How to Change Your Password on Chromebook

This article explains how to change your Chromebook password, which means changing your Google password, since your Chromebook password and Google password are the same. You can change your password from your Chromebook or from any device that's logged in to your Google account.

How to Change a Chromebook Password

Your Chromebook password and your Google password are the same. You change these passwords the same way because you use a single password for all your Google-connected services and devices.

Since your Chromebook password is your Google password, you can change it on any device and from any web browser, so long as you're signed in to Google.

Here's how to change your Chromebook password using your Chromebook:

1. Open Chrome.

   If you set Chrome to open a custom website on launch, manually navigate to Google.com.

2. Select your profile picture in the upper-right corner.

3. Select Manage your Google Account.

4. Go to the left pane and select Security.

5. Scroll down to the Signing in to Google section.

6. Select Password.

7. Enter your current password, then select Next.

8. If prompted, enter your two-factor authentication code.

9. Enter a new password, confirm the new password, then select Change Password.

Change Your Chromebook Password Without Your Chromebook

Your Chromebook password and Google password are the same. So, changing your Google password with a device other than your Chromebook changes your Chromebook password, which can have some unintended consequences.

When you use your Chromebook to change your password, the Chromebook automatically syncs with your Google account. The new password becomes active immediately. So, when you shut down the Chromebook and boot it back up, the new password will work.

Potential Issues

However, suppose your Chromebook is off, and you change your Google account password with another device. In that case, you might need to enter your old password to log in to your Chromebook. After you log in, the Chromebook syncs with your Google account, and the new password becomes active.

If you changed your password because you forgot your old password, you can't log in. When you can't remember or find your old password, the only way to continue using your Chromebook may be to powerwash it and return it to its original factory settings.

Turn on Two-Factor Authentication and Save Your Backup Codes

Two-factor authentication is a security feature that prevents anyone from logging in to your Chromebook or Google account without your permission. Regularly changing your password is one way to stay safe. Enabling two-factor authentication locks your account down tight.

Two-Step Verification for Better Security

Google's two-factor authentication is called 2-step verification. When you turn it on, you provide your phone number. Google sends you a text message with a code each time you log in to your Google account on a new device. If someone tries to log in without the code, they won't be given access to your account.

In addition to the text message type of 2-step verification, Google also allows you to set up a prompt on your phone to verify new sign in attempts. You can also use the Google authentication app if you prefer.

1. Open Chrome.

2. Select your profile picture in the upper-right corner.

3. Select Manage your Google Account.

4. Select Security.

5. Scroll down to the Signing in to Google section.

6. Select 2-Step Verification.

7. Scroll down and select Get Started.

8. Enter your password, then select Next.

9. Select the device to receive security prompts from Google. Or, choose another option and set up a Security Key or get a Text message or voice call.

10. Select Yes from the device you selected.

11. Add a backup option by either entering a cellphone number or selecting Use Another Backup Option to use a backup code.

12. If you chose to have a prompt sent to your cellphone, enter the code, then select Next.

13. Select Turn On to complete the process.

If you enable backup codes, it's crucial to write down or print the codes. These are codes you can use to bypass the text message system if you lose access to your phone, so keeping these codes in a secure location is vital.

Backup codes are especially important if you use Project Fi as your cell provider. Project Fi phones don't work until you login with your Google account. So, you can't log in and set up a replacement phone if your old phone is lost or broken, and you don't have backup codes to get around the 2-factor verification process.