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

If you can still log in but want to change your password, you can do that from Settings in under a minute. If you are locked out completely, the path depends on what recovery options you set up before you forgot the password — a phone number, backup email address, or a security key. If you set up none of those, you will need to use a password reset disk (if you made one) or reinstall Windows, which takes longer but is still possible.

The key difference: Microsoft accounts (the kind that sync across devices and let you use Outlook or Hotmail) can be reset online from another device. Local accounts (the kind that only exist on your computer) cannot be reset remotely and require one of the physical methods below.

Key Takeaways

  • If you remember your password but want to change it, open Settings, go to Accounts, and select Change Your Password — this takes two minutes.
  • If you are locked out of a Microsoft account, go to account.microsoft.com from any other device, select Sign-in Options, and reset using your recovery email or phone number.
  • If you are locked out of a local account and have no recovery method, a password reset disk (created before you forgot the password) is the fastest physical solution.
  • If you have no reset disk and no recovery options, you will need to reinstall Windows using a USB drive or DVD, which erases your files unless you back them up first.
  • Windows 10 will not let you reset a password from the login screen without a recovery method already in place.

Changing your password when you can still log in

Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing Settings, then press Enter. Select Accounts on the left side.

Click Sign-in Options. Under Password, click Change. Windows will ask you to enter your current password first — type it and click Next. Then type your new password twice (once to enter it, once to confirm), add a password hint if you want one, and click Next. Click Finish. Your password is now changed.

This method works for both Microsoft accounts and local accounts. The whole process takes about two minutes and you stay logged in the whole time.

Resetting a Microsoft account password from another device

Go to account.microsoft.com on any computer, phone, or tablet that has internet. Click Sign in, then click Can't access your account. Enter the email address or phone number associated with your Microsoft account.

Microsoft will ask you to prove you own the account. If you set up a recovery email address, they will send a code to that email — check your inbox (and spam folder), copy the code, and paste it into the box on the Microsoft website. If you set up a phone number, they will text or call you with a code instead. Enter that code.

Once Microsoft confirms it is you, you can create a new password right there on the website. The next time you sit down at your Windows 10 computer, use this new password to log in. This method works even if you are completely locked out of your computer.

Using a password reset disk if you created one before

A password reset disk is a USB drive or floppy disk (yes, they still work) that you create while you can still log in. If you made one before you forgot your password, it is the fastest way to get back in.

Plug the reset disk into your computer. At the login screen, click Reset Password. Windows will walk you through a short wizard. Select the disk drive where your reset disk is located, then click Next. Type a new password twice, add a hint if you want, and click Next. Click Finish. You can now log in with your new password.

If you never created a reset disk, you cannot create one now — Windows only lets you make a reset disk when you are already logged in. You will need to use one of the other methods below.

Creating a password reset disk right now (before you forget)

If you can still log in, you should create a reset disk when ready so you have a backup plan. Plug a blank USB drive into your computer. Open Control Panel by pressing the Windows key and typing Control Panel, then press Enter.

Click User Accounts. On the left side, click Create a password reset disk. The wizard will open. Click Next, then select your USB drive from the list. Click Next again. Enter your current password and click Next. Click Finish. Windows will create the disk — this takes less than a minute.

Label the USB drive clearly and store it somewhere safe. You can use it to reset your password anytime in the future, even years from now, as long as you still have the disk.

Reinstalling Windows 10 when you have no other option

If you are locked out of a local account, have no recovery email or phone set up, and never created a reset disk, reinstalling Windows is your remaining option. This erases everything on your computer unless you back it up first, so it should be your last resort.

You will need another computer and a blank USB drive (at least 8 GB). Go to microsoft.com/software-read/windows10 on the other computer. Click read Tool Now. Run the file, select Create Installation Media for Another PC, and follow the steps to put Windows 10 on your USB drive.

Plug the USB drive into your locked computer. Restart it and press the key that opens the boot menu — this is usually F12, F2, Esc, or Del, depending on your computer brand. Select your USB drive from the list. Windows Setup will start. Click Install Now, then I Don't Have a Product Key. Choose Windows 10 Home or Pro (match what you had before if you can), then click Next. When asked where to install, select your main drive and click Next. Windows will reinstall, which takes 20 to 30 minutes.

When Windows finishes, you will be at a fresh login screen with no accounts. Create a new local account or sign in with a Microsoft account. Your old files will be gone unless you backed them up to an external drive or cloud storage before you started.

Preventing this from happening again

Once you are back in, take five minutes to set up recovery options so you never get stuck again. Open Settings, go to Accounts, and click Sign-in Options. Under Recovery Options, add a recovery email address and a phone number. If you use a Microsoft account, you can also set up Windows Hello (face or fingerprint login) so you have a backup way to unlock your computer.

Create a password reset disk and store it somewhere you will remember. Write down your password in a find place — a password manager like Bitwarden or 1Password is better than a sticky note, but a sticky note in a locked drawer is better than nothing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I reset my Windows 10 password without a recovery email or phone?

Not from the login screen. If you have a password reset disk, that is your fastest option. If you do not, you will need to reinstall Windows using a USB drive created on another computer. There is no other way to reset a local account password without a recovery method already in place.

Will resetting my password delete my files?

No. Changing your password in Settings keeps all your files intact. Using a password reset disk also keeps your files. Only reinstalling Windows deletes your files — and only if you do not back them up first.

How long does it take to reset a Windows 10 password?

If you can log in and just want to change it, two minutes. If you are locked out of a Microsoft account and have a recovery email, five to ten minutes. If you need to reinstall Windows, 30 to 45 minutes including the time to create the installation USB.

Can I reset my password if I forgot my Microsoft account email too?

You will need to contact Microsoft support directly. Go to support.microsoft.com, search for account recovery, and select the option for accounts you cannot access. They will ask you security questions or other proof that you own the account before they help you regain access.

What if I get an error message when I try to reset my password?

The most common error is "The password does not meet the complexity requirements" — Windows 10 requires passwords to be at least 8 characters and include uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Try a password like MyNewPass123! instead of something straightforward. If you get a different error, write it down and search for it on Microsoft's support site or ask in a Windows forum.