What you can do when you forget your Windows password

If you cannot remember your Windows password, you have three realistic paths: use a password reset disk if you made one before you forgot the password, reset it through your Microsoft account if Windows is connected to the internet, or create a new local administrator account from the Windows login screen. The fastest route depends on which one you set up ahead of time.

Windows does not store your password anywhere you can retrieve it — it stores only a mathematical fingerprint of it. This means nobody, including Microsoft support, can tell you what your password was. You can only reset it to something new.

Key Takeaways

  • A password reset disk, created before you forgot your password, is the fastest recovery method and works without internet.
  • If your computer is connected to a Microsoft account and has internet access, you can reset your password through the login screen without any disk or backup.
  • You can create a new local administrator account from the Windows login screen even without knowing the old password, though this takes longer.
  • Windows 10 and Windows 11 have slightly different reset screens, so the exact buttons you click will vary by your version.
  • Once you regain access, create a password reset disk when ready so you never face this problem again.

Using a password reset disk you created earlier

A password reset disk is a USB drive or floppy disk you create while you still know your password. It contains a key that lets you set a new password without knowing the old one. If you made one before you forgot your password, this is your fastest option.

Insert the disk into your computer. On the Windows login screen, click Reset password (the exact wording varies slightly by Windows version). Windows will walk you through creating a new password. You do not need to know the old password — the disk proves you own the account.

If you never created a reset disk, move to the next section. If you have one but cannot find it, you will need to use the Microsoft account method or create a new administrator account instead.

Resetting through your Microsoft account

If your Windows login is connected to a Microsoft account (the email address you use to sign in), you can reset your password through Microsoft's website, and Windows will accept the new password at the login screen. This works only if your computer has internet access.

On the Windows login screen, click I forgot my password or Reset password (wording differs by version). Windows will ask you to verify your identity — usually by entering a recovery email or phone number linked to your Microsoft account. Microsoft will send you a code to that email or phone.

Enter the code, then create a new password. Within a few minutes, you can use that new password to log in to Windows. This method works from the login screen itself, so you do not need to restart or use another computer.

If you do not remember the email address or phone number tied to your account, or if your computer has no internet connection, you will need to create a new administrator account instead.

Creating a new administrator account from the login screen

Windows 10 and Windows 11 both allow you to create a new local administrator account directly from the login screen, even if you cannot access your old account. This takes longer than the previous two methods but requires no disk or internet.

On the login screen, hold Shift and click the power button in the bottom right corner. Select Restart. Windows will boot into a recovery menu. Choose Troubleshoot, then Reset this PC or Advanced options (the path varies by version).

Look for Command Prompt or Windows PowerShell in the advanced options menu. Open it and type this command exactly:

net user NewAdminName NewPassword /add

Replace NewAdminName with whatever you want to call the account (for example, recovery) and NewPassword with a password you will remember. Press Enter. Windows will create the account.

Then type this command:

net localgroup administrators NewAdminName /add

Press Enter. This makes the new account an administrator so it has full control. Restart your computer and log in with the new account name and password. You now have access to your computer again.

What to do after you regain access

Once you can log in again, your first step should be to create a password reset disk so you never face this problem twice. Open the Control Panel, search for Create a password reset disk, and follow the wizard. You will need a USB drive or external drive. Keep it in a safe place.

If you created a new administrator account to regain access, you can now reset the password on your original account. Right-click the original account in Settings and choose Change account settings, then Change your password. You will need to know the temporary password you just set, but after that you can change it to whatever you want.

If your original account was a local account (not connected to a Microsoft email), consider linking it to a Microsoft account now. This gives you another recovery path if you forget the password again.

Why Windows does not let you recover your old password

Windows stores passwords as a one-way mathematical hash — a long string of characters that represents your password but cannot be reversed to show the actual password. Even if someone broke into Microsoft's servers, they could not extract your real password from what is stored there.

This is why every recovery method involves resetting your password to something new rather than retrieving the old one. It is also why you cannot call Microsoft support and ask them to tell you what your password was — they genuinely do not know.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I reset my password if my computer is not connected to the internet?

Yes, if you have a password reset disk. If you do not have one and your computer is offline, you will need to create a new administrator account using the Command Prompt method described above. That method works without internet.

What if I cannot remember the email address for my Microsoft account?

You can still create a new local administrator account using the Command Prompt method. Once you have access, you can check your account settings to find the email address linked to your original account, or you can straightforward use the new administrator account going forward.

Will resetting my password delete my files?

No. Resetting your password through a reset disk or Microsoft account does not touch your files or programs. Creating a new administrator account also leaves your files intact — you can access them from the new account. Only a full Windows reinstall deletes files.

How long does it take to reset a password through Microsoft?

Usually a few minutes. Microsoft sends a verification code to your email or phone almost when ready. Once you enter it and set a new password, Windows accepts it at the login screen within a few minutes.

Can I use someone else's computer to reset my password?

Yes, if your account is linked to a Microsoft account. Go to account.microsoft.com on any computer with internet, sign in with your email address, and use the password reset option there. You can then use the new password on your own computer.