The fastest way depends on what you remember and what you set up before
If you can still log into Windows but forgot your password, use the built-in reset tool on the sign-in screen. If you are completely locked out, your options narrow to recovery methods you set up earlier — a backup email, a phone number, or a recovery key. Microsoft accounts (the kind that sync across devices) reset differently than local accounts (passwords stored only on that computer). The method that works fastest is the one you prepared for before you got locked out, which is why setting up recovery options now matters even if your memory is fine today.
Your path forward depends on three things: whether you use a Microsoft account or a local account, whether you set up recovery methods before you got locked out, and whether another person with admin access to this computer is available. This guide walks through each scenario in order, starting with the fastest routes and ending with what to do if none of those explore.
Key Takeaways
- On the Windows sign-in screen, click "I forgot my password" to reset a Microsoft account using a recovery email or phone number you registered earlier.
- For a local account, you need either a password reset disk you created before, or another 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 all files on that drive.
- Setting up a recovery email and phone number for a Microsoft account takes two minutes and prevents lockouts from becoming permanent.
- A password reset disk created now works even years later and requires only a USB drive and five minutes of setup.
Resetting a Microsoft account from the sign-in screen
When you see the Windows sign-in screen and cannot remember your password, look for the text "I forgot my password" below the password field. Click it. Windows will ask you to enter your Microsoft account email address, then send a code to the recovery email or phone number you registered with Microsoft.
Open the email or text message, copy the code, and enter it on the screen. Microsoft will then let you create a new password. This works only if you set up a recovery email or phone number before you got locked out. If you did not, this path closes and you will need a different method.
After you reset your password this way, Windows syncs the new password across all your devices that use the same Microsoft account. Your files in OneDrive and your Microsoft Store apps remain accessible when ready. The entire process usually takes five to ten minutes from the moment you click "I forgot my password" to the moment you are back at your desktop.
Using a password reset disk for a local account
A password reset disk is a USB drive you create in advance that unlocks a local account without needing to know the password. If you made one before you forgot your password, insert it into the computer now.
On the sign-in screen, enter any password (it does not matter if it is wrong), then click "Reset password". Windows will detect the USB drive and walk you through creating a new password. The disk itself stays unchanged and works again the next time you need it.
If you never created a reset disk, you cannot create one now — you need to be logged in to make one. This is why creating one takes only five minutes but saves hours later. The disk works indefinitely, even if you change your password multiple times after creating it.
Logging in with a different admin account on the same computer
If another person has an admin account on this computer, they can log in and reset your password without needing your old one. They should go to Settings, then search for "manage other accounts" or "change account settings", find your account name, and select "Reset password".
They will not need your old password — Windows lets any admin reset any other account's password. After they reset it, you can log in with the new password they created. This is the fastest option if you have a family member or colleague with admin access to the same computer.
This method works only if you have physical access to the computer and another admin account exists on it. If you are the only admin, this path does not work. If you are not sure whether another admin account exists, ask anyone else who uses this computer regularly.
What to do if you have no recovery method set up
If you have no recovery email, no phone number, no reset disk, and no other admin account, Windows cannot let you in without reinstalling the operating system. This is by design — it prevents someone else from resetting your password without your permission, but it also locks you out completely if you lose access to your recovery methods.
Reinstalling Windows erases everything on the drive where Windows is installed. You will need a USB drive with Windows on it (you can create this on another computer using the Windows Media Creation Tool from Microsoft's website) and about 30 minutes. After reinstalling, you can set up a new account and create recovery methods when ready.
Before you reinstall, check whether your files are on a different drive or backed up to cloud storage. Files on a separate drive letter (D:, E:, etc.) usually survive a Windows reinstall, but files in your user folder on the C: drive do not. If your important files are only on the C: drive and not backed up elsewhere, you may want to consult a data recovery service before reinstalling, though this is expensive and not always successful.
Setting up recovery methods before you need them
For a Microsoft account, open Settings, search for "security", and click "Security info". Add a recovery email address and a phone number. Microsoft will send a verification code to each one — you need to confirm both work before they count as recovery methods. This takes about five minutes and prevents most lockouts.
For a local account, open Settings, search for "password reset disk", and follow the wizard to create one on a USB drive. Label the drive clearly and store it somewhere safe but accessible — a desk drawer, not a safe deposit box you cannot reach on a weekend. Creating the disk takes about five minutes the first time.
Both of these steps work only when you are logged in and can remember your current password. Doing them now, before you forget anything, is the difference between a 10-minute fix and a complete reinstall. If you use a password manager like Bitwarden or 1Password, write down your recovery email and phone number there as well, so you have a backup record.
Why you cannot reset a password you never set
If Windows is set to log in automatically and you have never typed a password, you may not know what it is. On the sign-in screen, you cannot use "I forgot my password" because there is no password to reset. Instead, you need to create one.
Click "Sign-in options" at the bottom of the sign-in screen. You may see a PIN option or a Windows Hello option (fingerprint or face recognition). If you set up either of those, use it to log in. Once you are in, go to Settings, search for "password", and create a password under "Change your password". After that, you can use the normal reset process if you forget it.
If you did not set up a PIN or Windows Hello either, and you cannot remember the password, you are in the same situation as someone with no recovery methods — you will need to reinstall Windows or have another admin reset the account for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I reset my password without a recovery email or phone number?
Not without additional steps. If you have a password reset disk or another admin account on the computer, either of those works. Otherwise, you will need to reinstall Windows. This is why adding a recovery email and phone number to your Microsoft account takes priority — it closes the gap between forgetting your password and losing access to your computer entirely.
How long does it take to reset a password through Microsoft?
Usually a few minutes. Microsoft sends a code to your recovery email or phone, you enter it, and you create a new password. The code expires after a set time (usually 15 minutes), so if you do not see the email or text right away, check your spam folder or wait a moment and request a new code.
If I reset my password, do I lose my files?
No. Resetting your password does not touch your files, your programs, or your settings. Everything stays where it is. Only the password changes. If you have to reinstall Windows because you have no recovery method, then you do lose files on the C: drive, but a password reset alone does not.
Can I use the same password I used before?
Yes, Windows allows it. However, if you forgot your old password, you probably should not reuse it — pick something new that you can remember or write down securely. If you use a password manager (like Bitwarden or 1Password), store the new password there instead of trying to remember it.
What if I reset my password but still cannot log in?
Wait a few minutes — sometimes the password change takes time to sync, especially on a Microsoft account. If you still cannot log in after 10 minutes, try restarting the computer. If that does not work, you may have entered the new password incorrectly during setup. Use the same recovery method again to reset it a second time.