The fastest way back in depends on what you remember

If you have forgotten your Windows 10 password, your path back in depends on whether you can answer your security questions, access your email, or use a PIN or fingerprint instead. Microsoft built three main routes into Windows 10, and the one that works fastest is the one that matches what you still have access to. None of them require you to reinstall Windows or erase your files.

The key difference between these routes is whether you are sitting at the login screen locked out right now, or whether you can still get into your computer but want to change the password before you forget it again. The steps are different, and one is much faster than the other.

Key Takeaways

  • If you are locked out at the login screen and remember your security questions or have access to your recovery email, you can reset your password directly from that screen without any special tools.
  • If you set up a PIN or Windows Hello fingerprint, you can use either one to get in even if you have forgotten your password, then change the password afterward.
  • If you are already logged in but want to change your password, the fastest route is Settings > Accounts > Your info > Password, which takes about two minutes.
  • If you cannot answer security questions and do not have access to your recovery email, you will need a password reset disk that you created before you got locked out, or you will need to contact Microsoft support.
  • Windows 10 does not let you reset a password using only your username — you must have one of these recovery methods in place.

Reset from the login screen using security questions

When you are locked out and sitting at the Windows 10 login screen, look for the text "I forgot my password" below the password field. Click it. Windows will ask you to answer the security questions you set up when you created your account — usually three questions about things like your first pet's name or the city where you were born.

Answer all three questions correctly, and Windows will let you create a new password right there on the login screen. You do not need internet access for this to work, and you do not need to restart your computer. Once you set the new password, you can log in when ready.

The catch is that you have to remember the answers you gave when you set up the account, even if those answers are not literally true anymore. If you cannot remember what you typed for "What is your mother's maiden name?" when you created the account three years ago, this route will not work.

Reset using your recovery email address

If you do not remember your security question answers, click "I forgot my password" again and look for the option to use your recovery email instead. Windows will send a reset link to the email address you registered with your Microsoft account.

You will need to be able to access that email account from another device — a phone, tablet, or another computer. Open the email from Microsoft, click the reset link, and create a new password. Then go back to your locked Windows 10 computer and log in with the new password.

This route works even if you have not used that email address in years, as long as you still have access to it. If you have lost access to the recovery email address and cannot answer security questions, you will need to contact Microsoft support or use a password reset disk if you created one before you got locked out.

Use a PIN or Windows Hello if you set one up

If you created a PIN (a four-digit or longer number) or set up Windows Hello (fingerprint or face recognition), you can use either one to log in even if you have forgotten your password. On the login screen, click "Sign in options" and choose PIN or Windows Hello instead of password.

Once you are logged in, you can change your password through Settings. Go to Settings > Accounts > Your info > Password > Change. Windows will ask you to enter your current PIN or use your fingerprint to confirm it is really you, then let you create a new password.

This is the fastest recovery route if you have it set up, because you do not have to answer questions or check your email — you just use what you already know or what your fingerprint already does.

Change your password while you are still logged in

If you have not forgotten your password yet but want to change it before you do, or if you are logged in on a different account with administrator rights, use the Settings menu. Open Settings, go to Accounts, then click "Your info" on the left side.

Click the "Password" section and then click "Change." Windows will ask you to enter your current password to confirm it is you. Type the new password twice — once to enter it and once to confirm you typed it correctly — then click "Next" and "Finish."

This method takes about two minutes and does not require security questions or email access. It is the easiest way to change your password if you still remember the old one.

Use a password reset disk if you created one

If you created a password reset disk before you got locked out, you can use it to reset your password without answering questions or accessing email. A password reset disk is a USB drive or floppy disk that stores a recovery key — it is not a full backup of your computer.

Insert the disk into your locked computer, click "I forgot my password" on the login screen, and Windows will recognize the disk and let you create a new password. You do not need to restart or boot from the disk; Windows finds it automatically.

The problem is that most people do not create a password reset disk until after they have already forgotten their password, which is too late. If you get back into your computer using one of the other methods, create a reset disk right away so you have this option next time.

What to do if none of these routes work

If you cannot answer security questions, do not have access to your recovery email, did not create a PIN or Windows Hello, and do not have a password reset disk, you will need to contact Microsoft support. You can reach them through the Microsoft account recovery page at account.microsoft.com/account/recover.

Microsoft will ask you to verify your identity using other information associated with your account — such as a phone number, an alternate email address, or a recent purchase made with that account. The process usually takes a few hours to a few days, depending on how much information you can provide.

If you cannot verify your identity to Microsoft's satisfaction, your only other option is to reinstall Windows 10, which will erase everything on your computer. This is why setting up security questions, a recovery email, and a PIN or Windows Hello before you get locked out is worth the five minutes it takes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I reset my password without a Microsoft account?

Windows 10 allows local accounts that are not tied to a Microsoft account. If you have a local account and forget the password, you can still use security questions or a password reset disk if you set them up. If you did not set up either one, you will need to reinstall Windows or contact Microsoft support for help recovering the account.

What if I get the security questions wrong?

Windows 10 gives you three attempts to answer the security questions correctly. If you fail all three, you will be locked out of that recovery method and will need to use your recovery email or a password reset disk instead. Take your time and think carefully about what you actually typed when you created the account, not what the true answer is.

Do I need internet to reset my password at the login screen?

You do not need internet to reset using security questions or a password reset disk. You do need internet access on another device to reset using your recovery email, since you have to receive and click a link from Microsoft. Once you have created the new password, you can log into your Windows 10 computer without internet.

Will resetting my password delete my files?

No. Resetting your password using any of these methods changes only the password itself. Your files, programs, and settings stay exactly where they are. You will be able to access everything once you log in with the new password.

Can I reset the password for another user account on the same computer?

If you have administrator rights on the computer, you can reset another user's password through Settings > Accounts > Other people, then click the account and select "Reset password." If you do not have administrator rights, you cannot reset another account's password — only that person can do it using their own recovery methods.