The fastest way depends on what you remember

If you know your current password, you can remove it in Settings in about two minutes. If you have forgotten it, the path is longer — you will need either a password reset disk you made earlier, a Microsoft account recovery email, or a local administrator account on the same computer. Windows does not let you bypass a forgotten password without one of these three things, so the first step is figuring out which one you have access to.

The method also depends on whether you are using a Microsoft account (which syncs across devices and uses your email) or a local account (which exists only on that computer). You can tell which one you have by looking at the sign-in screen — if it shows your email address, it is a Microsoft account. If it shows only a username, it is local.

Key Takeaways

  • If you remember your password, go to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options and select "Password," then choose "Change" to remove it or replace it with a PIN.
  • A Microsoft account password can be reset using the recovery email address you provided when you created the account, even if you do not have access to the computer.
  • A local account password requires either a password reset disk made before you forgot it, a Microsoft account linked to the computer, or another administrator account on the same machine.
  • Windows 11 and Windows 10 have slightly different paths to Settings, but the principle is the same — go to Accounts and look for sign-in options.

Removing a password you still remember

Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "settings," then press Enter. Navigate to Accounts on the left side, then select Sign-in options.

Under the "Password" section, you will see a button labeled Change. Click it. Windows will ask you to enter your current password to confirm your identity — type it in and click Next. On the next screen, leave both the "New password" and "Confirm password" fields blank, then click Next and Finish. Your password is now removed. The next time you restart your computer, you will be able to sign in without entering anything.

If you want to keep some form of protection but do not want to type a password each time, you can replace the password with a PIN or Windows Hello (facial recognition or fingerprint) instead. Both are faster to enter and can be set up in the same Sign-in options menu.

Resetting a Microsoft account password you have forgotten

If you use a Microsoft account and have forgotten the password, you do not need the computer itself to reset it. Go to account.microsoft.com/security on any device with internet access. Click Security on the left, then scroll down and select Password security.

Microsoft will ask you to verify your identity. The fastest method is usually the recovery email address you provided when you created the account — Microsoft will send a code to that email, you enter the code, and then you can set a new password. If you no longer have access to that email, Microsoft offers other verification methods, including using a phone number you registered or answering security questions you set up earlier.

Once you have reset your password at account.microsoft.com, go back to your computer and sign in with the new password. You can then remove the password using the method described above if you want to.

Resetting a local account password with a password reset disk

If you created a password reset disk before you forgot your password, you can use it now. Insert the disk or USB drive into your computer. On the sign-in screen, enter an incorrect password on purpose, then click OK. Windows will show a message saying the password is wrong and offer a link that says Reset password. Click it.

A wizard will open asking you to insert the password reset disk. Select the disk from the list, click Next, and Windows will show you a list of new passwords it has generated. Choose one, click Next, and you will be able to sign in. Once you are in, you can remove the password using Settings as described above.

If you do not have a password reset disk and did not create one before, this method is not available to you. Move to the next section instead.

Resetting a local account password using another administrator account

If another person on the same computer has an administrator account and you know their password, they can reset your password for you. Have that person sign in with their account, then open Settings and go to Accounts > Other people. They will see a list of all accounts on the computer, including yours. They should click your account name, then click Reset password.

Windows will ask them to set a new temporary password for you. They can enter anything — you will be prompted to change it the next time you sign in. Once they have set the temporary password, sign out, sign back in with the temporary password, and then remove the password entirely using Settings as described in the first section.

What to do if you have no way to reset the password

If you have a local account, have forgotten the password, and do not have a password reset disk or another administrator account on the computer, Windows does not provide a built-in way to regain access. Your options at this point are limited.

One option is to link a Microsoft account to your computer before you lose access again. If you do this now while you still have access, you can use that Microsoft account's recovery email to reset the password in the future. Go to Settings > Accounts > Your info and look for an option to sign in with a Microsoft account instead.

If you have already lost access and have no recovery method, you may need to reinstall Windows. This will erase everything on the computer, so it should be a last resort. You can create Windows installation media on another computer using the Windows Media Creation Tool (available free from Microsoft's website) and use it to reinstall the operating system.

Preventing this from happening again

Once you regain access to your computer, create a password reset disk if you use a local account. Open Settings, go to Accounts > Sign-in options, scroll down, and click Create a password reset disk under the "Recovery" section. Insert a USB drive and follow the prompts. Keep this disk in a safe place — if you forget your password again, it will be your fastest way back in.

If you use a Microsoft account, make sure the recovery email address in your account settings is one you still have access to. You can check this at account.microsoft.com/security. You should also write down or store securely any security questions you answered when you created the account, since Microsoft may ask you these if the recovery email is not available.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I remove my password without knowing the current one?

Not directly from the computer. You will need either a password reset disk, access to your Microsoft account's recovery email, another administrator account on the same machine, or you will need to reinstall Windows. If you use a Microsoft account, resetting it online at account.microsoft.com is usually the fastest option.

Will removing my password make my computer less find?

Yes. Without a password, anyone with physical access to your computer can sign in and see your files. If you want to remove the password but keep some protection, use a PIN or Windows Hello instead — both are faster to enter but still prevent unauthorized access.

What is the difference between a Microsoft account and a local account?

A Microsoft account uses your email address and syncs your settings across devices. A local account exists only on that computer. If you forget a Microsoft account password, you can reset it online. If you forget a local account password, you need a reset disk or another administrator account on the same computer.

If I remove my password, will I still be able to use Windows Hello or a PIN?

Yes. You can set up a PIN or Windows Hello even if you have no password. Go to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options and add them separately. This gives you faster sign-in without a typed password.

Can I remove the password for just one user account?

Yes. Each account on a Windows computer has its own password. If you are an administrator, you can reset another user's password from Settings > Accounts > Other people, but you cannot remove it — you can only set a temporary one that they must change on next sign-in.