password pages. If your organization allows self-service changes and you know the current password, go to myaccount.microsoft.com, choose Change Password in the left navigation pane, type the old password, create and confirm the new password, then select Submit. The security-info route is mysignins.microsoft.com: select Password, enter and confirm the new password, then choose Submit.

When the organization blocks self-service changes or the old password is unavailable, an administrator with the Password Administrator role can open Microsoft Entra admin center, choose Entra ID, select Users, choose the user, select Reset password, then select Reset password. This admin reset applies only when your tenant is the user's home directory; on-premises Active Directory accounts require password writeback on a managed, non-federated domain, and external or other-tenant users must be reset through their own directory or administrator.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change a password from the password manager instead of the website?

For saved website and app passwords, Chrome, Google Password Manager, and Apple Passwords send you through the site's own change process. They do not replace the account's security page.

What changes when I reset my X password by email?

X email password recovery sends a code to the account email, lets you choose a new password after you submit the code, and logs out all active X sessions.

How do I change a Microsoft work or school password?

Use myaccount.microsoft.com and select Change Password, or use mysignins.microsoft.com and select Password. If self-service is blocked, contact the organization's admin or help desk; an admin can reset eligible cloud users in Microsoft Entra, but on-premises, federated, external, or other-tenant users need a reset through their own directory.

Why is Outlook not listed as the place to change my email password?

Microsoft says to change or reset the password with the email provider first. Outlook then prompts for the updated password, and Outlook for Mac does not directly change the password.