You can change your Microsoft 365 password yourself in a couple of minutes, whether you know the current one or have forgotten it. Which steps to use depends on which of those is true.
If you know your current password
- Go to myaccount.microsoft.com and sign in with your work email and current password.
- Select Change Password in the menu on the left.
- Type your old password, then type your new password and confirm it.
- Select Submit. You’ll be asked to sign in again with the new password.
If you’ve forgotten your password
- Go to passwordreset.microsoftonline.com. Or, on the Microsoft sign-in screen, select Can’t access your account?
- Type your work email address and the characters shown, then select Next.
- Choose how to prove it’s you, for example the Authenticator app on your phone or a text message to your mobile, and follow the prompts.
- Type a new password twice and finish.
This only works if self-service password reset is switched on for your company, and you’ve already set up your security info (see “Set up multi-factor authentication on Microsoft 365“). If you see Contact your administrator or Please contact your administrator instead, it isn’t available for your account. Email us and we’ll reset it for you.
Choosing a new password
- Make it long. A sentence of three or four unrelated words is much stronger than a short word with a number on the end.
- Never reuse a password from another website or app.
- If Microsoft says the password may be easy to guess, try another one.
- A password manager can create and remember good passwords for you.
After you’ve changed it
Your phone and other computers will ask for the new password. Update it in the Outlook app, in the Mail app on your phone and anywhere else you’re signed in. If you don’t, your old password may keep being tried and lock your account.
If it doesn’t work
- You get “We couldn’t verify your account”. Your security info may not be set up. Email us and we’ll sort it out.
- You’re locked out. Microsoft pauses sign-ins after too many wrong attempts. Wait a little while and try again, or email us.
- You didn’t ask for a reset, but got a reset email or code. Don’t use it. Change your password straight away if you can, and tell us.