Change or reset your Windows password (2024)

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Windows 11 Windows 10 More...Less

If you forgot or lost your password for your Windows device, you can change or reset it. To get started, choose your version of Windows from the tabs below.

Microsoft takes security seriously.Microsoft accounts, the Windows operating system, and the other Microsoft products include passwords to help secure your information. This article provides some options that you can use to reset or recover your password if you forget it. Be aware that, if these options don’t work, Microsoft support engineers can't help you retrieve or circumvent a lost or forgotten password.

Windows 11Windows 10

If you already know your current password and want to change it

Select Start > Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options . Under Password , select Change and follow the directions.

Reset your Windows 11 local account password

If you’ve forgotten or lost your Windows 11 password for a local account and need to sign back into your device, the below options might help you get up and running. For more information on local standard vs. administrative accounts, see Create a local user or administrator account in Windows.

Windows 11

If you have added security questions when you set up your local account for Windows 11, then you can answer security questions to sign back in.

After you've entered an incorrect password:

  1. Select the Reset password link on the sign-in screen. If you use a PIN instead, see PIN sign-in issues. If you are using a work device that is on a network, you may not see an option to reset your password or PIN. In that case, contact your administrator.

    Note:Ifyou don't see security questions after youselectthe Reset password link, make sure yourdevice name isn't the same as your local user account name (the name you see when you sign in). To see your device name, right-clickStart , select System, and scroll to the Device specifications section.If the device name is the same asyour account name, you can create a new administrator account, sign in as an administrator, and then rename your PC(when you view your device name, you can also rename it).

  2. Answer your security questions.

  3. Enter a new password.

  4. Sign in as usual with a new password.

Reset your Microsoft account password you use to sign in to your computer

On the sign-in screen, type your Microsoft account name if it's not already displayed. If there are multiple accounts on the computer, choose the one you want to reset. selectI forgot my password linklocated below the password text box.Follow the steps to reset your password.

For more information, seeReset a forgotten Microsoft account password.

Troubleshoot problems signing in

If you are still having trouble signing to your account, see more solutions in Troubleshoot problems signing in.

If you already know your current password and want to change it

Select Start> Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options . Under Password, select the Change button and follow the steps.

Reset your Windows 10 local account password

If you’ve forgotten or lost your Windows 10 password for a local account and need to sign back in to your device, the below options might help you get up and running. For more info on local standard vs. administrative accounts, see Create a local user or administrator account in Windows 10.

Windows 10version 1803 and later

If you have added security questions when you set up your local account for Windows 10, thenyou have the version 1803at least and you can answer security questions to sign back in.

After you've entered an incorrect password:

  1. Select the Reset password link on the sign-in screen. If you use a PIN instead, see PIN sign-in issues. If you are using a work device that is on a network, you may not see an option to reset your password or PIN. In that case, contact your administrator.

    Note:Ifyou don't see security questions after youselectthe Reset password link, make sure yourdevice name isn't the same as your local user account name (the name you see when you sign in). To see your device name, right-clickStart in the taskbar, select System, and scroll to the Device specifications section.If the device name is the same asyour account name, you can create a new administrator account, sign in as an administrator, and then rename your PC(when you view your device name, you can also rename it).

  2. Answer your security questions.

  3. Enter a new password.

  4. Sign in as usual with the new password.

Windows 10before version 1803

For versions of Windows 10 earlier than 1803, local account passwords can't be reset because there are no security questions. You can reset your device to choose a new password, however this option will permanently delete your data, programs, and settings. If you have backed up your files, you will be able to restore your deleted files. For more information, see Recovery options in Windows 10.
To reset your device, which will delete data, programs, and settings:

  1. Press the Shift key while you select the Power button > Restart in the lower-right corner of the screen.

  2. On the Choose an option screen, select Troubleshoot > Reset this PC.

  3. Select Remove everything.

Warning:Resetting your device will permanently delete data, programs, and settings.

Reset your Microsoft account password you use to sign in to your computer

On the sign-in screen, type your Microsoft account name if it's not already displayed. If there are multiple accounts on the computer, choose the one you want to reset. SelectI forgot my password linklocated below the password text box.Follow the steps to reset your password.

For more information, seeReset a forgotten Microsoft account password.

Troubleshoot problems signing in

If you're still having trouble signing to your account, see more solutions in Troubleshoot problems signing in.

Related articles

Reset a forgotten Microsoft account password

Change your Microsoft account password

Reset your Windows local account password

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