The fastest way depends on whether you remember any password at all

If you can log in but want to change your password, use Settings. If you're locked out completely, you have three realistic paths: use a password reset disk you made earlier, sign in with a Microsoft account recovery email, or reset Windows using another device. The method that works fastest depends on what you set up before you got locked out.

None of these methods will recover a password you've forgotten — they all replace it with a new one you create. If you're trying to access files on the drive without changing the password, that's a different problem that requires different tools and carries real security risks.

Key Takeaways

  • A password reset disk, created before you get locked out, is the fastest way back in — it takes about five minutes and works offline.
  • If you use a Microsoft account (not a local account), you can reset your password through the recovery email Microsoft has on file.
  • Windows 10 allows you to reset the entire system from the login screen using another device and a USB drive, but this erases everything on the computer.
  • Local accounts with no reset disk and no recovery method have no built-in way back in without reinstalling Windows.
  • Once you regain access, create a password reset disk when ready so you never face this situation again.

Using a password reset disk you made before

A password reset disk is a USB drive or floppy disk you create while you still have access to your account. It stores a key that lets you set a new password without knowing the old one. If you made one, this is your fastest option.

Insert the disk at the Windows 10 login screen. Click "Reset password" below the password field. Windows will walk you through creating a new password. Once you set it, you can log in when ready. The disk itself doesn't need to be plugged in after that.

If you never made a reset disk and you're now locked out, this option is closed to you. You'll need to use one of the other methods below.

Resetting a Microsoft account password through email

If your Windows 10 account is linked to a Microsoft account (you log in with an email address, not a username), you can reset your password from the login screen using a recovery email address. At the login screen, click "I forgot my password." Windows will ask you to enter a code sent to your recovery email or phone number.

Check the email account Microsoft has on file — this is usually a backup email you set up when you created your Microsoft account, not the email you use to log in. If you have access to that recovery email, you'll receive a code. Enter it on the login screen, then create a new password.

This method works only if you set up a recovery email before you got locked out. If you didn't, or if you no longer have access to that email address, you'll need to contact Microsoft support or use the Windows reset method below.

Resetting Windows 10 from another device

Windows 10 includes a built-in reset option accessible from the login screen without knowing your password. You'll need another computer and a USB drive with at least 8 GB of space. This method erases everything on the locked computer and reinstalls Windows, so use it only when other options are exhausted.

On the working computer, go to Microsoft's Windows 10 read page and select "Create installation media." Follow the prompts to write Windows 10 to the USB drive. Insert the USB drive into the locked computer and restart it. Press the key to enter boot options (usually F12, Del, or Esc — the screen will tell you which one). Select the USB drive and follow the on-screen prompts to reinstall Windows.

When you reach the "Where do you want to install Windows?" screen, select the drive that contains your old Windows installation. Windows will warn you that this will erase everything. Proceed, and Windows will reinstall itself. When it finishes, you'll create a new account and password from scratch. Your old files will be gone.

Creating a password reset disk for the future

Once you're back in your account, create a password reset disk when ready so you never face this situation again. Plug in a USB drive. Open Control Panel and search for "password reset disk." Select "Create a password reset disk" in the User Accounts section. Follow the prompts to select your USB drive and create the disk.

Store this disk somewhere safe but accessible — a drawer in your desk, not a safe deposit box you visit once a year. If you ever get locked out again, you'll have a way back in that takes five minutes instead of hours.

Why you can't just bypass the password

Windows 10 passwords are encrypted, which means they're scrambled in a way that can't be reversed. No legitimate tool can read an encrypted password. Any software claiming to "recover" or "crack" your password is either malware or a scam.

The methods above work because they use Windows' own built-in recovery systems — they don't bypass security, they use the security system itself to prove you own the account. If you're locked out and none of these methods work, your options are limited to reinstalling Windows or contacting Microsoft support.

What to do if you're locked out of a work computer

If this is a work computer, stop here and contact your IT department or help desk. Work computers often have different security settings, recovery methods, and policies about password resets. Trying to reset it yourself could violate your company's security rules or lock you out further.

Your IT department has tools and access that let them reset your password without erasing your files. This is what they're there for, and it's faster and safer than trying to do it yourself.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I reset my password without losing my files?

Yes, if you use a password reset disk or a Microsoft account recovery email. Both let you create a new password while keeping your files intact. The Windows reset method erases everything, so use it only as a last resort.

What if I don't remember the email address for my Microsoft account?

Check any recovery emails or phone numbers you set up when you created the account. If you can't remember those either, contact Microsoft support with proof of identity. They can help you regain access, though it may take longer than the self-service methods.

Will resetting Windows remove viruses or malware?

A full Windows reset will remove most malware because it erases the entire drive and reinstalls the operating system. However, if malware is on another device on your network or in cloud storage, it could return. After resetting, update Windows when ready and run a full antivirus scan.

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

For a Microsoft account reset, yes — you just need access to your recovery email. For a Windows reset, you need the USB drive method described above, which requires the other computer to create installation media. You can't reset a local account password from another computer.

What if I'm locked out of a local account with no reset disk?

A local account with no password reset disk and no recovery method has no built-in way back in. Your only option is to reinstall Windows using the USB method, which erases everything. This is why creating a reset disk before you get locked out matters.