The fastest way depends on what you remember

If you know your current password, you can change it in Settings in under a minute. If you've forgotten it entirely, you have three real options: use a password reset disk if you made one before, sign in with a Microsoft account and reset online, or create a new local account and recover your files later. Which one works depends on what you set up when you first installed Windows.

The worst-case scenario — locked out with no reset disk and no Microsoft account linked — requires either a Windows installation disk or help from someone with administrator access to the machine. This section covers what to do in each situation, in the order that works fastest.

Key Takeaways

  • If you remember your password, go to Settings > Accounts > Your info and click "Change your password" — this takes two minutes and requires your current password once.
  • If you forgot your password but set up a Microsoft account, sign in at account.microsoft.com from another device and use "Reset your password" to get a code sent to your email or phone.
  • If you created a password reset disk before you forgot your password, plug it in at the login screen, click "Reset password", and follow the wizard — this works even if you have no other access.
  • If you have none of these, create a new local account from the login screen using "I forgot my password" > "Reset it with security questions", then log in as administrator and copy your files to the new account.
  • A Windows 10 installation disk or USB drive can reset a local account password, but requires either the disk itself or access to another computer to create one.

Changing your password when you still remember it

Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "settings", then press Enter. Click Accounts in the left sidebar, then click Your info at the top.

Click the blue Change your password button. Windows will ask you to enter your current password once to confirm it's really you. Type it and click Next. Then type your new password twice — once in "New password" and once in "Confirm password" — and click Next again. Windows will show "Your password has been changed" and you're done.

This method works for both Microsoft accounts and local accounts. You do not need internet access, and the change takes effect when ready.

Resetting a Microsoft account password from another device

If your Windows 10 login is tied to a Microsoft account (you sign in with an email address), you can reset your password without touching the locked computer. Go to account.microsoft.com from any device with internet access — a phone, tablet, or another computer.

Click Sign in, then click Can't access your account? below the password field. Type the email address you use to sign in to Windows. Microsoft will ask you to prove you own the account by sending a code to your email or phone number. Choose whichever one you have access to right now, and Microsoft will send the code within seconds.

Enter the code, then create a new password. Once Microsoft confirms the change, go back to your locked Windows 10 computer and sign in with your email address and the new password. This usually works within a few minutes, though it can take up to an hour for the change to sync to your computer.

Using a password reset disk you created before

If you created a password reset disk on a USB drive or floppy disk before you forgot your password, plug it into the locked computer now. At the Windows login screen, click Reset password below the password field.

Windows will open the "Reset Password Wizard". Click Next, then select the USB drive or disk from the list and click Next again. Type your new password twice and click Next. Windows will show "Your password has been reset successfully" — click Finish, then sign in with your new password.

This method works even if you have no other access to the computer or the internet. The reset disk is tied to your specific account, so it only works on the computer where you created it.

Creating a new account and recovering your files

If you have no password reset disk and no Microsoft account, you can create a new local account from the login screen. Click I forgot my password below the password field. Windows will ask security questions — these are questions you answered when you set up your account, like "What is your mother's maiden name?"

Answer the questions correctly and Windows will let you create a new password for your account. Sign in with this new password. Once you're in, your files are still there — they're in your user folder, which you can access normally.

If you can't remember the answers to your security questions, this method won't work. In that case, you'll need either a Windows installation disk or help from someone with administrator access to the computer.

Using a Windows installation disk or USB drive

If you have a Windows 10 installation disk or USB drive, plug it into the locked computer and restart. The computer will boot from the disk instead of the hard drive. When you see "Windows Setup", press Shift + F10 to open Command Prompt.

Type the following command and press Enter: net user [username] [newpassword]. Replace [username] with the account name you're locked out of and [newpassword] with whatever you want the new password to be. For example: net user james newpassword123. Windows will confirm "The command completed successfully."

Remove the disk, restart the computer normally, and sign in with your account name and the new password you just set. This method works for any local account, but you need the installation disk itself — you cannot create one from the locked computer.

Getting help from another administrator on the computer

If someone else has an administrator account on the same computer, they can reset your password without a disk or Microsoft account. Have them sign in to their account, then open Settings > Accounts > Other people. They'll see your account listed.

They should click your account, then click Reset password. Windows will ask them to create a new password for you. Once they do, you can sign in with that new password. You can change it again when ready using the "Changing your password when you still remember it" method above.

This only works if the other person has administrator access. A standard user account cannot reset another account's password.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between a Microsoft account and a local account?

A Microsoft account uses an email address to sign in and syncs your settings across devices. A local account is specific to one computer and uses a username instead of an email. You can tell which one you have by looking at the login screen — if it shows an email address, it's a Microsoft account. If it shows a username, it's local.

Can I reset my password without losing my files?

Yes. All the methods in this guide preserve your files — they only change the password. Your documents, photos, and programs stay exactly where they are. The only exception is if you create a completely new account, in which case your files are still on the computer but in a different user folder.

How do I create a password reset disk before I forget my password?

Open Control Panel, search for "password reset disk", and click "Create a password reset disk". Windows will walk you through plugging in a USB drive and saving the reset file. Keep the drive somewhere safe — if you lose it, you lose this recovery option.

What if I don't have a Windows installation disk and can't answer my security questions?

You'll need help from someone with administrator access to the computer, or you'll need to obtain a Windows 10 installation disk from another computer. If neither is possible, you may need to contact Microsoft Support or take the computer to a repair shop.

Will resetting my password affect my programs or internet connection?

No. Resetting your password only changes how you sign in — it doesn't touch your programs, files, settings, or network connection. Everything else stays the same.