How to Change Your Hotmail or Outlook Password

Updating your password is a necessary step to protect your personal information from unauthorized access. This guide will walk you through the exact steps to change your Outlook or Hotmail password safely. Please take your time and follow along at your own pace.

What you will need:

• Your current email password.

• A pen and a secure notebook to write down your new password so you don't forget it.

Step-by-Step Guide to Change the Hotmail or Outlook Password

1. Follow this official Microsoft security link — account.microsoft.com/security. Or open your browser and type account.microsoft.com/security in the address bar at the top of the screen.

2. Sign in with your Outlook or Hotmail email address and current password.

3. Click on the "Change password" link at the top of the page.

4. Enter your current password one more time to confirm it is really you.

5. Create a new password:

   • Use at least 3 simple hyphenated words, each starting with a capital letter (e.g., Home-Dog-Work).

   • Do not use names, surnames, or locations that are personally related to you.

   • Add at least 4 numbers (e.g., Home-Dog-Work-1918).

6. Write your new password down in your secure notebook before moving on.

7. Type your new password into the box provided, and type it again in the next box to confirm it.

8. Click the "Save" button.

Your new password is now active! Changing your password will sign you out of your email on your other devices (like your phone or tablet). You will need to sign back in using your new password.

Adding an Extra Layer of Security (Two-Step Verification)

While you are still on the Security page, let's set an additional layer of protection and turn on Two-Step Verification. This means that along with your password, you will also use your phone to confirm it is really you. This stops anyone else from accessing your email, even if they somehow learn your password.

Step-by-Step Guide to Turn on Two-Step Verification

1. On the same security page, click on the box that says "Manage how I sign in".

2. Scroll down to the "Additional security" section and find "Two-step verification".

3. Click the "Turn on" link next to it.

4. Click "Next" and choose to add a phone number to receive a text code.

5. Enter your mobile phone number in the box provided.

6. Check your mobile phone for a short code from Microsoft.

7. Type that exact code into the box on your computer screen.

8. Click "Next" and follow the remaining prompts to click "Finish".

Your Two-Step Verification is now active! Now, if anyone tries to enter your email from a new or unrecognized device, you will get a notification asking to confirm it is really you.