The fastest way to reset your password depends on what you remember
If you know your Microsoft account password, you can reset your Windows password from the login screen in under a minute. If you do not remember your Microsoft password, or if your account is local (not connected to Microsoft), the process takes longer and requires either a password reset disk you made earlier or access to a recovery email or phone number. The method that works for you depends on what type of account you have and what information you still have access to.
Start by looking at your login screen. If you see your email address or a Microsoft account name, you have a Microsoft account. If you see only a username with no email, you have a local account. This matters because the two types reset differently.
Key Takeaways
- Microsoft account passwords reset from the login screen using a recovery email or phone number, and take about five minutes.
- Local account passwords require a password reset disk created before you were locked out, or a second admin account on the same computer.
- If you have neither a recovery method nor a second admin account, you will need to reinstall Windows, which erases your files.
- Creating a password reset disk now prevents this problem later and takes less than five minutes.
Resetting a Microsoft account password from the login screen
On the login screen, click "I forgot my password" below the password field. Windows will ask you to verify your identity using a recovery email address or phone number associated with your Microsoft account. You will receive a code at that email or phone, enter it on the screen, and then create a new password.
The recovery email or phone number must be one you set up in advance — Windows cannot send a code to an address you just type in. If you do not remember what recovery method you used, or if you no longer have access to that email or phone, you will need to use a different method.
Once you create a new password, Windows will let you log in when ready. You do not need to restart the computer or do anything else.
Resetting a local account password using a password reset disk
If you created a password reset disk before you forgot your password, insert that disk or USB drive into your computer. On the login screen, click "Reset password" below the password field. Windows will walk you through creating a new password using the disk.
A password reset disk is a small file you create in advance — it is not a Windows installation disk. If you have never made one, you will not have one now. Creating one takes about three minutes and requires a USB drive or floppy disk (though floppy drives are rare on modern computers). You can create a reset disk after you regain access, so you never face this problem again.
Resetting a local account password using another admin account
If your computer has a second account with admin rights, you can log into that account and reset the forgotten password from there. Click the Start button, type "Computer Management" into the search box, and open it. Navigate to Local Users and Groups, then Users. Right-click the account you forgot the password for and select "Set Password". Windows will warn you that this action cannot be undone — this is normal. Create a new password and click OK.
You can now log out of the admin account and log into your account with the new password. This method works only if you have access to another account with admin rights on the same computer. If you are the only person who uses the computer and you do not have a second account, this method is not available to you.
What to do if you have no recovery method and no second account
If you do not have a password reset disk, a recovery email or phone number, or a second admin account, you will need to reinstall Windows. This erases all files on your computer unless you have them backed up elsewhere. The process takes about 30 minutes and requires a USB drive with Windows installation media on it.
You can create Windows installation media on another computer using the Windows Media Creation Tool, which Microsoft provides for free. Go to microsoft.com, search for "Windows Media Creation Tool", read it, and follow the instructions to create a bootable USB drive. Then insert that drive into your locked computer, restart it, and follow the on-screen prompts to reinstall Windows. You will lose all files stored on the computer unless you have a backup.
This is why creating a password reset disk or setting up a recovery email now is worth the five minutes it takes. Once you regain access to your computer, do one of those two things when ready so you never face this situation again.
Creating a password reset disk for future use
To create a password reset disk, you need a USB drive or external hard drive with at least 100 megabytes of free space. Plug it into your computer, click the Start button, and type "Create a password reset disk" into the search box. Open the result and follow the wizard. Windows will ask you to select the account and the drive, then create the disk. The whole process takes about three minutes.
Store the disk somewhere safe but accessible — a drawer in your desk is fine. If you ever forget your password, you can use this disk to reset it from the login screen without needing to remember anything else. You only need to create the disk once per account, and it works indefinitely.
Setting up a recovery email or phone for a Microsoft account
If you have a Microsoft account, you can add a recovery email address or phone number now so you never need a password reset disk. Click the Start button, type "Your info", and open "Your info" from the results. Click "Manage your Microsoft account" and sign in if prompted. Go to the Security tab and look for "Recovery info". Add an email address or phone number that you have access to and check regularly.
Microsoft will send a verification code to that email or phone to confirm it works. Once verified, you can use it to reset your password from the login screen if you ever forget it. Unlike a password reset disk, a recovery email or phone works from any computer, not just the one you set it up on.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I reset my password if I do not have a Microsoft account?
Yes, but only if you have a password reset disk you created earlier or a second admin account on the same computer. If you have neither, you will need to reinstall Windows. This is why local accounts are riskier — they have fewer ways to recover access if you forget the password.
Will resetting my password delete my files?
No. Resetting your password from the login screen, using a password reset disk, or using another admin account all leave your files untouched. Only reinstalling Windows deletes files, and only because you are replacing the entire operating system.
How long does it take to reset a Microsoft account password?
About five minutes. You click "I forgot my password" on the login screen, receive a code at your recovery email or phone, enter it, create a new password, and log in. The slowest part is usually waiting for the email or text to arrive.
Can I use someone else's recovery email to reset my password?
No. The recovery email or phone must be one you set up yourself and have access to. If you set up your account with a recovery email you no longer have access to, you will need to use a password reset disk or another admin account instead.
What if I reinstall Windows but still cannot log in?
During the Windows installation process, you will be asked to create a new account. Create an account with a password you will remember. Once Windows is installed and you are logged in, you can create additional accounts or change the account name if you want to match your old setup.