You can reset a Windows password through your Microsoft account, a password reset disk, or a local account recovery method

If you have forgotten your Windows password, the path forward depends on what type of account you use and whether you set up recovery options beforehand. Microsoft accounts (those linked to an email address) are easiest to recover because Microsoft can verify your identity through email or phone. Local accounts (usernames without an email address) require either a password reset disk you created earlier or access to another administrator account on the same computer. If you have none of these, you will need to reinstall Windows.

The fastest route is usually the one you prepared for before you got locked out. If you did not prepare anything, the next fastest depends on which account type you have and what devices you can access right now.

Key Takeaways

  • Microsoft account passwords can be reset from any device by visiting account.microsoft.com and using your recovery email or phone number to prove your identity.
  • Local account passwords require a password reset disk created before you forgot the password, or access to another administrator account on the same computer.
  • If you have a password reset disk, insert it at the Windows login screen and follow the on-screen prompts to create a new password.
  • Without a recovery method in place, your only option is to reinstall Windows, which erases all files on the drive unless you back them up first.

Resetting a Microsoft account password from another device

If your Windows computer is linked to a Microsoft account (you log in with an email address), you can reset the password from any other device with internet access. Go to account.microsoft.com and click "Sign in" at the top right, then select "Can't access your account?" at the bottom of the login box.

Microsoft will ask you to enter the email address associated with your account. You will then choose a recovery method: either a code sent to your backup email address or a code sent to your phone number. Enter the code you receive, and Microsoft will let you create a new password. Once you set the new password, you can return to your Windows computer and log in with it.

This method works even if you have never set up a recovery email or phone number before, as long as you can remember the email address you used to create the account. Microsoft will send a code to that email address instead.

Using a password reset disk on a local account

If you use a local account (a username without an email address), and you created a password reset disk before you forgot your password, you can use that disk to set a new password. Insert the disk into your computer and restart it. At the Windows login screen, click "Reset password" below the password field.

Windows will open a password reset wizard. Select the disk drive where your reset disk is located, then click "Next." Enter a new password and a password hint, then click "Finish." You can now log in with your new password.

If you did not create a password reset disk before you forgot your password, you cannot use this method. Creating a reset disk requires you to be logged in to the account already.

Logging in with another administrator account

If your computer has more than one user account and at least one other account has administrator rights, you can use that account to reset the forgotten password. Log in to the other administrator account, then open Settings and go to Accounts > Other people. Find the account with the forgotten password and click it, then select "Reset password."

Windows will ask you to create a new password for that account. You do not need to know the old password. Once you set the new one, the account owner can log in with it on the login screen.

This method only works if you have physical access to the computer and can log in to another administrator account. If every account on the computer is password-protected and you cannot access any of them, you will need to use a different method.

Resetting a local account password from the login screen

Windows 10 and later allow you to reset a local account password directly from the login screen if you set up security questions when you created the account. At the login screen, click "I forgot my password" below the password field. Windows will ask you to answer the three security questions you chose during setup.

If you answer the questions correctly, Windows will let you create a new password right there. This method is faster than other options but only works if you remember the answers to your security questions and set them up before you forgot your password.

Reinstalling Windows as a last resort

If you have no password reset disk, no other administrator account, no recovery email or phone linked to your Microsoft account, and you do not remember your security questions, reinstalling Windows is your only option. This process erases everything on your hard drive unless you back it up first.

To reinstall Windows, you will need another computer to create installation media on a USB drive or DVD. Go to microsoft.com/software-download/windows and download the Windows installation tool, then follow the on-screen steps to create the media. Insert the media into your locked computer, restart it, and boot from the USB drive or DVD. Follow the Windows installation wizard and choose to do a clean install. When prompted, select the drive where Windows is currently installed and allow the installer to format it.

After Windows reinstalls, you will have a new user account with no password. You can then set a password and recover any files you backed up before the reinstall.

Creating a password reset disk before you need one

If you use a local account, you can create a password reset disk now so you have it if you forget your password later. Open Settings and go to Accounts > Sign-in options. Scroll down and click "Password reset disk" under the "Recovery" section. Insert a USB drive or blank disk and follow the wizard to create the reset disk. Store it somewhere safe but accessible.

For Microsoft accounts, the best preparation is to make sure your recovery email and phone number are current. Go to account.microsoft.com, sign in, and click "Security" on the left. Under "Security info," add or update your recovery email and phone number. Microsoft will use these to verify your identity if you forget your password.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I reset my password if I do not remember my security questions?

No, if you set up security questions for a local account and cannot remember the answers, you cannot use that method to reset your password. You will need a password reset disk, another administrator account, or you will need to reinstall Windows.

Will resetting my password delete my files?

No. Resetting your password through any method except reinstalling Windows will not delete any of your files, programs, or settings. Only a clean Windows reinstall erases the drive.

What if I do not know which type of account I have?

At the Windows login screen, look at the username. If it shows an email address, you have a Microsoft account. If it shows only a name without an email, you have a local account. You can also check by going to Settings > Accounts > Your info when you are logged in.

Can someone else reset my password without my permission?

Only if they have physical access to your computer and can log in to another administrator account, or if they have access to your recovery email or phone number for a Microsoft account. Protect your recovery email and phone number the same way you protect your password.

How long does it take to reset a Microsoft account password?

Resetting a Microsoft account password through the web takes a few minutes once you receive the recovery code. Changes take effect immediately, and you can log in to your Windows computer with the new password right away.