How to reset your Windows 10 password

Martin Brinkmann
Jul 31, 2016
Updated • Jul 5, 2017
Tutorials, Windows 10
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You are asked to enter an account password on most Windows 10 machines before you get access to the operating system.

Windows 10 users may choose a variety of authentication options: from traditional passwords to a Pin, or biometric authentication options called Windows Hello that let you sign in with your fingerprint or face.

Most Windows 10 users are probably signing in to accounts using passwords though.

Tip: if you are the only user on a machine, set it up to sign in automatically on Windows 10.

Windows 10 supports two different account types: local accounts and Microsoft accounts. Local accounts are identical to accounts on previous versions of Windows. Data is stored locally, and the account is only known on the local device.

A Microsoft Account on the other hand is an online account, and as such, introduces new options to reset the account password should the need arise.

Windows 10: local account vs Microsoft account

windows 10 accounts

The main distinguishing factor is that Microsoft accounts use email addresses as the username. Also, a local account works only on the machine you create it on, while you may use the same Microsoft Account on any device you own, and on the Internet to access Microsoft services such as OneDrive or Office365.

Basic Windows 10 settings are also synced across devices that you sign in with the same account.

Another difference is that local accounts can only be attacked on the local machine, while Microsoft Accounts may be attacked online as well.

A Microsoft Account is required to interact with Windows Store. Last but not least, a Microsoft Account can never have a blank password, while a local account can.

If you still have access to the Windows 10 device, you can find out which account type you use in the following way:

  1. Use Windows-I to open the Settings application.
  2. Navigate to Accounts.
  3. There you should see listed whether the account in question is a local or Microsoft account. The Microsoft Account is listed with its email address.

windows 10 all accounts

If the settings application does not work for you, or if you want to check other accounts on the system as well, do the following:

  1. Make sure you are signed in as an administrator.
  2. Press Windows-Pause to open the System Control Panel applet.
  3. Select Control Panel Home.
  4. Select User Accounts. You see whether the current account is a local one or not right there.
  5. Select Manage another account.
  6. The next page lists all accounts, and whether they are local or Microsoft accounts.

Resetting a Microsoft Account password

Microsoft puts Microsoft Accounts front and center on Windows 10 by making it the default option during setup. It is likely that the majority of users are signing in using Microsoft Accounts and not local accounts because of that.

Good news is that it is easy to reset the Microsoft account password.

Step 1: Open the Password Reset page on the Internet

i forgot my password

Since you are using a Microsoft Account, you may reset it on the Internet. That is handy if you are locked out of your PC but have a smartphone or other device with Internet access as you can use those for that.

The "why can't you sign in" page lists three options:

  1. I forgot my password.
  2. I know my password, but can't sign in.
  3. I think someone else is using my Microsoft Account.

Select "I forgot my password" and click on next to continue.

Step 2: Enter Microsoft Account email address

recover your account

Enter the email address or phone number associated with the Microsoft account on the page that opens.

You are also asked to solve a captcha on the page. If you find it hard to solve, try the audio button and listen to it instead.

Click next once you have entered your information on the screen.

Step 3: Verify your identity

verify identity account

You need to verify your identity on the next page. Microsoft lists options on the page that depend on information you provided the company with earlier.

You will see listed the primary email address associated with the account, but may also get options to use text, secondary email addresses or an application.

If you select email or text, Microsoft generates and sends a code to the email or phone number which is used to verify ownership of the account.

Step 4: Enter Code

enter security code

The code is a seven digit number that you need to enter on the next page. For that to work, you need access to your mobile phone or email account.

Step 5: Two-factor authentication

password reset one more time

If you have enabled two-factor authentication -- you should -- you are asked to repeat the same step again, but with another verification option.

You are asked to enter the second code on the next page to complete the process.

Step 6: Reset your password

reset your password

If verification was successful, you may select a new account password for your Microsoft account on the next page.

The password needs to be at least eight characters and cannot be the same password that you used previously.

your account has been recovered

Please note that users signed in to the account on a Windows 10 machine won't be logged out once the password is changed.

The password won't be accepted anymore however when they try to sign in the next time on the device. Also, some features that rely on a Microsoft Account won't work anymore immediately. This is for instance the case when you try to access Windows Store.

Resetting a local Windows account

Local accounts are a different beast as you cannot use a handy online form to reset the account password.

You can check out our reset local Windows password guide for starters, or use one of the following tools or guides instead.

Tools

Guides

Summary
How to reset your Windows 10 password
Article Name
How to reset your Windows 10 password
Description
Windows won't accept your password? Forgot your Windows password? Find out how to reset the password to regain account access.
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Ghacks Technology News
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Comments

  1. Pally said on November 29, 2017 at 3:18 am
    Reply

    your password for windows 10 depends on what system you have;
    for example, a windows id password (linked to a Microsoft Account) takes about a month to reset and can only be done from their i.e, Microsoft end

    a local admin account can be reset any time by any user that has (at least) a admin account… there is a default admin account built into windows in case you manage to lock your self out.

  2. kelo1 said on June 20, 2017 at 4:30 pm
    Reply

    Thanks for the infos

  3. Zailly said on June 14, 2017 at 5:41 am
    Reply

    your password for windows 10 depends on what system you have;
    for example, a windows id password (linked to a Microsoft Account) takes about a month to reset and can only be done from their i.e, Microsoft end

    a local admin account can be reset any time by any user that has (at least) a admin account… there is a default admin account built into windows in case you manage to lock your self out

    p.s, how hard it is to legally hack the files without resetting your password has a lot of possible issues; antivirus, locked home group and 3rd party encryption can all make this very hard but in any event this has NOTHING to do with Adobe and should be asked elsewhere.
    source: https://www.tunesbro.com/reset-windows-10-password.html

  4. Ozil said on September 20, 2016 at 9:09 am
    Reply

    There are so many recommendations, it would be much better to pick up the best from the list. I had the fortune to get back my password with ntpasswd (windows XP/Vista) and UUKeys Windows Password Recovery (Windows 10). For beginner users, the later is much better because it has an intuitive user interface.

  5. Sonnly said on September 9, 2016 at 9:03 am
    Reply

    You’ll need a Ubuntu 9.10 Live CD, or a bootable Ubuntu 9.10 Flash Drive. If you don’t have one, or have forgotten how to boot from the flash drive, check out our article on creating a bootable Ubuntu 9.10 flash drive.

    http://www.iseepassword.com/reset-windows-password-with-ubuntu-free.html

    The program that lets us manipulate Windows passwords is called chntpw.

    1. Mosies said on September 28, 2016 at 4:21 am
      Reply

      Hi Sonnly! Obviously most of the images in your link are illegally copied from this original post:
      http://www.chntpw.com/reset-windows-7-admin-password-with-ubuntu/

  6. Hot12345 said on August 1, 2016 at 12:04 am
    Reply

    Will ” Offline NT Password & Registry Editor ” work for Windows 10? I see only last time updated in 2014.. Can somebody confirm that it works?

    1. Anita said on August 1, 2016 at 5:32 pm
      Reply

      To get Offline NT Password & Registry Editor to work, you need to enable legacy bios mode and turn off secure boot:
      http://www.top-password.com/blog/set-windows-8-pc-to-boot-with-legacy-bios-mode-instead-of-uefi-mode/

      This software supports local account only.

  7. Anita said on July 31, 2016 at 5:03 pm
    Reply

    I prefer PCUnlocker and Ophcrack. They are also good password tools for Windows.

    1. Riva said on June 12, 2017 at 7:50 am
      Reply

      It worked great! I’m back in my computer now. Thanks a lot!

  8. Dave said on July 31, 2016 at 11:58 am
    Reply

    Or install windows 7 before the “could” based windows 8, 8.1 and 10 were released and solve all your problems.

    1. Dvae said on July 31, 2016 at 4:35 pm
      Reply

      “cloud”

      joking :P

      I used to get windows xp password once, I forgot the software name but it truly can get the password..
      I heard that windows already changed how they store password so I don’t know if it still works or not

      1. Tank said on April 18, 2017 at 11:47 am
        Reply

        The program is called UUkeys Windows Password Mate. It can reset password of all local accounts.

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