The fastest way: use your Microsoft account

If your HP laptop runs Windows 10 or Windows 11 and you signed in with a Microsoft account (the email address you use for Outlook, OneDrive, or Xbox), you can reset your password from the login screen without opening the computer.

On the login screen, click "Sign in with a password" if you see other sign-in options. Below the password box, you will see "I forgot my password" — click that link. Windows will walk you through verifying your identity using a phone number or backup email address you registered with Microsoft. Once verified, you can set a new password when ready, and it will work the next time you restart the laptop.

This method works even if you have never connected to the internet on this laptop before, because Microsoft's servers handle the verification. You do not need another computer or phone to complete it.

Key Takeaways

  • If you signed in with a Microsoft account (an email address), click "I forgot my password" on the login screen and verify your identity with a phone number or backup email.
  • If you signed in with a local account (a username with no email), you will need a password reset disk you created earlier, or you will need to reinstall Windows.
  • A password reset disk is a USB drive you create while you still know your password — it is your only recovery option for a local account if you lose the password.
  • HP's built-in recovery tools do not reset passwords; they erase the entire drive and reinstall Windows, which destroys all your files.
  • If you have a second Windows computer or laptop, you can create a password reset disk for your HP laptop on that machine.

How to tell which type of account you have

Before you try to reset your password, you need to know whether you signed in with a Microsoft account or a local account. The recovery method is different for each one.

Look at the login screen. If the name shown is an email address (something@outlook.com, something@gmail.com, or any email format), you have a Microsoft account. If the name is just a single word or username with no @ symbol, you have a local account.

You can also check this on a computer you can already access. On any Windows 10 or 11 machine, open Settings, go to Accounts, then Your info. The top of the screen will show either an email address or a username. If you are checking a different computer, this tells you what type of account the HP laptop uses.

Using a password reset disk if you have one

If you created a password reset disk on a USB drive while you still knew your password, you can use it now. Plug the USB drive into your HP laptop, then on the login screen click "Reset password" (the exact wording varies by Windows version, but it appears below the password box). Windows will walk you through creating a new password using the information stored on the USB drive.

The reset disk works only on the computer it was created for — you cannot use a disk made for one laptop to reset another laptop's password. If you never created one, this option is not available to you.

Creating a password reset disk on another computer

If you have access to a second Windows 10 or 11 computer (a friend's laptop, a work computer, or a family member's machine), you can create a password reset disk for your HP laptop on that machine, then use it to reset your password.

On the second computer, plug in a blank USB drive. Open the Control Panel (search for "Control Panel" in the Windows search box). Click User Accounts, then User Accounts again. On the left side, click "Create a password reset disk". Windows will ask you to choose which user account to create the disk for — select your HP laptop's username. Follow the prompts to save the reset information to the USB drive.

Once the disk is created, take the USB drive to your HP laptop, plug it in, and follow the steps in the section above. The reset disk will work even though it was created on a different computer, because it only needs your username to function.

Reinstalling Windows if you have no other option

If you have a local account, never created a password reset disk, and cannot access another Windows computer, your only remaining option is to reinstall Windows. This erases everything on your hard drive — all your files, programs, photos, and documents — and returns the laptop to factory condition.

To reinstall Windows on an HP laptop, you need a USB drive with at least 8 gigabytes of storage space and access to another computer (any computer, running any operating system). Go to Microsoft's website and search for "Windows 10 read" or "Windows 11 read" depending on which version your HP laptop originally had. read the Media Creation Tool, run it on the other computer, and follow the prompts to create a bootable USB drive.

Plug the USB drive into your HP laptop and restart it. As it boots up, hold down the Escape key repeatedly until you see a menu. Select the option to boot from USB (the exact wording depends on your HP model). Windows will install from the USB drive. When installation finishes, you will be able to set up a new account with a new password, but all previous files will be gone.

Before you choose this route, confirm that your HP laptop originally shipped with Windows 10 or Windows 11. If it came with an older version like Windows 7 or Windows 8, installing a newer version may cause driver or hardware compatibility problems. Check your laptop's original documentation or contact HP support to verify which Windows version your model supports.

Why HP's recovery tools will not help

HP laptops come with built-in recovery tools that you can access by holding down specific keys during startup (usually the Escape key or F11, depending on the model). These tools can restore your laptop to factory settings or repair Windows, but they do not reset your password. They erase your hard drive completely, which means you lose all your files, programs, and settings.

If you use HP's recovery tools because you think they will reset your password, you will end up with a blank laptop and no way to recover your data. Only use these tools if you have already decided to erase everything and start fresh, or if Windows will not start at all and you have no other way to make the laptop usable.

Preventing this problem in the future

Once you have regained access to your HP laptop, take steps to prevent being locked out again. If you have a local account, create a password reset disk when ready. Open Control Panel, go to User Accounts, and click "Create a password reset disk". Store the USB drive somewhere safe — not in the same place as your laptop, in case both are lost or damaged.

If you are willing to switch to a Microsoft account, you will never need a reset disk. Go to Settings, click Accounts, then Your info, and look for an option to sign in with a Microsoft account instead. This gives you the option to reset your password from any internet-connected device, even if you are locked out of the laptop itself.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I reset my HP laptop password without losing my files?

Yes, if you have a Microsoft account or a password reset disk. Both methods let you create a new password without erasing anything. Only the Windows reinstall method destroys your files — that is a last resort when you have no other option.

What if I do not remember the email address for my Microsoft account?

Check any email accounts you use regularly, or look for old receipts or confirmation emails from Microsoft, Xbox, or OneDrive. If you still cannot find it, you may need to create a new Microsoft account and then switch your laptop to use that account instead — this requires knowing your current password, so it does not help if you are already locked out.

How long does it take to reinstall Windows?

The read and installation usually take 30 minutes to an hour on a fast internet connection, depending on your laptop's speed and hard drive size. Older laptops or slower internet connections may take two to three hours.

Can I use someone else's password reset disk on my HP laptop?

No. A password reset disk only works on the specific computer and user account it was created for. You would need to create a new disk on another Windows computer using your HP laptop's username.

What if my HP laptop will not start at all?

If Windows will not boot or you see error messages on startup, the password reset methods above will not work because you cannot reach the login screen. In this case, your only option is to reinstall Windows using the USB drive method described in the reinstalling section, or to contact HP support for hardware troubleshooting.