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Access your Windows 10 PC again without wiping your data
Forgot your login password on your Windows 10 device? Don’t worry—strong passwords can be easy to forget. Rather than panic, follow this straightforward guide to regain access to your Microsoft or local account without any hassle.
Access Your Windows 10 PC Fast—No Password Needed
- Use any device to reset your Microsoft account password online via a browser.
- Click I forgot… on the login screen to reset your Microsoft account password.
- For local accounts, reset by answering your three security questions or using a password reset disk.
Instructions
Resetting via Microsoft Account
Visit https://account.live.com/password/reset. Since you're locked out of your PC, open this link on your phone or tablet's browser.
- Use this method if your computer sign-in is linked to a Microsoft account. Changing your password here lets you log back in with the new one.
- Alternatively, click Forgot my PIN or I forgot my password from the login screen.
Type the username for the account you're trying to recover. Enter your email (any valid email used for the Microsoft account), a phone number, or your Skype ID.
- Press Next to move forward.
Select a verification option. Based on your saved recovery info, choose to receive a verification code by email or SMS.
- Pick your method, then hit Get code.
Input the verification code you received. You’ll get a 6-digit code via the method you selected.
- If the code doesn’t arrive, click Use a different verification option.
- Then click Next to proceed.
Create your new password. Make sure it's at least 8 characters long and remember that passwords are case-sensitive—“John01” isn’t the same as “john01.”
- Confirm your new password by entering it again. If they don’t match, you’ll get an error message.
- Click Next to move on.
Log in. When you see the "Security info updated" screen, your new password is active. Use it to sign into your Windows 10 PC.
Resetting Through a Local Account
Attempt to sign in. After one incorrect password attempt, you’ll get extra login options.
- This approach is for those using local accounts instead of Microsoft ones.
Click Reset Password. If you don’t see this right away, click Ok first.
Respond to your security questions. When setting up your local account, you were prompted to choose and answer three questions.
- If one answer is incorrect, you won’t be told which—so you’ll need to try all three again.
- If you’ve got a password reset disk, click Use a password disk instead and follow the prompts.
Create a new password. After correctly answering your security questions, you’ll be able to set a new password and sign into your Windows 10 device.
