What to do if you forgot your Windows password

This article explains what you can do if you have forgotten your Windows password. The appropriate solution depends on the type of account you use to sign in to Windows.

Important: A Windows PC can use different types of accounts. First, check whether you sign in with a work or school account, a personal Microsoft account, or a local Windows account.

Work or school account

Do you sign in to Windows with an account from your organisation, for example:

firstname.lastname@company.be

Then it is usually a Microsoft work or school account.

If self-service password reset is enabled for your organisation, you can reset your password yourself.

Reset work or school account password
https://passwordreset.microsoftonline.com/

Open the page above.
Enter your work or school account.
Follow the steps to verify your identity.
Choose a new password.
Then sign in to Windows again with your new password.

Reset unsuccessful?
Self-Service Password Reset must be enabled by your organisation. If you do not have a suitable recovery method or reset is not available, contact your IT administrator or service desk.

Personal Microsoft account

For example, do you use a personal Outlook.com, Hotmail, or other Microsoft account to sign in to Windows?

Then you can reset the password directly from the Windows sign-in screen or via Microsoft online.

Via the Windows sign-in screen

On the sign-in screen, choose I forgot my password.
Follow the steps to verify your Microsoft account.
Set a new password.

You can also recover the password via a browser:

Reset Microsoft account password

Good to know: If you normally use a Windows Hello PIN, you may still be able to sign in with your PIN while resetting your Microsoft account password online.

Local Windows account

A local account exists only on the specific computer and is not linked to an online Microsoft account.

Reset password from the sign-in screen

Select the password field on the Windows sign-in screen.
Choose Reset password.
Answer the security questions set up when creating the account.
Enter a new password.

Did you create a password reset disk before?
Then Windows may also offer the option Use a password reset disk.

Reset via another local administrator account

Is another local administrator account available on the same computer? Then an administrator can reset the password of a local account.

Sign in with the administrator account.
Open Computer Management.
Go to Local Users and Groups > Users.
Right-click the relevant local account.
Choose Set Password....
Set a new password.

Note: This method applies only to a local Windows account. A local administrator account cannot change the password of a Microsoft 365 or Microsoft account this way.

Do you use Windows Hello?

A Windows Hello PIN is not the same as your Microsoft password. If you only forgot your PIN, you may not need to change your account password.

If available, choose on the sign-in screen:

I forgot my PIN

Then follow the steps to verify your identity and set a new PIN.

You still cannot sign in

First check:

that you are using the correct account;
that Caps Lock is not enabled;
that the correct keyboard layout is selected;
that the computer has internet access when online verification is required;
that you are not accidentally mixing up your PIN and password.

Still unable to sign in afterwards?

Then contact your IT administrator or service desk.

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