The fastest way to reset Screen Time on Windows

If you have set a Screen Time password on Windows and forgotten it, you cannot reset it through the Screen Time settings themselves — the system locks you out. Instead, you will need to reset it through your Microsoft account password or use your PIN, both of which bypass the Screen Time lock. If you remember your Microsoft account password, that is the quickest path. If not, you may need to reset your account password first through another device or computer.

Screen Time on Windows (called "App and browser control" in some versions) is designed to prevent changes without the password, so there is no backdoor or recovery code. The password is tied to your user account, which means anything that proves your identity to Windows will let you change it.

Key Takeaways

  • You can reset Screen Time by signing out and back into your Microsoft account, which bypasses the Screen Time password entirely.
  • If you remember your Microsoft account password, use it to sign back in; if not, reset your account password on another device first through account.microsoft.com.
  • Your Windows PIN also works to unlock Screen Time settings if you set one up on your account.
  • Once you are back in, go to Settings > Apps > App and browser control to change or remove the Screen Time password.

Reset Screen Time using your Microsoft account password

Open Settings on your Windows PC and go to Accounts in the left sidebar. Select Sign out at the bottom of the Accounts page. This logs you out of your user account entirely.

On the Windows login screen, click your account name and enter your Microsoft account password. If you remember it, you are now signed back in and the Screen Time password no longer blocks you. If you do not remember your Microsoft password, you will need to reset it on another device before you can sign back in — go to account.microsoft.com on a phone, tablet, or another computer, click Sign in, then Can't access your account, and follow the recovery steps.

Once you are signed back in, open Settings again and go to Apps > App and browser control. You will now be able to change or remove the Screen Time password without entering the old one.

Use your Windows PIN if you have one set up

If you set up a PIN on your Windows account (separate from your password), you can use it to unlock Screen Time settings without knowing the Screen Time password itself. Open Settings and go to Accounts > Sign-in options. Look for PIN (Windows Hello) in the left menu.

If you see a PIN listed there, you already have one. Go back to Apps > App and browser control, and when prompted for the Screen Time password, enter your PIN instead. This works because Windows treats your PIN as a valid proof of identity for account-level changes.

If you do not see a PIN listed, you will need to create one first. Click Add under PIN, enter your current account password when prompted, then create a new four-digit PIN. Once it is set, you can use it to bypass the Screen Time password.

What to do if you cannot remember your Microsoft password

If signing out and back in is not an option because you do not remember your Microsoft password, you will need to reset it on a different device. Go to account.microsoft.com on a phone, tablet, or another computer and click Sign in. Then click Can't access your account.

Microsoft will ask you to verify your identity. You can do this by entering a recovery email address or phone number linked to your account, or by answering security questions you set up previously. Once you verify, you can create a new password. Write it down or save it somewhere safe.

Go back to your Windows PC, sign out, and sign back in with your new password. You will then be able to access Screen Time settings and change the password.

Change or remove the Screen Time password after you regain access

Once you are signed back in and no longer locked out, open Settings and go to Apps > App and browser control. Click Set limits on apps & games or Manage settings depending on your Windows version.

Look for an option that says Change password or Remove password. If you want to set a new password you will remember, click Change password, enter your current account password when prompted, and create a new Screen Time password. If you want to remove the password entirely so Screen Time does not ask for one, click Remove password instead.

Write down any new password in a place you will remember, or consider using a password manager to store it. Screen Time passwords are often forgotten because they are used infrequently.

Prevent this from happening again

Screen Time passwords are straightforward to forget because you only enter them when you change settings, which might be months apart. If you set a new password, store it in a password manager like Bitwarden, 1Password, or the built-in Windows password manager. These programs remember passwords for you and fill them in automatically.

Alternatively, if you live alone or do not need Screen Time to restrict anyone else's access, consider removing the password entirely. You can still use Screen Time to monitor your own app usage without the password protection.

If you do keep a password, make it something you can reconstruct — a pattern you use for other accounts, or a phrase you write down in a private notebook. The worst outcome is being locked out of your own settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I reset Screen Time without signing out of my account?

No. Screen Time is locked at the account level, so the only way past it is to prove your identity to Windows itself. Signing out and back in, or using your PIN, are the only methods that work without the Screen Time password.

What if I do not have a Microsoft account, just a local account?

If you set up Windows with a local account instead of a Microsoft account, you will need to reset your local account password. Go to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options and look for Password. Click Change and enter your current password, then create a new one. Once you have changed it, you can use it to unlock Screen Time settings.

Will resetting my password delete my files or programs?

No. Resetting your account password or signing out and back in does not delete anything on your computer. Your files, programs, and settings remain exactly as they are.

Can I reset Screen Time if I am not the account owner?

If someone else owns the account and set the Screen Time password, you cannot reset it without their password or their account credentials. If you are a parent who set it on a child's account, use your own account to sign into Settings and manage their Screen Time from there.

What if I reset my Microsoft password and still cannot sign back in?

If you reset your password but Windows still will not accept it, wait a few minutes — password changes can take time to sync across Microsoft's servers. If it still does not work after 15 minutes, try signing in on another device first to confirm the password works, then try your PC again.