How to Change Your Computer Password on Windows 10

To change your computer password on Windows 10, press Ctrl + Alt + Delete, select Change a password, type your old password and the new one twice, and press Enter. You can also go to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options > Password > Change. If you sign in with a Microsoft account (an email address), the new password applies everywhere you use that account, including Outlook.com and OneDrive.

Applies to: Windows 10, version 22H2, with local or Microsoft accounts.

Check which account type you have

Open Settings > Accounts > Your info. If you see an email address, it’s a Microsoft account. If it shows Local Account, the password exists only on this PC.

Method 1: Ctrl + Alt + Delete

1. Press Ctrl + Alt + Delete.
2. Select Change a password.
3. Type your current password, then your new password in both boxes.
4. Press Enter or select the arrow.

This works for local accounts and, while you’re online, for Microsoft accounts.

Method 2: Settings

1. Press Windows key + I and select Accounts > Sign-in options.
2. Select Password > Change.
3. Confirm your identity with your PIN or current password.
4. For a local account, type the new password, confirm it, add a hint and select Next > Finish.
5. For a Microsoft account, enter the current password and the new one in the window that opens, and select Next.

Method 3: Change a Microsoft account password online

1. Go to account.microsoft.com and sign in.
2. Select Security > Change password (or Password security).
3. Enter the new password and save.

Restart your PC while it’s connected to the internet so it picks up the new password. Until then, it may still accept the old one when offline.

Method 4: Change another user’s password (administrators)

1. Open Control Panel > User Accounts > User Accounts > Manage another account.
2. Select the local account and choose Change the password.
3. Enter the new password twice, add a hint and select Change password.

This only works for local accounts. Windows warns that the user may lose access to EFS-encrypted files and saved credentials. Microsoft account passwords must be reset online by their owner.

From the command line

In Command Prompt run as administrator, type net user Sam *, replacing Sam with the account name, and enter the new password twice when prompted. The characters don’t show as you type.

Choose a strong password

• Use at least 12 characters. A short phrase of unrelated words is easy to remember and hard to guess.
• Don’t reuse a password from another website.
• Set up a PIN for everyday sign-ins. If you forget it, you can reset your PIN in Windows 10.

Troubleshooting

“The password is incorrect”

Check Caps Lock and the keyboard language shown at the bottom of the screen. For a Microsoft account, make sure you’re online.

“Your password doesn’t meet the requirements”

Your PC or organization requires a longer or more complex password, or prevents reusing old ones. Add length, numbers and symbols.

You forgot your current password

You can’t change it without the old one, but you can reset it with the steps to unlock your laptop when you forgot the password.

Frequently asked questions

Does changing my password sign me out?

No. You stay signed in. Other devices using the same Microsoft account may ask you to sign in again with the new password.

Does it change my PIN too?

No. Your PIN stays the same. You can keep using it to sign in, and change it separately in Sign-in options > Windows Hello PIN.

How often should I change my password?

Only when you think it may be known to someone else, or if it’s weak or reused elsewhere. Regular forced changes tend to lead to weaker passwords.

Can I remove the password completely?

For a local account, you can set a blank password, but anyone could then use the PC. A PIN or Windows Hello is a safer way to make sign-in quick.

Related guides

• How to set a password in Windows 10
• How to change your password in Windows 11
• How to enroll in Windows 10 Extended Security Updates