The fastest way back in: use your Microsoft account

If you signed into Windows 10 with a Microsoft account (the email address you use for Outlook, OneDrive, or Xbox), the quickest path is the password reset page on Microsoft's website. You do not need to be at your computer — you can do this from any device with internet access, including a phone.

Go to account.microsoft.com/security and select "Change your password" under the Security section. Microsoft will ask you to verify your identity by sending a code to your backup email or phone number. Once you confirm that code, you can create a new password. After you set it, return to your locked Windows 10 computer and sign in with your email and the new password.

This method works even if you cannot remember any security questions or recovery information — Microsoft prioritizes the email or phone number you provided when you created the account. The whole process usually takes under five minutes.

Key Takeaways

  • If you use a Microsoft account to sign in, reset your password at account.microsoft.com/security from any internet-connected device, then sign back into Windows with your new password.
  • If you use a local account (a username with no email), you will need a password reset disk created before you locked yourself out, or access to another admin account on the same computer.
  • Windows 10 security questions only work if you set them up before you forgot your password — you cannot create them after being locked out.
  • If you have no recovery options and no other admin account, you may need to reinstall Windows 10, which erases all files on the drive unless you back them up first.

Resetting a local account password with a recovery disk

A password reset disk is a USB drive you create in advance, before you forget your password. If you made one before locking yourself out, this is your fastest option. Plug the USB into your computer, click "Reset password" on the Windows login screen, and follow the wizard. Windows will let you create a new password without asking for your old one.

If you did not create a reset disk beforehand, you cannot make one now — Windows will not let you create recovery tools when you are already locked out. This is why creating one is worth doing as soon as you set up a new computer or account.

To create a reset disk for the future, sign in normally, open the Control Panel, search for "password reset disk," and follow the wizard. It takes about two minutes and requires only a USB drive you do not mind dedicating to this purpose.

Using another admin account on the same computer

If someone else uses the same Windows 10 computer with an admin account, they can reset your password without needing your old one. Have them sign in with their account, open Settings, go to Accounts, select "Other people," find your account name, and click "Reset password." They will not need to enter your current password — Windows allows admins to bypass that step.

This only works if the other person's account has admin rights. Standard user accounts cannot reset other passwords. If you are unsure whether an account is admin or standard, the person can check by opening Settings, going to Accounts, and looking at the account type listed under their name.

Security questions if you set them up beforehand

During Windows 10 setup, you have the option to add security questions to your account. If you answered these questions and then forgot your password, you can use them to reset it from the login screen. Click "Reset password," answer the questions you set up, and create a new password.

The catch: you must have answered these questions before you locked yourself out. You cannot add security questions after you have forgotten your password — Windows will not let you create new recovery options when you cannot sign in. If you see the security questions option on your login screen but do not remember the answers you gave, this path will not work.

Reinstalling Windows 10 as a last resort

If you have no password reset disk, no other admin account, no security questions you remember, and no access to a Microsoft account recovery email, your remaining option is to reinstall Windows 10. This erases everything on your hard drive unless you back it up first — and if you cannot sign in, backing it up is difficult.

To reinstall, you will need another computer to read the Windows 10 installation media from Microsoft's website onto a USB drive. Plug that USB into your locked computer, restart it, and boot from the USB (usually by pressing F12, F2, or Delete during startup — the key varies by computer brand). Follow the installation wizard, and Windows will let you create a new account and password.

Before you go this route, contact the computer manufacturer's support line or a local repair shop. Some manufacturers have tools to reset passwords without erasing your files, and a technician may be able to recover your data before reinstalling.

Preventing this from happening again

Once you are back in, take ten minutes to set up recovery options so you never get stuck again. If you use a Microsoft account, make sure your backup email and phone number are current in your account settings. If you use a local account, create a password reset disk and store it somewhere safe — a desk drawer or filing cabinet works fine.

You can also add a PIN or Windows Hello (fingerprint or face recognition) to your account as an alternative way to sign in. If you forget your password but remember your PIN, you can use the PIN to sign in and then reset the password from Settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I reset my password if I do not remember the answer to my security questions?

No. Security questions only work as a recovery method if you remember the answers you provided during setup. If you cannot answer them correctly, you will need to use a different recovery method — a password reset disk, another admin account, or a Microsoft account recovery email.

What if I forgot my Microsoft account password too?

Go to account.microsoft.com/security from any device and select "I forgot my password." Microsoft will send a verification code to your backup email or phone number. Once you confirm it, you can set a new password for your Microsoft account, then use that new password to sign into Windows.

Will resetting my password delete my files?

No. Resetting your password only changes how you sign in — your files, programs, and settings remain on the computer. The only method that deletes files is reinstalling Windows, which erases the entire drive.

Can I reset someone else's password without their permission?

Only if you have admin access to the same computer. If you are trying to access someone else's computer and you do not have admin rights, you cannot reset their password — that is a security feature to protect accounts from unauthorized access.

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

If you use a Microsoft account recovery email, it takes five to ten minutes. If you have a password reset disk or another admin account, it takes two to three minutes. If you need to reinstall Windows, plan for one to two hours depending on your internet speed and computer performance.