How to change your Surface device password

Whether you’ve forgotten the password to your Surface device or are updating it for other reasons, changing your password has security benefits that safeguard your device and private information. Learn how to change your password in Windows 11 on your Surface.

What are reasons to change your password?

There are obvious reasons you may need to change your password, like if you forgot it or if it’s been leaked. However, regularly changing your password has other benefits. You should change your password every 90 days, even if you always remember it. Benefits of doing so include the following:

Prevents unauthorized parties from accessing your device

Sometimes your password gets leaked without your knowledge. If you’re someone who uses similar passwords across your devices and accounts, once a hacker knows one of them, they may eventually gain access to other devices and accounts as well. Changing your password frequently can help keep hackers out of your device even when you’re unsure of a leak.

Keeps your saved passwords safe

Using a password manager is a simple way to keep up with the variety of passwords for your devices and accounts. You’ll have to enter a master password to access your saved passwords; however, if your master password can be easily guessed or if it’s been leaked, that puts all your other passwords in danger. Periodically changing your Surface device password can prevent hackers from targeting your password manager app.

How to change your password in Windows

Now that you’re aware of the dangers of not changing your password, you can take action to protect your Surface device and all your private information.

Fortunately, both Windows and the Microsoft Edge browser feature powerful password management tools, such as Credential Manager to harness all of your logins in one place, Windows Hello to access your devices via a PIN or biometrics, and Password Monitor to check if your online passwords have been involved in a data breach.

In case that Microsoft software has determined that your passwords have been compromised, here’s how to change your most important login information:

If you know your password

When you know your Surface device password and want to change it to maintain good security hygiene, follow these steps:

1. Select Start. 
2. Select Settings.
3. Open the Accounts tab.
4. Select Sign-in options.
5. Choose the type of Windows password you want to change.
6. Follow the remaining on-screen instructions based on your password type.

If you don’t know your password

If you’ve forgotten the password to sign in to your Surface, you’ll need to change it using your security questions or Microsoft Account. You can change your Windows password using security questions with these steps:

1. Attempt to enter a password on your Surface start-up screen.
2. Select Reset password after you’ve entered an incorrect password.
3. Successfully answer the security questions that you set up.
4. Enter your new password.
5. Sign in to your Surface device using your updated password. 

Don’t worry if you didn’t set up security questions. You can change the password to your Microsoft Account that’s connected to your Surface device in this way as well:

1. Go to your Microsoft Account sign-in page.
2. Enter the email address that you use on your Surface device.
3. Select Forgot password?
4. Select Next.
5. Pick which multi-factor authentication method you would like to use.
6. Enter your verification code.
7. Enter your new password.
8. Select Next to save it.
9. Enter your new password on your Surface device sign-in screen.

If these options don’t work, you can always fill out the account recovery form for more assistance with resetting your password and getting back into your Surface device.