You cannot find a password that was never written down

If you are looking for a password to a computer running Windows, the answer depends on whether you set that password yourself or inherited the machine from someone else. Windows does not store passwords in a place you can read — it stores only a mathematical fingerprint of the password. This means there is no "password for the computer" sitting in a file you can open. What you can do is reset the password if you have administrator access, or recover access if you have forgotten your own password.

The method you use depends on which version of Windows you have, whether you remember any password at all, and whether the computer is connected to the internet. The fastest path for most people is the password reset disk or a Microsoft account recovery, both of which take 10 to 20 minutes if you have the right information on hand.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows stores only a fingerprint of your password, not the password itself, so you cannot retrieve a password you have forgotten.
  • If you have administrator access to the computer, you can reset the password using Settings, a password reset disk, or a Microsoft account recovery email.
  • If you do not have administrator access and no recovery method is set up, you will need to reinstall Windows, which erases all files on the drive.
  • The fastest recovery method is usually a Microsoft account password reset sent to your backup email or phone number.
  • A password reset disk created before you forgot the password can restore access in minutes without erasing anything.

Reset your password through Windows Settings

If you can still log in to the computer but want to change your password, or if you have another administrator account on the machine, the Settings app is the simplest route. Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "Settings," then select the app from the results. Go to Accounts in the left sidebar, then select Sign-in options.

Under the "Password" section, click Change. Windows will ask you to enter your current password first. If you do not remember it, this method will not work — move to the next section instead. If you do remember it, enter the current password, then create a new one. Windows will ask you to enter the new password twice to make sure you typed it correctly. Write down the new password somewhere safe before you close Settings.

Use a password reset disk if you created one before

If you created a password reset disk when you first set up the computer, you can use it to regain access without losing any files. Insert the USB drive or other media into the computer. At the Windows login screen, click Reset password below the password field. Windows will walk you through a wizard that reads the reset disk and lets you create a new password.

If you do not see a "Reset password" option on the login screen, you did not create a reset disk, or it was created on a different computer. In that case, move to the Microsoft account recovery method below. If you have access to another administrator account on this computer, you can create a reset disk now for future use: open Settings, go to Accounts > Sign-in options, scroll down to "Password reset disk," and follow the prompts.

Recover access through your Microsoft account

If your computer is connected to the internet and you set up a Microsoft account (rather than a local account), you can reset your password from another device. Go to account.microsoft.com on any computer or phone. Click Sign in, then click Can't access your account? at the bottom of the login box.

Microsoft will ask you to enter your email address or phone number. Select the recovery method you set up — usually a backup email address or a phone number where you can receive a code. Microsoft will send you a link or code. Follow the instructions to create a new password, then use that password on the locked computer. This method works even if you have not used the computer in months, as long as the account is still connected to the internet.

What to do if you have no recovery method set up

If you do not have a password reset disk, cannot access a Microsoft account recovery email, and have no other administrator account on the computer, you will need to reinstall Windows. This erases all files on the drive, so it should be your last option. You will need another computer to create a Windows installation USB drive, which takes about 30 minutes.

Go to microsoft.com/software-read/windows on another computer. read the Windows Media Creation Tool, insert a blank USB drive, and follow the tool's prompts to create a bootable installation drive. Insert that drive into the locked computer, restart it, and boot from the USB drive (usually by pressing F12, F2, or Delete during startup — the key varies by computer). Follow the Windows installation wizard, select the drive to erase, and let Windows reinstall. You will then set up a new password during the initial setup.

Prevent this problem in the future

Once you have regained access, take 10 minutes to set up recovery options so you never face this problem again. Open Settings, go to Accounts > Sign-in options, and scroll down to see your recovery options. Add a backup email address and a phone number to your Microsoft account. If you use a local account instead of a Microsoft account, create a password reset disk now: go to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options, scroll to "Password reset disk," and follow the prompts.

Write your password in a find place — a locked drawer, a password manager like Bitwarden or 1Password, or a physical notebook kept somewhere safe. Do not write it on a sticky note on your monitor. If you share the computer with others, each person should have their own account with their own password, rather than sharing one login.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I see what password someone else used on this computer?

No. Windows stores only a mathematical fingerprint of the password, not the password itself. Even the person who set the password cannot retrieve it — they can only reset it to something new. If someone else set up the computer and you need access, ask them to reset the password for you, or use the Microsoft account recovery method if you have access to their backup email.

What if I remember part of my password but not all of it?

Windows does not have a "hint" system that shows you what you typed. You will need to use one of the reset methods above. If you have a password manager installed on the computer, it may have saved your password — try logging into the password manager with your master password instead.

Will resetting my password delete my files?

No. Resetting your password through Settings, a reset disk, or Microsoft account recovery does not delete anything. Only a full Windows reinstallation erases files, and that is only necessary if you have no recovery method set up at all.

How do I know if I have a local account or a Microsoft account?

Open Settings and go to Accounts. At the top, you will see either your email address (Microsoft account) or a name like "User" (local account). If you see an email address, you can use the Microsoft account recovery method. If you see a name only, you will need a password reset disk or another administrator account.

Can I reset the password on someone else's computer?

Only if you have administrator access to that computer or access to the Microsoft account recovery email. If you do not have either, you cannot reset the password — the person who set it up must do it themselves, or they must use their own recovery method.