Forgot Your Windows 11 Password How to Reset It

Forgot Your Windows 11 Password How to Reset It

You're at the Windows 11 sign-in screen and the password (or PIN) won't come back to you. How you get back in depends on what kind of account you use. The steps below are the ones Microsoft provides for your own PC; they don't bypass security, so you'll need access to your email, phone or security answers.

First: PIN or Password?

Most Windows 11 PCs ask for a PIN by default. The PIN is tied to that one device and is separate from your account password.

• If you forgot the PIN but know your password, see "Forgot Your PIN" below.
• To switch between them, select Sign-in options under the box and choose the key icon (password) or the keypad icon (PIN).

Also check the simple things: Caps Lock off, the right keyboard language (shown at the bottom right of the sign-in screen), and the right user selected at the bottom left.

What Kind of Account Do You Have?

• Microsoft account: the sign-in screen shows an email address (for example @outlook.com, @hotmail.com or @gmail.com). The password is the same one you use for Outlook.com, OneDrive or Xbox.
• Local account: only a name, no email. The password exists only on this PC.

Reset a Microsoft Account Password

1. On the sign-in screen, select I forgot my password (with the password box showing). You can also do it on your phone or another computer at account.live.com/password/reset.
2. Enter your account's email or phone number and follow the steps. Microsoft sends a security code to your recovery email or phone, or asks you to confirm in the Microsoft Authenticator app.
3. Choose a new password.
4. Make sure the PC is connected to the internet (select the network icon on the sign-in screen), then sign in with the new password.

If you've lost access to your recovery email and phone, Microsoft offers an account recovery form from the same page. Answer with as much detail as you can; it can take a while.

After you're back in, turn on two-step verification and keep your recovery info up to date; see how to turn on two-factor authentication for Google, Microsoft and Apple.

Reset a Local Account Password

1. Type any password and press Enter so you get the "password is incorrect" message.
2. Select OK, then select Reset password below the password box.
3. Answer the three security questions you set when you created the account.
4. Enter a new password and a hint.

Have a password reset disk? If you created a reset USB drive earlier, plug it in and select Use a password reset disk instead, then follow the wizard.

No security questions and no reset disk? Ask anyone else who has an administrator account on the PC. They can sign in and open Control Panel > User Accounts > Manage another account, choose your account and select Change the password. (You'll lose access to some saved items, such as passwords saved in apps that encrypt them with your old password.)

Forgot Your PIN

1. On the sign-in screen, select I forgot my PIN under the PIN box.
2. Confirm with your account password (for a Microsoft account, you may also get a security code).
3. Set a new PIN.

If you know your password, you can also sign in with it and change the PIN later in Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options > PIN (Windows Hello).

Last Resort: Reset This PC

If you can't reset the password in any of the ways above and there's no other administrator account, the remaining option is to reinstall Windows.

This erases your files, apps and settings on the PC unless they're backed up (for example to OneDrive).

1. On the sign-in screen, hold Shift and select Power > Restart.
2. Choose Troubleshoot > Reset this PC > Remove everything, and follow the prompts.

If your files are synced to OneDrive, they'll come back when you sign in with your Microsoft account afterwards. For the future, see how to back up your Windows 11 PC.

Beware of "password unlocker" tools and websites promising to remove any Windows password. Many are scams or bundle malware, and they can't unlock BitLocker-encrypted drives anyway.

Avoid Getting Locked Out Again

• Add a second sign-in method in Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options (PIN, fingerprint or face).
• For a Microsoft account, check that the recovery email and phone at account.microsoft.com are current.
• For a local account, create a password reset disk: open Start, type Create a password reset disk, and follow the wizard with a USB drive. Keep it somewhere safe.
• Store your passwords in a password manager.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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