Change or reset your Windows password

If you forgot or lost your password for Windows 10, Windows 8.1, or Windows 7, you may be able to change or reset it. To get started, choose your version of Windows from the Select Product Version drop-down menu.

If you already know your current password and want to change it

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

Reset your Windows 10 local account password

If you’ve forgotten or lost your Windows 10 password for a local account and need to sign back in to your device, the below options might help you get up and running. For more info on local standard vs. administrative accounts, see Create a local user or administrator account in Windows 10.

Windows 10 version 1803 and later

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

After you’ve entered an incorrect password:

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

Note: 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 you sign in). To see your device name, right-click Start in the taskbar, select System, andscroll to the Device specifications section. If the device name is the same as your account name, you can create a new administrator account, sign in as an administrator, and then rename your PC (when you view your device name, you can also rename it).

Answer your security questions.

Enter a new password.

Sign in as usual with the new password.

Windows 10 before version 1803

For versions of Windows 10 earlier than 1803, local account passwords can’t be reset because there are no security questions. You can reset your device to choose a new password, however this option will permanently delete your data, programs, and settings. If you’ve backed up your files you’ll be able to restore your deleted files. For more information, see Recovery options in Windows 10.
To reset your device, which will delete data, programs, and settings:

Press the Shift key 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 account name if it’s not already displayed. If there are multiple accounts on the computer, choose the one you want to reset. Below the password text box, select I forgot my password. Follow the steps to reset your password.

Troubleshoot problems signing in

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

Reset your password

Note: If you’ve forgotten your Windows 10 password, see Reset your Windows 10 local account password.

If you’ve forgotten your Windows 8.1 password, there are several ways to retrieve or reset it:

If your PC is on a domain, your system administrator must reset your password.

If you’re using a Microsoft account, you can reset your password online. For more info, see How to reset your Microsoft account password.

If you’re using a local account, use your password hint as a reminder.

If you still can’t sign in, you must reinstall Windows. For Windows RT 8.1, contact your PC manufacturer.

More help with passwords in Windows 8.1

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

If you think your Microsoft account password has been compromised or stolen by someone with malicious intent, we can help. For more info, see When you can’t sign in to your Microsoft account.

If you’re signing in to only your local PC, yes. However, we recommend that you keep your PC more secure by using a strong password. When you use a password, only someone who knows it can sign in. If you want to sign in to Windows with a Microsoft account, a password is required. For more info, see Can I sign in to Windows without a password? To learn more about Microsoft accounts and local accounts, see Create a user account.

Stronger passwords contain a variety of characters, including uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols or spaces. A strong password should also be something that is difficult for a stranger to guess or crack. It shouldn’t contain a complete word, or easy-to-find details like your real name, your user name, or your birth date.

If you’re signing in to a Microsoft account, your password is limited to 16 characters. For more info about Microsoft accounts, see Create a user account.

You can update your password regularly to keep it more secure. If your PC isn’t connected to a domain, follow these steps:

Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, tap Settings, and then tap Change PC settings.
(If you’re using a mouse, point to the lower-right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer up, click Settings, and then click Change PC settings.)

Tap or click Accounts, and then 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 frequently you must change your password. To do so, choose one of the following:

If you’re using a keyboard, press Ctrl+Alt+Delete, tap or click Change a password, and follow the instructions.

If you’re using a tablet, press and hold the Windows button, press the power button, and then tap or click Change a password and follow the instructions.

It depends on whether you’re using a third-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.

But you can use any email address for your Microsoft account, even an email address from a third-party web-based mail service like Google Mail or Yahoo! Mail. When you choose a password for your Microsoft account, it doesn’t change the password you might need to use to sign in to web mail on a third-party site.

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

Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, tap Settings, and then tap Change PC settings.
(If you’re using a mouse, point to the lower-right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer up, 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 you choose a password for your user account, it’s important to pick something you can remember. You’re going to need it again later!

Of course, you can also write your password down and keep it in a safe place. Taped to the underside of your laptop or the inside of your desk drawer is probably not a good idea, however. If you do write your password down, be sure to keep it separate from your PC.

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

If you do forget or lose your password, there are still several things you can try to reset or recover it. For more info, see Reset your password above to reset or recover it.

Reset your password

My computer is on a domain

Select the Start button , select Control Panel, select User Accounts, select User Accounts, and then select Manage User Accounts. If you’re prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

On the Users tab, under Users for this computer, select the user account name, and then select Reset Password.

Type the new password, confirm the new password, and then select OK.

My computer 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. Select OK to close the message.

Select Reset password, and then 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 make a new one.

Note: If an administrator resets your password, you might lose access to some of your files.

Change your password

Press Ctrl+ Alt+ Delete, and then select Change a password.

Type your old password followed by a new password as indicated, and then type the new password again to confirm it.

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 use an administrator account to change a password for another account, any encrypted files or e mail messages for that other account will no longer be accessible to the person who was using that account.

When you can’t reset your Microsoft account password

We recommend following the steps in this order to assist you with resetting your Microsoft account password.

Can’t reset password

Tip: If you want to make changes to a known Microsoft account password, see Change your Microsoft account password instead.

If you couldn’t reset your password

If you weren’t successful with Step 1: Reset a forgotten Microsoft account password it could be because you no longer have access to your security contact info or because when you created your account you never set up an identification recovery and verification alternative.

Before moving on to the next section: Step 3: Fill out the Microsoft account recovery form, be sure to read through and try the tips below.

Check for incorrect account or password entries

Try signing in again and make sure you’re entering the password correctly. Remember passwords are case sensitive. Check that all caps aren’t on and make sure there aren’t any other typos in your password.

Make sure you entered your email address correctly and that you’re using the correct domain name (this is the part of the email address that appears after the @ symbol). For example, perhaps you wrote the email address as your name>@outlook.com when it should have been your name>@hotmail.com.

Check your browser

Clear your browser history (here’s how in Microsoft Edge and in Internet Explorer).

Try signing in to your account from a different internet browser.

Check for saved passwords in your browser or on devices where you might have saved the password.

Try to recall when you last used the account

If you haven’t used this account in a long time and you didn’t close it yourself, the account may have been closed because of inactivity. If there hasn’t been any activity on an account, Microsoft will only keep it open for a set time period. For more information, see Your account is closed.

Try a different way to sign in

If you previously set up a Windows Hello pin for this account, go to the device to try and recover your account. For example, if you’ve been locked out of your Windows PC for any reason, start by going to the login screen and clicking the “I Forgot My PIN” link. For more information, see Reset your PIN when you’re signed out on Windows 10.

If these solutions didn’t work.

If you still can’t reset your password, the next step is to fill out the account recovery form. We will need to answer several questions about this account which will help Microsoft determine the account belongs to you and not an unauthorized individual. Move to the next step:

Сброс забытого пароля учетной записи Майкрософт

Рекомендуется выполнять следующие шаги в указанном порядке при сбросе параметров вашей учетной записи Майкрософт или для восстановления вашей учетной записи в случае неудачной попытки сброса параметров.

Совет: Ниже описаны шаги для забытого пароля. Если вы хотите изменить известный пароль учетной записи Майкрософт, см. раздел Изменение пароля к учетной записи Майкрософт.

Сброс пароля

Если введенный вами пароль неверный, то отобразится следующее сообщение:

Неверная учетная запись или пароль. Если вы не помните свой пароль, то сбросьте его сейчас.

Для решения проблем с паролем мы рекомендуем выполнить шаги ниже. Если вы уже сделали попытку, но она не сработала, то переходите к Шагу 2: Если не удается сбросить пароль:

1. Выберите пункт «Забыли пароль?»

Если окно «Введите пароль» еще открыто, то выберите пункт Забыли пароль?

(Или перейдите непосредственно к пункту Сбросить пароль и повторно введите имя пользователя для учетной записи, параметры которой вы сбрасываете, и нажмите Далее).

2. Проверка удостоверения

Для вашей защиты корпорация Майкрософт должна проверить ваше удостоверение, прежде чем вы сможете продолжить сброс пароля.

Способ проверки удостоверения зависит от того, добавляли ли вы ранее сведения о безопасности к своей учетной записи и можете ли вы получить к ним доступ. Выберите из двух вариантов ниже:

Вариант 1. Вы получили и можете выбрать вариант проверки

Выберите вариант, на который нужно отправить код проверки.

Способ 2. Варианты проверки отсутствуют или вы больше не можете получить доступ ни к одному из них

Если вы не видите вариант, на который отправить код, или у вас больше нет доступа ни к одному из показанных вариантов подтверждения, то вы не сможете сбросить пароль таким образом.

Попробуйте решения из Шага 2: Если не удается сбросить пароль: Если и эти решения тоже не работают или если вы выбрали «Не удается получить код с этой страницы подтверждения», то вы начнете процесс восстановления учетной записи.

Перейдите непосредственно к Шагу 3: Справка по форме восстановления учетной записи Майкрософт для получения советов по выполнению этой процедуры.

3. Получение кода проверки

В зависимости от выбранного вами способа связи повторно введите первую часть адреса электронной почты или последние четыре цифры номера телефона, упомянутого в предыдущем окне.

Выберите Получить код.

Корпорация Майкрософт отправит код проверки на выбранный вами адрес электронной почты или номер телефона.

Перейдите на телефон для восстановления или адрес электронной почты, на который вы ожидаете получить код.

Совет: Если вы не получили сообщение, то проверьте папку нежелательной почты или, если вы выбрали вариант телефона, убедитесь, что на вашем телефоне имеется соответствующая служба и он может принимать текстовые сообщения, а также убедитесь, что в вашем телефоне не настроена блокировка текстовых сообщений с неизвестных номеров.

4. Ввод кода и сброс пароля

Вставьте или введите полученный код и нажмите Далее.

Введите новый пароль и нажмите Далее.

Вы успешно выполнили сброс пароля

Если вы успешно выполнили сброс пароля, то сейчас самое время установить напоминание, чтобы проверить свои контактные данные для безопасности или внести в них изменения. Дополнительные сведения приведены в разделе Рекомендации по безопасности.

Не удалось сбросить пароль.

Если не удается сбросить пароль таким способом, то перейдите к пункту: