The fastest way depends on what you remember and what kind of laptop you have

If you can still log in to your email or phone number linked to your account, you can reset your password without erasing anything on your laptop. Windows and Mac both let you do this from the login screen itself. If you cannot remember your email password either, or if you do not have a phone number on file, you will need to use a recovery key or answer security questions you set up before you got locked out. If none of those exist, you have one more option: create a new local account and regain access to your files from there.

The method you use matters because some paths take 10 minutes and others take an hour. Some keep all your files and programs exactly as they are. Others require you to start fresh. Knowing which situation you are in before you start saves you from halfway through a process that will not work for you.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows and Mac both let you reset your password from the login screen if you have access to the email address or phone number tied to your account.
  • If you set up a recovery key or security questions before you got locked out, you can use those instead of your email or phone.
  • Creating a new local account on Windows lets you regain access to your files even if you cannot recover your original password.
  • On a Mac, you can use your Apple ID to reset your password, or use Recovery Mode if you do not remember your Apple ID password.
  • If you have a Windows laptop that belongs to your employer or school, contact their IT department instead of trying these steps yourself.

Windows: resetting from the login screen with your email or phone

On the Windows login screen, look for the text "I forgot my password" below the password field. Click it. Windows will ask you to enter the email address or phone number linked to your account. If you have access to that email or phone, you will receive a code. Enter the code on your laptop, then create a new password. This entire process takes about five minutes and keeps all your files and programs.

This method only works if the email address or phone number is still active and you can receive messages on it. If you no longer have access to that email account or phone number, move to the next section.

Windows: using a recovery key or security questions

If you set up a recovery key before you got locked out, you can use it instead. A recovery key is a long string of numbers that Microsoft gives you when you first set up your account. Look for it in an email from Microsoft, or in a file you may have saved. If you have the key, click "I forgot my password" on the login screen, then choose "Use a recovery key" instead of email or phone. Paste the key in and create a new password.

If you do not have a recovery key but you set up security questions (like "What was the name of your first pet?"), you can answer those instead. Click "I forgot my password," then choose "Answer my security questions." Answer at least three of them correctly, then create a new password. This method also keeps all your files intact.

Windows: creating a new local account if you cannot recover your password

If you cannot access your email, phone, recovery key, or security questions, you can create a brand new local account on your laptop. This account will have full access to your laptop, and you will be able to see and copy files from your old account. You will not be able to use programs that require your old account's login, but your documents, photos, and downloads will still be there.

To do this, restart your laptop and hold down the Shift key while clicking the power button on the login screen. Choose "Restart." Your laptop will boot into recovery mode. Select "Troubleshoot," then "Reset this PC." Choose "Keep my files." Windows will walk you through creating a new account. Once you log in with that new account, you can navigate to C:\Users\[your old username] to find your old files.

Mac: resetting with your Apple ID

On a Mac login screen, if you see a question mark icon or a "Reset Password" option, click it. Mac will ask for your Apple ID email and password. If you have access to that Apple ID, you will receive a code on another device (your phone, tablet, or another Mac). Enter the code on your laptop and create a new password. Your files and programs stay exactly as they are.

If you do not remember your Apple ID password, you can reset that separately at iforgot.apple.com before you try to reset your Mac password. This takes a few extra minutes but uses the same process: Apple sends a code to your phone or email, you enter it, and you create a new Apple ID password.

Mac: using Recovery Mode if you cannot access your Apple ID

If you cannot access your Apple ID, restart your Mac and hold Command + R while it starts up. This boots your Mac into Recovery Mode. Click "Utilities" at the top, then "Terminal." Type resetpassword and press Enter. A password reset window will open. Select your account from the dropdown, then create a new password. Click "Save" and restart your Mac normally.

This method works on any Mac, but it requires you to know how to use Terminal. If Terminal feels unfamiliar, you can also take your Mac to an Apple Store and bring a photo ID. Apple can verify your identity and reset your password for you, though this takes longer and may cost money if your Mac is out of warranty.

Work or school laptops: contact your IT department first

If your laptop belongs to your employer or school, do not try these steps. Your laptop is likely connected to your organization's network, and resetting your password yourself can lock you out of work files, email, and shared drives. Instead, contact your IT department or help desk. They have tools to reset your password without losing access to anything. Most organizations can do this in one business day.

Your IT department will ask you to verify your identity, usually by answering security questions or confirming information from your employee or student record. This is normal and protects your account from someone else resetting it without permission.

What to do after you reset your password

Once you are back in your laptop, update your recovery information so you do not get locked out again. On Windows, go to Settings > Accounts > Security Options and make sure your phone number and email are current. Add a recovery key if you have not already. On Mac, go to System Settings > General > Login Items and check that your Apple ID information is up to date.

Consider writing down your recovery key or taking a screenshot of it, then storing it somewhere safe — a password manager, a locked drawer, or a trusted family member's email. This takes two minutes and saves you hours if you get locked out again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will resetting my password delete my files?

No, if you reset your password using email, phone, a recovery key, or security questions, all your files stay on your laptop. If you create a new local account on Windows because you cannot recover your password, your old files remain in the old account folder and you can copy them to your new account.

How long does it take to reset my password?

If you have access to your email or phone, 5 to 10 minutes. If you have to use security questions or a recovery key, 10 to 15 minutes. If you have to create a new account, 30 to 45 minutes. If you take your Mac to an Apple Store, plan for 1 to 2 hours depending on how busy they are.

What if I do not remember the email address I used to set up my account?

On Windows, try common email addresses you may have used (Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo). If none of those work, use security questions or a recovery key if you set them up. On Mac, try your Apple ID email at iforgot.apple.com to see if it recognizes it. If not, use Recovery Mode or visit an Apple Store.

Can I reset my password without a phone or email?

On Windows, yes — use security questions or a recovery key if you set them up, or create a new local account. On Mac, use Recovery Mode and Terminal. Both methods work without needing to contact anyone, though Recovery Mode requires some comfort with technical steps.

What if my laptop is encrypted and I forgot the encryption password too?

On Windows with BitLocker encryption, you will need your recovery key. On Mac with FileVault encryption, you will need your Apple ID password or your recovery key. If you have neither, you cannot regain access without taking the laptop to a professional. This is why storing your recovery key somewhere safe matters.