Where to find your Windows 10 username

Your Windows 10 username appears in several places on your computer. The fastest way is to open the Settings app, select Accounts, then Your info. Your username displays at the top of that page, usually in the format "YourName" or "YourName@outlook.com" depending on whether you signed in with a local account or a Microsoft account.

You can also see your username on the sign-in screen itself — it appears above the password field when you restart your computer. If you have multiple user accounts on the machine, each one shows its own username there.

A third way is to open File Explorer, right-click This PC, and select Properties. Under "Computer name, domain, and workgroup settings," you'll see your full username listed as "User name" in the format COMPUTERNAME\Username.

Key Takeaways

  • Your Windows 10 username appears in Settings under Accounts > Your info, on the sign-in screen, and in File Explorer's This PC properties.
  • Windows 10 passwords are not stored where you can view them — Windows only stores an encrypted version that cannot be read back.
  • If you forgot your password, you can reset it using a password reset disk, another admin account, or your Microsoft account recovery options.
  • For accounts linked to a Microsoft email, you can reset your password through the Microsoft account recovery website without touching your computer.

Why you cannot see your Windows 10 password

Windows 10 does not store passwords in a readable form anywhere on your computer. Instead, it stores an encrypted hash — a scrambled version that cannot be converted back to the original password. This is a security feature: even if someone gains access to your computer's files, they cannot read your actual password.

This means no built-in Windows tool can show you your password once you've set it. If you need to know your password, you have to reset it rather than retrieve it.

Resetting a password you forgot

If you signed in with a Microsoft account (one tied to an email address like yourname@outlook.com), go to account.microsoft.com from any computer and select Security, then Password security. Click Change password, answer your security questions or use a recovery email, and create a new password. You can then sign into Windows 10 with the new password.

If you signed in with a local account (a username created only on this computer), you have three options. The easiest is to use a password reset disk if you created one before you forgot the password — insert it, click Reset password on the sign-in screen, and follow the prompts. If you don't have a reset disk, you can sign in with a different admin account on the same computer, go to Settings > Accounts > Other people, select the account you're locked out of, and click Reset password. If you have no other admin account and no reset disk, you will need to reinstall Windows 10, which erases all files on the drive.

Finding passwords for other accounts and services

Your Windows username and password are different from passwords you use for email, social media, banking, or other websites. Those passwords are not stored in Windows — they're stored by each individual service.

If you need to find a password for Gmail, Outlook, Facebook, or any other online account, you must use that service's password recovery option. Go to the service's sign-in page, click Forgot password or Can't sign in, and follow their recovery process, which usually involves confirming your identity through email or a phone number.

If you've saved passwords in Microsoft Edge or Chrome, you can view them by opening the browser, going to Settings > Passwords, and clicking the eye icon next to a saved password (you'll need to confirm your Windows password first). However, this only shows passwords you've explicitly saved in the browser — not your Windows password itself.

Checking which type of account you have

Knowing whether you have a local account or a Microsoft account matters because it changes how you reset your password. Open Settings, go to Accounts, then Your info. If your username shows an email address (like sarah.martinez@outlook.com), you have a Microsoft account. If it shows only a name without an @ symbol, you have a local account.

You can also check by looking at the sign-in screen. Microsoft accounts show an email address; local accounts show just a name.

Creating a password reset disk for the future

If you have a local account and want to avoid being locked out, create a password reset disk now. Insert a USB drive or blank CD, open Control Panel, search for Create a password reset disk, and follow the wizard. Store this disk somewhere safe — it's your backup if you forget your password later.

This only works for local accounts. Microsoft accounts don't need a reset disk because you can always reset your password through the Microsoft website.

What to do if you see "username not found" errors

If you're trying to sign in and Windows says your username doesn't exist, check that you're typing it correctly — usernames are case-sensitive in some contexts, though Windows 10 sign-in is usually not. Make sure you're not adding a domain name or computer name in front of it. If you have multiple accounts on this computer, look at the sign-in screen to see all available usernames and select the right one.

If you recently upgraded from Windows 7 or 8, your old local account username should still work. If it doesn't, restart the computer and try again — sometimes Windows needs a restart to recognize all accounts after an upgrade.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I see my Windows password if I'm signed in?

No. Windows does not store passwords in a readable format anywhere on your computer, even if you're currently signed in. If you need to know your password, you must reset it instead.

What's the difference between my Windows username and my Microsoft account email?

Your Windows username is what you use to sign into your computer. Your Microsoft account email is what you use to sign into Microsoft services like Outlook, OneDrive, and Xbox. They're linked if you signed in with a Microsoft account, but they're not the same thing.

If I reset my Windows password, will I lose my files?

No. Resetting your password does not affect your files, programs, or settings. You'll still have access to everything on your computer once you sign in with the new password.

Can I change my username without resetting my password?

For a Microsoft account, you change your display name in Settings > Accounts > Your info, but your email address stays the same. For a local account, right-click This PC, select Manage, go to Local Users and Groups, right-click your account, and select Rename. Your password stays the same either way.

What if I forgot my password and don't have another admin account?

If you have a password reset disk, use it. If you have a Microsoft account, reset your password at account.microsoft.com. If you have a local account with no reset disk and no other admin account, you'll need to reinstall Windows 10, which erases the drive.