Where to find your Windows 10 username

Your Windows 10 username appears in several places on your computer. The fastest way is to look at the bottom left of your screen — click the Start button (the Windows logo), and your username shows at the top of the menu that opens. It's the name next to your profile picture.

You can also find it by opening Settings, selecting Accounts, and then clicking Your info. The name displayed at the top of that page is your Windows username. This is the name you use to sign in to your computer each time you turn it on.

If you're at the login screen and can't remember which account is yours, look at the names shown — each one is a Windows username on that computer. You may have more than one if other people use the same device.

Key Takeaways

  • Your Windows 10 username appears at the top of the Start menu and in Settings under Accounts > Your info.
  • Windows passwords are not stored anywhere you can view them — Windows only stores a code that confirms your password is correct.
  • If you forgot your password, you can reset it using a password reset disk, a recovery email, or a phone number linked to your account.
  • For a local account (not connected to Microsoft), you can create a new password by answering security questions you set up when you created the account.
  • If you share a computer, ask the person who set up the account to help you reset the password — they may have recovery options you don't.

Why you cannot see your Windows password

Windows does not store your actual password anywhere on your computer where you can read it. Instead, Windows converts your password into a long code called a hash. When you type your password at the login screen, Windows converts what you typed into the same code and checks whether the two codes match. If they do, you're in.

This design protects you: if someone steals your computer's files, they get the code, not your password. The code cannot be reversed back into your password. This is why Windows cannot show you your password even if you ask — Windows itself does not know what it is.

If you have forgotten your password, you cannot recover it. You can only reset it to something new. The steps depend on what type of account you have.

Resetting a Microsoft account password

If your Windows account is connected to a Microsoft email address (you see your email when you sign in), you can reset your password from the login screen. Click "I forgot my password" at the bottom of the login screen. Windows will ask you to enter your Microsoft email address.

Microsoft will send a code to the email address or phone number linked to your account. Enter that code on the next screen, and Windows will let you create a new password. You'll use this new password the next time you sign in. Make sure you remember it or write it down somewhere safe.

If you don't have access to the email or phone number linked to your account, you can answer security questions you set up when you created the Microsoft account. These questions appear on the same screen where you entered the code.

Resetting a local account password

A local account is one that exists only on your computer and is not connected to Microsoft. If you created your account this way, the reset process is different. At the login screen, click "I forgot my password" and answer the security questions you chose when you set up the account.

If you remember the answers, Windows will let you create a new password. If you don't remember the answers, you have one other option: use a password reset disk. This is a USB drive or other removable disk you created before you forgot your password. Plug it in at the login screen, and Windows will let you reset your password using the disk.

If you don't have a password reset disk and can't answer the security questions, you cannot reset the password yourself. You will need to contact the person who set up the computer or created the account — they may have other recovery options.

Creating a password reset disk before you need it

A password reset disk is a USB drive or external disk that lets you reset your password if you forget it. You can create one now, even if you remember your password. Open Control Panel and search for "password reset disk." Click "Create a password reset disk" in the results.

Windows will walk you through plugging in a USB drive and creating the disk. It takes about two minutes. Label the disk clearly and store it somewhere safe — not at your desk. If you ever forget your password, plug this disk into your computer at the login screen, click "I forgot my password," and follow the steps to reset it.

This works only for local accounts. If your account is connected to Microsoft, the password reset disk won't help — you'll need to use the email or phone recovery method instead.

What to do if you share a computer

If other people use your computer, they may have set up your account for you or helped you create it. If you forget your password, ask whoever set up the computer first — they may have recovery options you don't know about. They might have a password reset disk, or they might be able to reset it from their own account.

If the person who set up the computer is no longer available, you can still reset your password using the methods above. For a Microsoft account, use the email or phone recovery. For a local account, use security questions or a password reset disk if you have one.

If you're locked out and have no recovery options, you may need to reinstall Windows. This erases everything on the computer, so it should be a last resort. Contact Microsoft Support for guidance on this step.

Changing your password after you sign in

If you remember your current password and just want to change it to something new, open Settings and go to Accounts > Sign-in options. Scroll down to "Password" and click "Change." Windows will ask you to enter your current password, then let you type a new one twice to confirm it.

For a Microsoft account, you can also change your password from any web browser by visiting account.microsoft.com and signing in. Click Security, then Password, and follow the steps. The change takes effect the next time you sign in to Windows.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I see my password by looking at what I typed?

No. When you type your password at the login screen, Windows shows dots or asterisks instead of the actual letters. This prevents someone looking over your shoulder from seeing your password. Once you sign in, Windows never displays your password again.

What if I created my account with a PIN instead of a password?

A PIN is a separate way to sign in. If you forgot your PIN, you can still sign in with your password (if you have one) or reset your PIN in Settings under Accounts > Sign-in options. Click PIN and then "I forgot my PIN" to reset it.

Can I recover my password if I never set up a recovery email or phone?

For a Microsoft account, you can answer security questions instead. For a local account, you need either a password reset disk or the ability to answer your security questions. If you have neither, you'll need help from whoever set up the account or from Microsoft Support.

Is my password the same as my username?

No. Your username is the name you see at the login screen and in the Start menu. Your password is what you type to prove you're the person who owns that account. They are completely separate.

What should I do if I think someone else knows my password?

Change it when ready. Open Settings, go to Accounts > Sign-in options, and click "Change" under Password. Create a new password that is different from any you've used before. If you think someone has access to your Microsoft account email, change that password too.