How to Find Your Computer Username and Password on Windows 10

To find your username on Windows 10, open Settings > Accounts > Your info, or press Windows key + R, type cmd, press Enter and run whoami. Your sign-in password is different: Windows stores it in a scrambled form and never displays it, so there’s no safe way to look it up. If you’ve forgotten it, reset it instead. Passwords Windows has saved for networks and websites can be viewed in Credential Manager.

Applies to: Windows 10, version 22H2. Most steps also work on Windows 11. Last reviewed October 7, 2026.

Find your username

In Settings

1. Press Windows key + I and select Accounts.
2. Under Your info, you’ll see your display name and, for a Microsoft account, the email address you sign in with.

With a command

1. Press Windows key + R, type cmd and press Enter.
2. Type whoami and press Enter.

The result looks like desktop-ab12cd\sam: the part before the backslash is the computer name, and the part after is your account name. Network sign-ins and file sharing often need it in this form.

See every account on the PC

• Run net user in Command Prompt for a list of local account names.
• Or press Windows key + R, type netplwiz and press Enter to see every user, including the email addresses of Microsoft accounts.
• Your user folder name is in C:\Users. It can differ from your display name, especially for Microsoft accounts, where it’s often the first five letters of your email.

Find the computer name

Open Settings > System > About and look at Device name. You can also run hostname in Command Prompt.

What about your password?

Windows doesn’t keep your sign-in password in a form anyone can read, and no setting or command shows it. Tools that claim to reveal it either crack the stored version, which is slow and risky, or are scams. What you can do depends on your account type:

• Microsoft account (an email address under your name in Settings): the password is the same one you use for Outlook.com, OneDrive or Xbox. If you’ve forgotten it, reset it at account.live.com/password/reset.
• Local account: if you can still sign in with a PIN or fingerprint, change the password in Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options > Password. If you’re locked out, see how to unlock your laptop when you forgot the password.
• Work or school account: your organization’s IT department or self-service password page handles resets.

See saved passwords for networks and websites

Windows does let you view passwords it saved for other things:

• Network shares and other PCs: open Control Panel > Credential Manager > Windows Credentials. See how to find network credentials in Windows 10.
• Websites in Edge or Chrome: open the browser’s settings and search for Passwords. You’ll be asked for your Windows PIN or password before they’re shown.
• Wi-Fi: see how to find your Wi-Fi password.
• Everything else: see how to find saved passwords on Windows 10.

Troubleshooting

whoami shows a name I don’t recognize

Microsoft accounts often get a shortened folder and account name when Windows is set up. It’s still your account; use that name where a username is asked for, or sign in with your email address instead.

A network share asks for a username and password

Enter the other computer’s name and an account on it, in the form OTHERPC\username, with that account’s password. For a Microsoft account on the other PC, use its email address and password.

Frequently asked questions

Can someone else find my Windows password?

Not by looking in Windows. Use a strong password or PIN and keep your PC locked when you step away.

Is Windows 10 still safe to use?

Windows 10 is out of support. If you’re staying on it for now, see how to enroll in Windows 10 Extended Security Updates.

Related: how to clear cached credentials in Windows 10.

Matt Jacobs

Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.

His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.