How Do I Find My Windows Password?

If you forgot or lost your password for Windows ten, Windows eight.1, or Windows 7, you may be able to modify or reset it. To get started, choose your version of Windows from the tabs below.

If y'all already know your current password and desire to change information technology

Select Commencement> Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options. Under Password, select Change and follow the directions.

Reset your Windows 11 local account password

If you've forgotten or lost your Windows 11 countersign for a local account and need to sign back in to your device, the beneath options might help y'all get upwards and running. For more info on local standard vs. authoritative accounts, meet Create a local user or administrator business relationship in Windows.

Windows 11

If you added security questions when you fix your local business relationship for Windows 11, then you tin can answer security questions to sign back in.

Afterwards you lot've entered an incorrect password:

Select the Reset password link on the sign-in screen. If you utilize a PIN instead, see Pin sign-in issues. If you're using a work device that'due south on a network, you may not see an option to reset your password or Pin. In that case, contact your administrator.

Notation:If you don't see security questions after you select the Reset password link, make sure your device name isn't the same as your local user account name (the name you see when yous sign in). To see your device proper name, right-clickStarting time, select System, and scroll to the Device specifications department. If the device name is the same as your business relationship name, you can create a new administrator account, sign in equally an ambassador, and then rename your PC (when yous view your device name, yous can also rename information technology).
Respond your security questions.
Enter a new password.
Sign in as usual with the new countersign.

Reset your Microsoft account password you use to sign in to your computer

On the sign-in screen, blazon your Microsoft account proper name if it's not already displayed. If there are multiple accounts on the figurer, choose the one you desire to reset. Beneath the password text box, selectI forgot my password. Follow the steps to reset your password.

For more than info, encounter Reset a forgotten Microsoft account password.

Troubleshoot bug signing in

If you're still having trouble signing to your account, meet more solutions in Troubleshoot problems signing in.

If you already know your electric current password and want to modify it

Select Kickoff > Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options . Under Password, select the Modify button and follow the steps.

Reset your Windows 10 local account password

If you've forgotten or lost your Windows x password for a local account and need to sign back in to your device, the below options might assistance yous get up and running. For more info on local standard vs. authoritative accounts, see Create a local user or ambassador business relationship in Windows 10.

Windows 10 version 1803 and subsequently

If you lot added security questions when you set upwards your local account for Windows 10, and so you have at least version 1803 and you can answer security questions to sign back in.

After you lot've entered an incorrect countersign:

Select the Reset password link on the sign-in screen. If you utilise a PIN instead, see PIN sign-in issues. If you're using a work device that's on a network, you lot may non see an option to reset your countersign or PIN. In that case, contact your administrator.

Annotation:If y'all don't run into security questions later yous select the Reset countersign link, make certain your device name isn't the same as your local user account proper name (the name you lot see when you sign in). To encounter your device name, correct-clickStart in the taskbar, select Organization, and scroll to the Device specifications section. If the device name is the same as your business relationship name, you can create a new administrator business relationship, sign in as an administrator, and so rename your PC (when you view your device name, you can also rename it).
Answer your security questions.
Enter a new countersign.
Sign in as usual with the new password.

Windows 10 earlier version 1803

For versions of Windows x before than 1803, local account passwords can't exist reset because there are no security questions. You tin reset your device to choose a new password, nevertheless this option will permanently delete your data, programs, and settings. If you've backed upwards your files you lot'll exist able to restore your deleted files. For more information, come across Recovery options in Windows 10.
To reset your device, which will delete data, programs, and settings:

Printing the Shift primal while you select the Power button > Restart in the lower-right corner of the screen.
On the Choose an option screen, select Troubleshoot > Reset this PC.
Select Remove everything.

Warning:Resetting your device will permanently delete data, programs, and settings.

Reset your Microsoft account password you use to sign in to your computer

On the sign-in screen, type your Microsoft business relationship proper noun if information technology'south not already displayed. If there are multiple accounts on the computer, choose the i you desire to reset. Beneath the countersign text box, selectI forgot my password. Follow the steps to reset your password.

For more info, encounter Reset a forgotten Microsoft account password.

Troubleshoot issues signing in

If yous're still having trouble signing to your account, meet more than solutions in Troubleshoot issues signing in.

Reset your countersign

If you've forgotten your Windows 8.ane countersign, there are several ways to retrieve or reset it:

If your PC is on a domain, your organization administrator must reset your password.
If you're using a Microsoft account, yous can reset your countersign online. For more info, run across How to reset your Microsoft account password.
If you're using a local account, use your password hint every bit a reminder.

If yous withal can't sign in, you must reinstall Windows. For Windows RT viii.1, contact your PC manufacturer.

More aid with passwords in Windows 8.1

If you forget or lose your password, see Reset your countersign above to reset or recover it.

If you call up your Microsoft business relationship password has been compromised or stolen past someone with malicious intent, we can aid. For more info, see When y'all can't sign in to your Microsoft account.

If you're signing in to simply your local PC, yes. Yet, we recommend that you keep your PC more than secure by using a stiff password. When you use a password, merely someone who knows it can sign in. If yous want to sign in to Windows with a Microsoft account, a password is required. For more info, see Tin I sign in to Windows without a password? To larn more about Microsoft accounts and local accounts, see Create a user account.

Stronger passwords contain a variety of characters, including majuscule and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols or spaces. A strong password should also be something that is difficult for a stranger to gauge or crack. It shouldn't incorporate a complete word, or easy-to-find details similar your real name, your user proper name, or your nascency engagement.

If yous're signing in to a Microsoft account, your password is limited to 16 characters. For more info virtually Microsoft accounts, see Create a user account.

You can update your password regularly to continue information technology more secure. If your PC isn't continued to a domain, follow these steps:

Swipe in from the correct edge of the screen, tap Settings, so tap Modify PC settings.
(If you're using a mouse, point to the lower-right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer upwards, click Settings, and so click Change PC settings.)
Tap or click Accounts, and so tap or click Sign-in options.
Tap or click Change your password and follow the instructions.

If your PC is connected to a domain, your system administrator might manage how often you lot must alter your password. To do so, choose 1 of the following:

If you're using a keyboard, printing Ctrl+Alt+Delete, tap or click Change a password, and follow the instructions.
If you're using a tablet, press and concur the Windows button, press the power button, and so tap or click Change a countersign and follow the instructions.

Information technology depends on whether you're using a tertiary-party email address. If your email address ends in outlook.com, hotmail.com, live.com, or another Microsoft service, changing the password for your Microsoft account also changes it for that email service.

Only you can use any email accost for your Microsoft account, even an email address from a third-political party spider web-based postal service service similar Google Post or Yahoo! Mail. When y'all cull a password for your Microsoft account, it doesn't modify the countersign you might need to apply to sign in to web mail on a 3rd-party site.

Create a moving picture countersign to sign in with gestures instead of by entering characters.

Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, tap Settings, and so tap Change PC settings.
(If you lot're using a mouse, indicate to the lower-right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer upwards, click Settings, and then click Change PC settings.)
Tap or click Accounts, and then tap or click Sign-in options.
Under Picture password, tap or click Add, and then follow the instructions.

When y'all cull a password for your user business relationship, it'due south important to pick something you lot can remember. You're going to need information technology over again after!

Of course, yous can also write your password downwards and go along it in a condom place. Taped to the underside of your laptop or the within of your desk drawer is probably not a good idea, yet. If yous practise write your password down, be sure to keep information technology separate from your PC.

For added security, use different passwords for different purposes. For example, it's a good idea to continue distinctly different passwords for a social networking account and your online bank business relationship.

If you practise forget or lose your password, at that place are notwithstanding several things you can try to reset or recover it. For more info, meet Reset your password to a higher place to reset or recover information technology.

Reset your countersign

The steps to reset your password will vary a flake depending on if your computer is on a domain, or in a workgroup. If your reckoner is function of a work or school arrangement in that location'south a adept chance it'southward office of a domain. If this is a domicile calculator it'southward virtually certainly in a workgroup.

My calculator is on a domain

Sign in with a domain account that has administrator permissions to this device. If yous're non sure, contact your organization's It admin for help.
Select the First push button , selectCommand Panel, selectUser Accounts, selectUser Accounts, and and then selectManage User Accounts. If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, blazon the countersign or provide confirmation.
On the Users tab, under Users for this computer, select the user account proper name, and and so selectReset Password.
Type the new password, confirm the new password, then selectOK.

Note:If you are logged on as an administrator, you can create and change passwords for all user accounts on the computer.

Warning:If you lot apply an administrator account to change a password for another account, any encrypted files or eastward mail service messages for that other account will no longer exist accessible to the person who was using that account.

My figurer is in a workgroup

If you type the wrong password when you attempt to log on, Windows displays a message that the password is incorrect. SelectOK to close the message.
SelectReset password, and so insert your password reset disk or USB flash drive.
Follow the steps in the Password Reset wizard to create a new password.
Log on with the new password. If you forget your password again, you can use the same password reset disk. You don't need to brand a new ane.

Change your password

Press Ctrl+Alt+Delete, and and so selectChange a password.
Blazon your onetime password followed by a new password equally indicated, and then type the new password once more to confirm it.
Press Enter.

Reset a forgotten Microsoft business relationship password

Modify your Microsoft account password

Reset your Windows local account password