# Change your password

## Change your password

Changing your password is an account-maintenance task on the authenticated Settings page.
Use it when you need to replace the password for your signed-in account.

| If you need to… | Go to |
| --- | --- |
| Open the page that contains **New Password** | [Open Your Settings](#open-your-settings) |
| Check the password field and its rules | [Understand the password field](#understand-the-password-field) |
| Save a replacement password | [Save a new password](#save-a-new-password) |
| Work with the other profile fields | [Update settings](doc:update-settings) |
| Sign out | [Sign out](doc:sign-out) |

## Before you start

**Prerequisites**

- You are signed in. The Settings route is protected by authentication.
- You have the new password ready before you begin.
- You are working with the current user's Settings page.

## Open Your Settings

Your Settings is the account page where you edit the signed-in user's profile details and
password.

**Prerequisites**

- You are signed in.

**Steps**

1. Open the Settings page from your account navigation.

**Result:** Your Settings is open and contains the **New Password** field.

## Understand the password field

**New Password** is a password input for replacing the password used to sign in.

| What you see | What to do |
| --- | --- |
| **New Password** | Enter the replacement password here. |
| A password input | Type the value without displaying it as ordinary text. |
| **Update Settings** | Submit the Settings form after entering the replacement password. |

The password field has a required rule. The page does not show a visible required marker next
to the field, and it does not declare a password format, length, or confirmation rule.
The form fields are disabled while the update is being submitted.

## Save a new password

Changing the password updates the signed-in user's Settings form through **Update Settings**.

**Prerequisites**

- Your Settings page is open.
- You know the replacement password.

**Steps**

1. Select **New Password**.
2. Enter the replacement password.
3. Select **Update Settings**.

When the password field is empty, the update removes the password from the submitted data.
Enter a replacement value when your task is to change the password.

**Result:** After a successful update, your new password is saved.

## Handle an empty or valid password

The password field gives you two ways to leave the Settings form: submit it with **New Password**
empty, or enter a replacement value before selecting **Update Settings**.

**Prerequisites**

- Your Settings page is open.
- You know whether you are preserving the current password or replacing it.

**Steps**

1. Choose the path that matches your task:

   | If you need to… | Do this |
   | --- | --- |
   | Keep the current password | Leave **New Password** empty, then select **Update Settings**. |
   | Replace the current password | Enter a value in **New Password**, then select **Update Settings**. |

**Result:** The Settings update has been submitted through the path you selected.

## When the password change goes wrong

The Settings page displays errors in a list. Each item combines an error key and
its message.

**Prerequisites**

- You have submitted the Settings form.

**Steps**

1. Read the error key and its message in the error list.
2. Select **New Password**.
3. Enter a corrected value.
4. Select **Update Settings** to retry the update.

**Result:** The corrected password update is submitted again.

For application-wide error guidance, see [General error messages](doc:general-error-messages).

## Know what to do next

After a successful Settings update, the application navigates to the returned user's profile.
Continue with [View a profile](doc:view-a-profile) there.

If you need to edit **URL of profile picture**, **Username**, **Short bio about you**, or **Email**,
use [Update settings](doc:update-settings). If you need to leave the account, use [Sign out](doc:sign-out).