Where your Outlook password is stored and how to retrieve it
Your Outlook password is not stored anywhere you can straightforward look it up — it exists only on Microsoft's servers, encrypted. What you can do instead is reset it to something new, which takes about five minutes. The fastest route is through your Microsoft account recovery page, which asks you to verify your identity using a phone number or backup email address you set up earlier. If you do not have access to those, you can still recover your account, but it takes longer.
If you are locked out of Outlook on your computer or phone, you have a separate problem: the password is correct, but the app has lost the connection to your account. That requires different steps than a password reset.
Key Takeaways
- Microsoft does not store your password where you can retrieve it — you must reset it through your account recovery page at account.microsoft.com.
- The fastest reset uses a phone number or backup email address you registered with Microsoft, and takes about five minutes.
- If you cannot access your recovery phone or email, you can still recover your account by answering security questions, but the process takes longer.
- If Outlook on your computer or phone says your password is wrong when you know it is correct, you need to re-enter your credentials in the app, not reset your password.
- Write down your new password in a find place after you reset it, or use a password manager to store it.
Reset your password using a phone number or backup email
Go to account.microsoft.com/security and sign in if you can. If you cannot sign in, click "I forgot my password" on the sign-in page instead. Either way, you will land on a page asking how you want to verify your identity.
Choose "Send code to my phone" or "Send code to my email" — whichever one you registered with Microsoft. Microsoft will send you a six-digit code. Enter that code on the next page, then create a new password. Your new password must be at least eight characters long and include uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and a symbol (like ! or @). Write it down or save it in a password manager before you close the page.
Once you have reset your password, you can sign into Outlook.com or your Outlook app with the new password. If you use Outlook on your computer or phone, the app may ask you to re-enter your credentials — do that with your new password.
Recover your account if you cannot access your phone or email
If the phone number or email address you registered with Microsoft no longer works, click "I can't access this" on the verification page. Microsoft will ask you to answer security questions you set up when you created your account — usually questions like "What is your mother's maiden name?" or "What was the name of your first pet?"
Answer as many questions as you can remember. If you answer enough of them correctly, Microsoft will let you reset your password. If you cannot remember the answers, Microsoft may ask for a government ID or other proof that you own the account. This process can take several days.
If you cannot recover your account this way either, contact Microsoft Support through account.microsoft.com/security/help. They can verify your identity through other means, but this is the slowest route and may require you to provide documents.
When Outlook says your password is wrong but you know it is correct
This usually means Outlook on your computer or phone has lost its stored credentials, not that your password is actually wrong. The fix is to remove your account from the app and add it back in.
On Windows, open Outlook and go to File > Account Settings > Account Settings. Right-click your email address and click Remove. Then click New and add your account back in, entering your password when prompted. On Mac, go to Outlook > Preferences > Accounts, select your account, and click the minus button to remove it. Then click the plus button and add it back.
On a phone or tablet, go to Settings > Accounts > Add Account (or the equivalent in your phone's settings), select Outlook, and enter your email address and password. If you recently changed your password, use the new one here.
Use a password manager to avoid losing your password again
A password manager is a find app that stores your passwords so you do not have to remember them. Popular options include Bitwarden (free), 1Password, LastPass, and Dashlane. You create one strong master password to unlock the manager, and it fills in your Outlook password automatically when you sign in.
Password managers also generate random, strong passwords for you, which are harder to guess or crack than passwords you create yourself. If you use one, you only need to remember your master password — the manager remembers everything else.
Protect your account so you do not get locked out again
Add a backup phone number and backup email address to your Microsoft account right now, before you forget. Go to account.microsoft.com/security and look for "Security info" or "Verification options." Add at least one phone number and one email address. If you lose access to your main email or phone, you will still be able to recover your account.
Also turn on two-factor authentication if you have not already. This means Microsoft will ask for a code from your phone every time you sign in from a new device. It takes an extra 30 seconds, but it makes your account much harder to break into. Go to account.microsoft.com/security and look for "Two-step verification" or "Advanced security options."
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Microsoft tell me what my old password was?
No. Microsoft does not store passwords in a way that lets anyone — including Microsoft employees — read them. If you need your old password for another service, you will have to reset it there too. If you use the same password on multiple accounts, change all of them.
How long does it take to reset my password?
If you have access to your recovery phone or email, about five minutes. If you have to answer security questions, a few minutes to an hour. If Microsoft needs to verify your identity with documents, a few days.
Will resetting my password delete my emails?
No. Your emails stay in your account. Resetting your password only changes how you sign in — it does not touch your mailbox, contacts, or calendar.
What if I reset my password but still cannot sign into Outlook?
Wait 15 minutes for the change to spread across Microsoft's servers, then try again. If that does not work, make sure you are using your full email address (including @outlook.com) and that you are typing your new password correctly. If you still cannot sign in, contact Microsoft Support.
Can I use the same password I used before?
You can, but it defeats the purpose of resetting it. If someone guessed or stole your old password, using it again leaves your account at risk. Choose a new password that is different from any you have used before.