The password of your Windows 10/11 computer acts as keys to the kingdom. Without it, the computer is as good as a brick. If you have forgotten the password of your Windows PC, you can’t move past the login screen. But there are a few ways to reset the Windows password from the locked or login screen itself irrespective of whether you are using local or Microsoft account.
Let’s begin.
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Reset Password Using Microsoft Account
The passwords of your Windows 10/11 computer and your Microsoft account are different. If your Windows PC is using a Microsoft account, not a local account, then you can reset your Windows PC’s password from the login screen using this method. For local accounts, skip to the next section.
1. On the login screen, click on I forgot my PIN or I forgot my password option. You should see it right below your profile pic where you enter your password or pin usually.
2. It will take a few moments after which you will be redirected to the Microsoft account sign-in screen. Here, you need to enter your Microsoft account password. Again, it is not the same as your Windows password. This is the password that you use to sign in to OneDrive.com and Microsoft.com. If you are using a password manager like Dashlane or Chrome, you can use the mobile app to find the password.
3. You will need to verify using 2FA if you have it enabled. We recommend that you use 2FA on all accounts everywhere.
4. You will now see a generic warning. Basically, it says that you may have to sign back into some apps, especially Microsoft apps like Office, and data managed by an organization could be lost. If you are using a personal computer and have backup enabled, no worries. If you are part of an organization, contact your administrator instead. Click on Continue.
5. Now follow the on-screen steps to reset and create a new password and then use the same to sign in to your Windows 10/11 computer.
Note 1: Here is a simple guide to taking a backup of all data, settings, and apps to OneDrive within minutes. Please do it if you haven’t done so yet to avoid future issues like loss of data and app due to log in, system failure, hacks, theft, or something else.
Note 2: You can also reset your Microsoft account password in step 2 above. You can also open a browser on your smartphone or another computer to reset your Microsoft account. Simply open Microsoft.com and on the sign-in page, click on Forgot password and follow the steps. You will receive a verification link on your registered email id.
Note 3: You will be asked to answer some security questions that you set at the time of creating your Microsoft account. Each question will also contain some hint that was selected by you alone.
Reset Local Account Password
If you are using a local Microsoft account, then the steps would be slightly different.
Microsoft says that you should enter the wrong password to get to the Reset password screen. Then answer the security questions and you should be able to reset the password.
Note: If you are working in a company, contact your administrator as you may not see the option to reset password.
Reset Microsoft Account Password
We discussed how you can change the login password of your Windows 10 and 11 computers using your Microsoft account. But you can also change the Microsoft account’s password if you have forgotten that.
1. Go to Microsoft.com and click on the Sign in button.
2. Enter the email id or phone number registered with the Microsoft account and press Enter.
3. Click on Forgot password? button below.
4. Type the 2FA code in case you have enabled it. We recommend that you do.
5. Select the Microsoft account (email id or mobile number) for which you want to reset the password.
6. Now click on Get code and you should receive a verification code on your email address or mobile number. Enter the code and then reset the password.
Resetting Windows 10/11 Password
This is the benefit of using a centralized operating system where, unlike Linux, all your data and related credentials are saved securely on a server in encrypted form. You just need to answer some questions and remember some details like email id and mobile number, usually, we all remember that, to reset the Windows sign-in password.
Want to remove Microsoft account from Windows 10 and use a local account? Learn how right now.
