How to Change Your Password in Windows 8.1

Microsoft’s Windows 8.1 is great for some users. Tablets, laptops and desktops all benefit from having a unified way to access most of the settings Windows users will come in contact with the most when using a device that is powered by the operating system. Of course, by introducing a new way of doing things Microsoft has also made older ways of changing settings a bit unobvious. Take changing your password in Windows 8.1 for example.

It used to be that users could just head to the Windows Control Panel and click on Users to update their password and other account information. They still can, but here’s how to change your password in Windows 8.1 and avoid the desktop altogether.

Go to the Start Screen by pressing the Windows key on your desktop, tablet or laptop.

Place your mouse cursor in the top-right hand corner of your screen to bring up the Charms Bar. You can also swipe from the right edge of your screen to open the Charms Bar.

Click or tap on Settings.

Click or tap Change PC Settings.

Click or tap Accounts in the menu on the left side of your screen. It’s second from the top.

Click Sign In Options.

Enter your current password in the pop-up window so that your device can verify who you are. Then click Next.

Once you’ve been allowed in and Windows has verified your old password, you’ll need to enter your old password again. You’ll also need to enter your new password twice. Then click Next.

Click Finish.

You’ve successfully entered a new password for your Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 device. It’s important to remember that Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 rely on the user’s Microsoft Account. As such, changing the password in Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 also changes the password to any Outlook.com Mail, Xbox Live account, SkyDrive storage account and any other service that is powered by a Microsoft Account.

The same isn’t true for users who configured their Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 machine without a Microsoft Account. As these users created what’s called a Local Account, changing the password on their machines doesn’t affect any other Microsoft products. You can tell the difference between each by looking for an email address in the Sign in screen or the password change screen.