Bankruptcy Update

Change Your PACER Password Now: A Guide to PACER Password Requirement Updates

Marco Varela

Marco Varela

Marco Varela

Jun 25 20268 minute read

Beginning August 17, 2026, PACER will begin randomly selecting accounts to enforce its new password requirement updates, and all PACER users must change their passwords every 180 days.

If your password has not changed in the last 18 months, your account could be selected, and accounts that remain out of compliance will eventually lose access to the system. We recommend changing your password before enforcement begins.

This guide will walk you through how to change your PACER password in alignment with PACER’s new password requirements and how to update your PACER password in the BankruptcyWatch platform to prevent any lapses in your automated bankruptcy operations. Follow along with the videos OR the written steps below.

Before you begin, make sure you have the following on hand:

  • Your current PACER username and password
  • Your authentication app, if you have multi-factor authentication (MFA) enabled

Step 1: Log in to PACER

Navigate to the account management page.

Select “Log in to Manage My Account,” and enter your PACER username and password to sign in to your PACER account.

If you have Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) enabled, enter the one-time passcode from your authentication.*

*If MFA is not enabled on your PACER account, skip this step.

Step 2: Change your PACER password

Once you log in to the Manage My Account section in PACER, select “Change Password.”

For security purposes, re-enter your current password.

Enter your new PACER password, ensuring it meets the following requirements:

  • 14-45 characters in length
  • At least one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, and one special character
  • Must not contain any part of your first name, last name, username, or email address

*For security purposes, we recommend creating a unique password that you haven't used on any other website or application.

Select "Submit" to save your new password. 

*A pop-up message will confirm that your password change was saved successfully.

Step 3: Update your PACER password in the BankruptcyWatch platform

After changing your PACER password, you'll need to update your saved PACER credentials in BankruptcyWatch to keep your automated bankruptcy operations running without interruption.

Before you begin, make sure you have the following on hand:

  • Your BankruptcyWatch username and password
  • Your PACER username and new PACER password

Go to the BankruptcyWatch sign-in page and enter your BankruptcyWatch username and password.

Select the navigation menu (☰) in the top-left corner of the screen, and then select “PACER Accounts” to navigate to the PACER accounts page.

Locate the PACER account you would like to update. Select the three-dot menu next to it, and then select “Update Password.”

A pop-up will prompt you to enter your updated PACER password; enter your new PACER password.

Select “Update” to save your new password.

*A pop-up message will confirm that your password change was saved successfully.

Updating your PACER credentials in BankruptcyWatch does not change your actual PACER password. It only updates the credentials BankruptcyWatch uses to access PACER on your behalf.

Be sure to enter your new PACER password exactly as it was created in PACER to avoid interruptions to your automated bankruptcy operations.

You're All Set!

You've successfully changed your PACER password and updated your new PACER credentials in BankruptcyWatch.

Remember, PACER now requires all users to update their password every 180 days. Each time you change your PACER password, you'll also need to update your saved credentials in BankruptcyWatch.

If you find yourself unable to update your PACER password in the BankruptcyWatch platform after you have already changed it in PACER, please don’t hesitate to reach out for immediate assistance.