The three ways to delete your Windows 10 password

You can remove your Windows 10 login password through Settings, through the Local Users and Groups tool, or by resetting it if you've forgotten it entirely. The method you choose depends on whether you remember your current password and what type of account you use — Microsoft accounts and local accounts have different removal paths.

The fastest route for most people is the Settings app, which takes about two minutes. If that doesn't work, the Local Users and Groups tool (available on Windows 10 Pro and higher editions) gives you more control. If you've forgotten your password, you'll need a different approach entirely.

Key Takeaways

  • You can remove a Windows 10 password through Settings if you remember your current password, and the process takes roughly two minutes.
  • Microsoft accounts and local accounts require different steps — Microsoft accounts are managed through account.microsoft.com, while local accounts use Windows Settings.
  • The Local Users and Groups tool (lusrmgr.msc) works only on Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions, not Home.
  • If you've forgotten your password, you cannot remove it through normal settings — you'll need to reset it using a password reset disk or another administrator account.
  • Removing your password means anyone with physical access to your computer can log in without entering anything.

Removing a password from a local account through Settings

Open Settings by pressing Windows key + I. Go to Accounts, then select Sign-in options from the left sidebar. Under the "Password" section, click "Change" and enter your current password when prompted. On the next screen, leave both the "New password" and "Confirm password" fields blank, then click Next and Finish.

Windows will ask you to confirm that you want a blank password. Click Yes. Your login password is now removed — the next time you restart, you can log in by pressing any key or clicking the screen without typing anything.

Removing a password from a Microsoft account

If you log in with a Microsoft account (one tied to an email address like yourname@outlook.com), you cannot remove the password through Windows Settings alone. Instead, go to account.microsoft.com in a web browser and sign in with your Microsoft account credentials.

Click "Security" in the left menu, then find "Password" and select "Change password." You'll be asked to enter your current password. On the next page, enter a new password in the first field, then leave the "New password" and "Confirm password" fields blank. Complete the change. The next time you log in to Windows, you can use a blank password.

Using Local Users and Groups if Settings doesn't work

This method works only on Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, and Education — not Home edition. Press Windows key + R, type lusrmgr.msc, and press Enter. Click "Users" in the left panel to see all accounts on your computer.

Right-click your account name and select "Set Password." A dialog will appear warning that changing the password will cause you to lose access to encrypted files and stored passwords. Click "Proceed" if you understand this risk. Leave both password fields blank and click OK. Your password is now removed.

What happens when you remove your password

Once your password is gone, anyone who can physically reach your computer can log in. They won't see a login screen — they'll just press a key or click, and they're in. This is fine if you live alone and trust everyone in your home, but it's a real security gap if you share your space or take your laptop anywhere.

If you change your mind later, you can add a password back through the same Settings menu (Accounts > Sign-in options > Password > Add). You can also use a PIN or Windows Hello (fingerprint or face recognition) instead of a traditional password if you want faster login without the security trade-off.

If you've forgotten your password and can't log in

You cannot remove a password you don't remember through Settings or Local Users and Groups — those tools require you to be logged in first. Your options are to reset the password using a password reset disk (if you created one before forgetting the password), use another administrator account on the same computer, or reset Windows entirely.

If you have a password reset disk, insert it and click "Reset password" on the login screen. If you have another admin account, log in with that account, then use Settings > Accounts > Other people to reset the forgotten account's password to something new (or blank). If neither option is available, you'll need to reinstall Windows, which erases everything on your drive.

Protecting yourself after removing your password

Without a password, your Windows login is open, but you can still protect your files. Use Windows Defender (built into Windows 10) to scan for malware regularly. Keep Windows Update turned on so security patches install automatically. If you store sensitive documents, consider using a separate encrypted folder or external drive that requires a password to open.

You can also use a PIN or biometric login (Windows Hello) instead of a password. These are faster than typing a password but still require something only you know or have. Go to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options to set up a PIN or facial recognition.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will removing my password affect my Microsoft account or email?

No. Your Windows login password and your Microsoft account password are separate. Removing your Windows password does not change your Microsoft account password, and you can still use your email normally. If you use a Microsoft account to log in to Windows, you'll need to change the password through account.microsoft.com, not through Windows Settings.

Can I remove my password if I'm not an administrator?

No. Only administrator accounts can remove passwords. If your account is a standard user, you'll need to ask an administrator to do it for you, or you can ask them to change your account type to administrator first.

What's the difference between removing a password and resetting it?

Removing a password means deleting it entirely — you log in with nothing. Resetting a password means changing it to something new. If you've forgotten your password, you reset it (to something you can remember). If you want to log in without typing anything, you remove it.

If I remove my password, can I still use Windows Hello or a PIN?

Yes. You can set up a PIN or Windows Hello fingerprint login even without a password. Go to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options and choose "PIN" or "Windows Hello Face/Fingerprint." You'll use that instead of typing anything at login.

Can I remove my password temporarily and add it back later?

Yes. You can remove your password whenever you want and add a new one back through the same Settings menu. There's no limit to how many times you can change this.