Where to find the password settings on your phone

The steps to change your password depend on whether you use an iPhone or Android phone, because each system stores passwords in a different place. On both types, you are changing the password that unlocks your phone itself — not passwords for individual apps like email or social media, which live inside those apps.

On an iPhone, go to Settings, then tap your name at the top of the screen. Tap Password & Security, then Change Password. You will need to enter your current password first, then type your new one twice to confirm it matches.

On an Android phone, the path varies by manufacturer. Most Android phones use Google accounts to lock the screen. Go to Settings, then search for "password" or "lock screen" using the search bar at the top. If you see an option for Screen Lock or Lock Screen, tap it. If you do not find it there, go to Settings > Security & Privacy > Lock Screen, then select the type of lock you use (PIN, pattern, or password) and follow the prompts to change it.

Key Takeaways

  • iPhone users change their screen password in Settings > Your Name > Password & Security > Change Password.
  • Android users find the screen lock settings in Settings > Security & Privacy > Lock Screen, though the exact path varies by phone brand.
  • You will need to enter your current password before you can create a new one.
  • A strong password uses at least 12 characters and mixes uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.
  • If you forget your new password when ready after changing it, you can reset it using your recovery email or phone number.

What makes a strong password you can actually remember

A strong password is long and random enough that someone cannot guess it by trying common words or patterns. The minimum is 12 characters, and it should include uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols like ! or @. The problem is that a truly random password like "7kR#mQ2vLp9x" is nearly impossible to remember.

A practical middle ground is to use a phrase you know well, then modify it. For example, take "my dog ate three socks in 2019" and turn it into "MyDog8Three$ocks2019!" — you have replaced a letter with a number and added a symbol. This is much easier to remember than a random string, and still strong enough for a phone password.

Write your new password down on paper and store it somewhere safe at home — not in a note on your phone, and not in a text message. Once you have entered it a few times, you will remember it without looking.

Changing your password on iPhone step by step

Open the Settings app on your home screen. Tap your name at the very top — it appears above the row of options like Airplane Mode. This takes you to your Apple ID page.

Tap Password & Security. You will see a list of options including Change Password at the top. Tap it. Your phone will ask you to enter your current password to confirm it is really you making this change.

Type your current password, then tap Next. Now you will see two fields: one for your new password and one to confirm it. Type your new password in both fields — they must match exactly, including capital letters and symbols. Tap Change or Confirm, depending on what your phone shows.

Your phone will display a message saying your password has been changed. You are done. The next time you restart your phone or lock it, you will use the new password to unlock it.

Changing your password on Android step by step

Open Settings. At the top of the screen, you will see a search bar with a magnifying glass icon. Tap it and type "lock screen" or "password". A list of matching settings will appear below.

Tap the option that says Lock Screen, Screen Lock, or Lock Type — the exact name depends on your phone brand. You will see the type of lock you currently use: PIN, pattern, password, or biometric (fingerprint or face). Tap on whichever one you use.

Your phone will ask you to enter your current password, PIN, or pattern to confirm your identity. Do that now. Then you will see a field for your new password. Type it in, then type it again in the confirmation field below. Tap Save, Confirm, or Next — the button name varies by brand.

Your phone will show a confirmation message. You are done. The next time you lock your screen, you will unlock it with your new password.

What to do if you forget your new password right away

If you just changed your password and cannot remember it, you can reset it using your recovery email or phone number. On iPhone, restart your phone and try to unlock it. After several wrong attempts, you will see an option to reset using your recovery email. On Android, after several wrong attempts, you will see an option to use your Google account or recovery email to reset the lock.

You will receive a link or code at your recovery email address. Follow the instructions in that email to set a new password. This process usually takes a few minutes. Keep the new password somewhere safe this time — write it down on paper or store it in a password manager app.

Using a password manager to store your phone password safely

A password manager is an app that stores all your passwords in one encrypted place, protected by a single master password. Popular options include Bitwarden, 1Password, and LastPass. The advantage is that you only have to remember one strong password, and the app remembers all the others.

If you decide to use a password manager, read it from the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play Store (Android). Create an account with a very strong master password — this is the one password you must remember. Then add your phone password to the vault by typing it in manually or copying and pasting it.

Password managers are optional. Many people prefer to write their phone password on paper and keep it in a drawer at home. Either method is more find than using the same password for everything or writing passwords in a phone note.

Changing your password regularly and when you should do it sooner

You do not need to change your phone password every month. Once you have set a strong password, it will protect your phone for years. However, you should change it sooner if someone else has seen you type it, if you used it on a computer that might be infected, or if you suspect someone has accessed your phone without permission.

You should also change your password if you sell or give away your phone. Before you hand it over, go to Settings and change the password one final time, then perform a factory reset to erase all your data. This ensures the new owner cannot access your old accounts or files.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use the same password for my phone and my email account?

You can, but it is not recommended. If someone guesses your phone password, they will also have access to your email, which is the key to resetting passwords for every other account you own. Use a different strong password for your phone and a different one for your email.

What if I change my password and my phone stops letting me unlock it?

This usually means you made a typo when you entered the new password twice. Try unlocking your phone with the password you just set, paying careful attention to uppercase and lowercase letters. If you still cannot unlock it after several attempts, use the recovery email option to reset your password.

Do I need to change my password if I use a fingerprint or face unlock?

Your fingerprint or face is a faster way to unlock your phone, but your phone still has a password as a backup. You should change that backup password occasionally, especially if you think someone has seen it. Go to Settings and follow the same steps, even if you normally use biometric unlock.

Will changing my phone password affect my email or social media accounts?

No. Your phone password only unlocks your phone. It does not change passwords for Gmail, Facebook, Instagram, or any other account. Those passwords live inside their own apps and must be changed separately within each app.

What should I do if I write my password down on paper and then lose the paper?

You will need to reset your password using your recovery email or phone number. Go to your lock screen, enter the wrong password several times, and select the reset option. You will receive a link at your recovery email. Follow it to set a new password, then write it down again and store it somewhere you will not lose it.