How to Reset a Windows 11 Password

To reset a forgotten Windows 11 password, select I forgot my password on the sign-in screen if the PC uses a Microsoft account, or select Reset password and answer your security questions if it uses a local account. Your files, apps, and settings stay in place with both routes.

Applies to: Windows 11 (personal PCs with a Microsoft account or a local account). Checked against Microsoft Support on October 6, 2026.

Before you start: work out which password you forgot

Windows 11 can be unlocked with three different credentials, and each one is reset in a different way. Picking the right section below saves a lot of wasted effort.

• Microsoft account password. A Microsoft account is an online account identified by an email address. Its password is reset through Microsoft, so you need access to the recovery email address or phone number saved on the account.
• Local account password. A local account exists only on that one PC. It can be reset with the security questions chosen when the account was created, with a password reset disk made earlier, or by another administrator on the same PC.
• Windows Hello PIN. Microsoft states that the PIN you use to access your device is different from your Microsoft account password. Resetting one does not change the other.

If the PC belongs to an employer or school, skip to the work or school section. Microsoft also says its support agents cannot retrieve or circumvent a lost or forgotten password, so the options below are the full list of supported routes.

Reset a Microsoft account password from the sign-in screen

Use this method when the locked PC signs in with a Microsoft account. The PC needs an internet connection, and you need to be able to receive a code at the email address or phone number on the account.

1. On the Windows 11 sign-in screen, select I forgot my password. A Microsoft account recovery screen opens.
2. When asked to verify your identity, choose how you want to receive a verification code. Windows lists the email address or phone number saved on the account, partly hidden.
3. Retype the first part of that email address or the last four digits of the phone number as a check, then select Get code. Microsoft sends the code to the method you picked.
4. Read the code from your email or phone, enter it, and select Next.
5. Enter a new password and select Next. The password is changed for the Microsoft account itself, so it is also the new password anywhere else you sign in with that account.
6. Return to the sign-in screen and sign in with the new password.

If I forgot my password is not shown, Microsoft documents a second route on the same screen: select Sign-in options, then Web sign-in, follow the prompts, and select Forgot my password.

Reset a Microsoft account password from another device

If the locked PC is offline, or you would rather use a phone or a second computer, the same reset can be done in any browser.

1. On the other device, open a browser and go to Microsoft’s Reset password page.
2. Enter the email address of the Microsoft account and select Next.
3. Choose how to receive a verification code, confirm the hidden part of the email address or phone number, and select Get code.
4. Enter the code, select Next, then enter a new password and select Next.
5. Go back to the locked PC and sign in with the new password.

Microsoft’s own walkthrough is in Reset a forgotten Microsoft account password. If none of the listed verification options are ones you can still reach, or you do not recognize them, that page points to Microsoft’s sign-in helper tool as the next step.

Reset a local account password with security questions

Use this method when the account exists only on the PC and you set up security questions when you created it.

1. On the sign-in screen, select the arrow next to the password box to submit a password attempt. Windows tells you the password is incorrect.
2. Select OK, then select Reset password.
3. Answer the security questions you set up when the account was created.
4. Enter a new password when Windows asks for it, then sign in with it.

Use a password reset disk instead

A password reset disk is a USB flash drive that you prepare in advance for one local account. If you made one, plug it in, repeat steps 1 and 2 above, select Use a password reset disk instead, and follow the instructions. A disk cannot be created after you are locked out, and Microsoft notes that the option is not available for Microsoft accounts.

Reset a local account password from another administrator account

If someone else has an administrator account on the same PC, they can set a new password for your local account. Only do this on a PC you own or are authorized to manage.

1. Sign in to Windows with the other administrator account.
2. Open Computer Management. You can find it by searching for its name.
3. Expand Local Users and Groups, then select Users. The accounts on the PC are listed.
4. Right-click the account that is locked out and select Set Password…
5. Enter the new password, confirm it, and then sign out so the locked-out person can sign in.

Microsoft documents these steps in Change or reset your local account password in Windows.

Reset a forgotten Windows Hello PIN

If you only forgot the PIN, you do not need to change the account password.

• From the sign-in screen: if I forgot my PIN appears below the PIN box, select it and follow the instructions. Microsoft says this option is only available for Microsoft accounts, not for local accounts.
• If that link is missing: sign in with your password instead. Then open Settings, select Accounts > Sign-in options > PIN (Windows Hello), and select I forgot my PIN to verify your account and create a new one.

If you forgot both the PIN and the password, reset the password first using the Microsoft account or local account section above.

Change the password while you are still signed in

If you can still get into Windows, for example with a PIN, you can replace a forgotten password from Settings.

1. Open Settings and select Accounts > Sign-in options.
2. Select Password > Change. Windows normally asks for the old password.
3. For a Microsoft account, select Forgot my current password. For a local account, select I forgot my password. Follow the directions to verify the account, then create a new password.

Work or school PCs

A password for a work or school account is controlled by the organization, not by you or by Windows on that PC. Microsoft’s self-service route is to open mysignins.microsoft.com/security-info in a browser, select Can’t access your account?, enter your work or school email address, and verify your identity. If your organization has not turned that feature on, you see a Contact your administrator link instead. In that case your IT help desk has to reset the password for you.

If nothing works: reset the PC

For a local account with no security questions, no reset disk, and no other administrator, Microsoft’s guidance is to reset the Windows device. Treat this as the last resort.

Warning: a reset reinstalls Windows. The Remove everything option deletes all personal files, apps, and settings. Keep my files preserves personal files but still removes apps and settings, and Microsoft’s documentation does not say that it will get you past a forgotten password, so be prepared for Remove everything. If the drive is encrypted, you will need your BitLocker recovery key to complete the reset.

1. On the sign-in screen, press and hold the Shift key while you select Power > Restart. The PC restarts into the Windows Recovery Environment, a menu of repair tools.
2. Select Troubleshoot > Reset this PC.
3. Choose Keep my files or Remove everything, then choose Cloud download (downloads a fresh copy of Windows) or Local reinstall (uses the files already on the PC).
4. Follow the remaining prompts and leave the PC alone. Microsoft warns that the screen may go black for a long time, occasionally more than 15 minutes, and that restarting it yourself can make the reset fail.

Our guide on how to reset Windows 11 and keep files or remove everything covers each reset choice in more detail.

How to confirm the new password works

Sign out, or restart the PC, and sign in by typing the new password rather than a PIN or fingerprint. If the password box is not showing, select Sign-in options on the sign-in screen and pick the password option. For a Microsoft account, also sign in on Microsoft’s website from another device to confirm the change took effect there.

A password reset cannot be undone, but you can change the password again at any time in Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options > Password > Change.

Troubleshooting

There is no Reset password link for a local account

The link appears only after an incorrect password attempt, and the reset depends on security questions that were set up with the account. If the questions were never set up, use a password reset disk or another administrator account. If you have neither, resetting the PC is the remaining supported option.

The verification code never arrives

Check that you retyped the hidden part of the email address or phone number correctly, and look in the junk folder of the recovery mailbox. Microsoft’s reset article links to a page named Troubleshooting verification code issues, and to the sign-in helper tool if you no longer have access to any of the listed options.

The new Microsoft account password is rejected on the PC

Confirm the new password works on Microsoft’s website first, so you know the reset itself succeeded. Then make sure the locked PC is connected to the internet and try again, or use Sign-in options > Web sign-in on the sign-in screen.

Windows asks for a BitLocker recovery key

This can happen during a reset on an encrypted drive. Microsoft says you need the key to finish, so find it before you start a reset rather than partway through.

A website or video suggests a command-line or boot-disk workaround

Methods that swap system files or use third-party unlock tools are not supported by Microsoft and can put your files and your PC’s security at risk. Stick to the options above.

Frequently asked questions

Will resetting my Windows 11 password delete my files?

No. Resetting a Microsoft account password, answering local account security questions, using a reset disk, or having an administrator set a new password only changes the password. Files are at risk only if you go as far as resetting the PC.

Can I reset a local account password without security questions?

Yes, if you have a password reset disk for that account or another administrator account on the PC. Without either, Microsoft directs you to reset the device.

Can Microsoft Support reset my password for me?

No. Microsoft says its support agents cannot retrieve or circumvent a forgotten password and are not allowed to send password reset links or change account details.

Is my PIN the same as my password?

No. The PIN is a separate sign-in method for that device. You can reset the PIN without changing the account password, and changing the password does not create a new PIN.

How do I make a password reset disk for next time?

Sign in with the local account and plug in a USB flash drive. Search for Control Panel from the taskbar and open it, type create password reset in the Control Panel search box, select Create a password reset disk, and follow the instructions. Microsoft notes you do not have to create a new disk when you change your password later.

Is there a sign-in method that does not depend on remembering a password?

For websites and apps that support them, passkeys let you sign in with Windows Hello instead of a typed password. See our guide to using passkeys in Windows 11.

Once you are back in, check that the recovery email address and phone number on your Microsoft account are current, or create a password reset disk for a local account, so the next reset takes minutes.

Related: How to find the administrator password in Windows 11.