Changing your Windows account password (Windows 10 Microsoft account)

Information

Your logon password for windows, as with any password, should be changed frequently, at least once a year to help keep your devices and accounts secure. Changing your windows password is really easy and takes almost no time at all.

There are different types of accounts in Windows, this article applies to Microsoft accounts rather than Local and Domain accounts. You can easily check what type of account you have by pressing the ctrl, alt, and delete keys together. If you see an option to Change a password, you are not using a Microsoft account, please visit our article on changing your password for local or domain accounts.

Solution

1. Make sure you’re connected to the internet and are logged into the correct account.

2. Right click on the Start button in the bottom left of your screen.

3. From the menu that appears, left click on Settings

4. Left click the Accounts section, you will be greeted with a screen titled Your info, it will show your picture, name, email address and account type. Below this there will be a heading including Billing info, family settings, subscriptions, security settings and more and blue text with Manage my Microsoft account

5. You’re default web browser will open onto the Microsoft account page, at the top of the page you will see a long blue navigation bar titled Account, left click on Security along that bar.

6. This should take you to another web page that will be titled Security basics and 3 main options, labeled CHANGE PASSWORD, UPDATE INFO, and REVIEW ACTIVITY. You need to click on CHANGE PASSWORD

7.  You will now be on the Change your password screen where you will be asked for your Current password, New password and to Re-enter password. You need to fill them out as suggested, Current password is the password you currently use to log into Windows and your Microsoft account. In New password and Re-enter password, you need to type the password you want to use to sign in. Microsoft also give you the option to Make me change my password every 72 days. You can tick this box if you want Microsoft to remind you to change your password every 72 days. Once you’ve filled out the page, click the blue Save button. Your password has now been changed. You’ll need to use that password every time you log into windows or your Microsoft account.

Tips

Using a Microsoft account in Windows makes it easier if you use multiple devices as you can sync settings, apps and themes, as well as files if you use OneDrive.