The fastest way back in depends on what you remember
If you have forgotten your Windows 10 password, your quickest path back depends on whether you set up a recovery method when you created the account. If you linked a phone number or backup email address to your Microsoft account, you can reset the password from the login screen itself in about five minutes. If you set up a PIN or Windows Hello face recognition, you can use either of those instead. If you have none of these, you will need to use a local account recovery method or reinstall Windows — both take longer but are still possible.
The key difference is between a Microsoft account (which syncs across devices and has online recovery options) and a local account (which exists only on that computer). You can tell which you have by looking at the login screen: a Microsoft account shows an email address, while a local account shows just a username.
Key Takeaways
- If you have a Microsoft account with a recovery email or phone number on file, you can reset your password from the Windows 10 login screen without opening the computer.
- A PIN or Windows Hello face recognition can be used to log in even if you have forgotten your password, provided you set one up beforehand.
- If you have a local account with no recovery method, you will need to use password reset tools or reinstall Windows, both of which require a second computer or USB drive.
- Windows 10 installation media can be created on another computer and used to reset a local account password without losing your files.
Resetting a Microsoft account password from the login screen
On the Windows 10 login screen, look for the text "I forgot my password" below the password field. Click it. Windows will ask you to enter your email address or phone number associated with your Microsoft account.
Microsoft will send a code to that email or phone. Enter the code on the next screen, then create a new password. You can then log in with the new password. This method works even if you are not connected to the internet at the login screen — Windows will sync the password change once you connect.
If you do not see "I forgot my password" on your login screen, you have a local account, not a Microsoft account. Move to the local account section below.
Using a PIN or Windows Hello to bypass a forgotten password
If you set up a four-digit PIN or Windows Hello (face or fingerprint recognition) before you forgot your password, you can use either one to log in without entering your password at all. On the login screen, look for "Sign-in options" in the bottom left corner. Click it and select PIN or Windows Hello, depending on what you set up.
Once you are logged in, you can create a new password. Open Settings, go to Accounts, then select Password. Click "Add" to create a new password, or "Change" if one already exists. You will be asked to enter your current PIN or to use Windows Hello to verify your identity before you can set a new password.
Resetting a local account password with installation media
If you have a local account with no recovery email, phone, PIN, or Windows Hello set up, you will need a second computer and a USB drive (at least 8 GB) to reset your password. On the second computer, go to microsoft.com/software-read/windows10 and read the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool. Run it and select "Create installation media for another PC." Choose USB flash drive as your media type and follow the prompts.
Insert the USB drive into the locked computer and restart it. During startup, press the key that opens the boot menu — this is usually F12, F2, Esc, or Del, depending on your computer manufacturer. Select the USB drive from the boot menu. When the Windows 10 setup screen appears, press Shift + F10 to open Command Prompt.
In Command Prompt, type the following commands in order, pressing Enter after each one:
- diskpart
- list disk
- select disk 0 (or whichever disk number shows your main drive)
- list partition
- select partition 1
- assign letter=Z
- exit
- cd Z:\Windows\System32
- ren utilman.exe utilman.exe.bak
- copy cmd.exe utilman.exe
Restart the computer and remove the USB drive. At the login screen, click the Ease of Access button (bottom right corner). This will open Command Prompt. Type net user [username] [newpassword], replacing [username] with your account name and [newpassword] with your new password. Press Enter. You can now log in with your new password.
Using third-party password reset tools
Several tools exist that can reset a Windows 10 local account password without reinstalling Windows. Offline NT Password Editor and Ophcrack are two commonly used options. Both require you to create a bootable USB drive on another computer, insert it into the locked computer, and run the tool from startup.
These tools work by directly modifying the Windows password file. They do not require you to know your old password and do not delete your files. However, they take longer than the installation media method and require more technical steps. If the installation media method works for you, it is usually faster.
What to do if you cannot access a recovery email or phone
If you set up a Microsoft account but no longer have access to the recovery email address or phone number you registered, you can still recover your account through Microsoft's account recovery page at account.microsoft.com/security-info. Log in with any information you remember about the account, and Microsoft will ask you security questions or other verification methods to confirm your identity.
If you cannot answer the security questions either, you can provide a government-issued ID or other proof of identity. This process can take several days. In the meantime, if you have another device logged into the same Microsoft account, you can use that device to change your password, and the change will sync to your Windows 10 computer.
Preventing this from happening again
Once you are back in your account, set up at least one recovery method so you do not face this problem again. For a Microsoft account, go to account.microsoft.com/security-info and add a recovery email address and phone number. For any account, open Settings, go to Accounts, and set up a PIN under "Sign-in options." If your computer has a camera or fingerprint reader, set up Windows Hello as well.
Write down your recovery information and store it somewhere safe — not on the computer itself. If you use a password manager like Bitwarden or 1Password, you can store recovery codes there as well, but make sure you remember the master password to that tool.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I lose my files if I reset my password?
No. Resetting your password does not delete or modify any of your files, documents, photos, or programs. You will have full access to everything on your computer once you log in with the new password. The only thing that changes is the password itself.
Can I reset my password without a second computer?
Not if you have a local account with no recovery method set up. You need either a second computer to create installation media, or you need to have set up a PIN or Windows Hello beforehand. If you have a Microsoft account, you can reset it from the login screen on the same computer.
What if I do not remember my username either?
On the login screen, try common usernames like "Administrator" or your first name. If you still cannot remember it, you can see all local account names by restarting into Safe Mode and looking at the user selection screen. For a Microsoft account, the username is the email address you used to set it up.
Is it safe to use third-party password reset tools?
Tools like Offline NT Password Editor are widely used and safe if you read them from their official websites. However, they require you to boot from a USB drive, which means anyone with physical access to your computer could use the same method. If security is a concern, use the Windows installation media method instead, which is built into Windows itself.
Can I reset someone else's password on a Windows 10 computer?
These methods work only if you have physical access to the computer. If you are trying to regain access to your own account, these steps explore. If you are trying to access someone else's account without their permission, that is not something we can help with.