How to Reset a Forgotten Password in Windows 10 or Windows 11 (2024)

If you forgot the password to your Windows PC, don't panic. Windows 10 and Windows 11 both allow you to reset a forgotten password, whether you use a Microsoft Account or a local account. All you have to do is answer your security questions to reset the password. Another option is to create a password reset disk, which you can do on any USB stick.

Beyond using a password, you should enable a backup authentication method for signing into Windows. Windows lets you set up a PIN, a picture password, a security key, fingerprint recognition, or facial recognition. And if you use a Microsoft Account, you can also implementtwo-step verification(Opens in a new window). But you still need to know your password in certain situations.

No matter how responsible you are, there may come a time when you get locked out of Windows because you can’t remember your password. Here is how to reset your password and sign in again.

Recover a Microsoft Account

If you are using a Microsoft Account and can’t remember your password, clickI forgot my passwordat theWindows login screen. You must then confirm your email address and choose how you wish to receive your verification code.

ClickGet code, then check your email or text messages for the code.

Enter the code in the appropriate field and click Next. You can then create a new password for your Microsoft Account. Click Next when finished, and Windows will then confirm that the password has been changed.

Click the Sign in button, then return to the sign-in screen. You can now enter your new password and sign into Windows like you did with your old password.

Recover a Microsoft Account Online

If you bump into any trouble attempting to reset your password directly in Windows, you can try resetting it online. You can open theMicrosoft Account website(Opens in a new window)on a different device and click the Sign in button. Click the Forgot password link from the screen where you enter the password.

At the next screen, enter or confirm an alternative email address through which you can reset your password. Click the button for Get code. Enter the code sent to your alternative email address and then create a new password.

If you do not have an alternative email address, you may still be able to recover your account by creating one and then responding to a series of account recovery screens. At the window asking to verify your identity, click the I don’t have any of these link.

The next screen asks you to confirm the email address for the account you are trying to recover. You are then prompted to enter an alternative email address. If you do not have one, click the create a new one with Outlook.com link under the Where should we contact you? header.

Scroll to the bottom of the resulting Microsoft account page and click the Create an account link, then follow the steps to create a new account. You may be asked to respond to a CAPTCHA check.

Return to the account recovery page and type the address for the new account you just created. Click Next, then sign into your alternative email address and find the code that has been sent to your inbox. Enter it into recovery page to confirm to Microsoft that you own this Microsoft account.

The next screen asks for your contact information. Enter your name, date of birth, and the other requested details, then click Next.

You are then asked to enter your previous passwords and history with Microsoft products. Fill in as much information as you can, then click Next.

The next screen asks for the email addresses of any contacts you recently wrote to as well as subject lines you may have used in emails. Fill in the information and click Next.

If you have not provided enough details, you will receive a notice asking you to add more information.

If the information is sufficient, you should receive a notice indicating that an email will be sent to your alternative address to recover your account. Click OK and check for an email from Microsoft.

Click the included link to reset your password. You will need to enter the email address for the account with the forgotten password, then click Next.

Type and then retype a new password, then click Next. You will then receive a notice that your password has been changed. You can then click the Sign in button to sign into your account online or return to login screen on your Windows PC and sign in from there.

Recover a Local Account

Microsoft has made it increasingly difficult to use a local account with Windows (andespecially Windows 11). If you manage to set up this type of account, you are required to create security questions and answers during the setup process. These are essential to recovering your account in the future.

You can change your security questions at any time. In Windows 10, open Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options and click the Update your security questions link.

Enter the password for your local account, choose your security questions, type the answers, and click Finish.

Windows 11 has no visible option for updating your security questions. However, there is an unofficial workaround using a manual command. Press theWin key + R.

In the Open field of the Run dialog box, enter the following command:ms-cxh://setsqsalocalonly.

Click OK, then enter the password for your local account. You can then update your three security questions and enter the answer for each. When done, click Finish.

Now let’s say you forget the password for your local account. From the Windows sign-in screen, click the arrow next to the password field or press the Enter key.

Windows will tell you that the password is incorrect. Click OK and then select the Reset password option that appears.

Windows will display the three security questions that you previously set up. Enter the answer for each one, then click the arrow next to the last answer or press Enter to submit your response to the prompt.

Windows will then allow you to create a new password. You must then enter the new password in twice, then press Enter to change it and gain access to Windows again.

Recover a Local Account With a Password Reset Disk

Another way to recover the password for your local account is through a password reset disk. This is an option that needs to be set up beforehand, but it only requires a USB stick. To set this up, sign into Windows with your local account and plug a USB stick into your computer.

Launch Control Panel in icon view, then click the User Accounts applet. Click the Create a password reset disk link to open the Forgotten Password Wizard menu and click Next.

Confirm the USB drive you wish to use, then click Next. You can then enter the password for your local account and click Next.

You can then enter the password for your local account and click Next. The wizard will tell you when the process has completed; you can then click Next and then Finish to finalize the creation of your password reset disk.

Now, if you ever forget your Windows password and don't remember the answers to your security questions, you can turn to your USB stick with the password reset disk.

Plug in the drive, press Enter at the Windows password prompt, and click the Reset password link.

Instead of answering your security questions at the next screen, click the Use a password reset disk instead link at the bottom to open the Password Reset Wizard.

You then click Next, confirm that the USB stick is connected, and then click Next again. You then need to enter a new password twice, and add a hint that will help you remember it in the future.

When finished, click Next. You can then click Cancel at the security questions screen and go back to the sign-in screen. From here, you can now log in with your new password.