What To Do If You Forgot Your Windows Password

If you aren’t using a password manager, chances are you’ve been frequently locked out of an account or two. And if you’re a Windows user, that account could be your Microsoft one.

We’ll teach you how to regain access to your Microsoft account with steps for resetting your password, using the Sign-in Helper tool, and filling out the account recovery form.

How to recover your Windows password

Password fatigue is real. To get by in today’s digital era, you’ll need to either manually recall or securely store passwords for dozens of tools. Memes abound poking fun at those of us who have “simply run out of passwords.” And yet, people need varied, strong passwords more than ever to protect themselves online.

You need your Microsoft account password to log into Windows 11, 10, or 8. If you’ve forgotten this password, you must proceed through a series of steps offered by Microsoft to regain access to your account.

Reset your password

Microsoft recommends that you first try to reset your forgotten password using these steps:

1. From the Enter password window, select Forgotten your password?
2. Verify your identity by choosing to receive a security code to your email or phone.
3. When prompted, confirm the verification choice you’ve made and select Get code.
   

   

4. Go to your email or phone — whichever you selected — and confirm the code.
5. Select Next.
6. Type in your new password and select Next.

If you’ve entered the wrong password too many times and have been prompted away from the Enter password window, select Reset password below. Then, enter your username, and select Next.

Use the Sign-in Helper tool

If you’re unsuccessful at gaining access to your account with the above steps, Microsoft recommends using its Sign-in Helper tool. This step sends a help inquiry to Microsoft so support can identify your login problem and provide support.

You have the option to select Get Help at the top of the page:

Or you can scroll down to choose the method you normally use to sign in and select OK:

Alternatively, you can select Contact Support, which is in a bar at the bottom of the page.

Fill out the account recovery form

Finally, you can directly fill out Microsoft’s account recovery form. Note that, at this step, Microsoft assumes you have already tried to reset your password and use the Sign-in Helper.

Before you fill out the form, take note of the following guidance:

• You’ll need a working email account that you can access in order to successfully go through the account recovery process.
• Microsoft prefers that you fill out the form using a device you’ve previously used to sign in to your account. It’s also ideal that you go through this process from a location at which you typically use your device, such as your home or office.
• The more information you can provide on the form, the more successful your account recovery will be. Answer as many questions as you can.

You’ll receive an email with the results of your recovery request within 24 hours.

If Microsoft wasn’t able to verify your account, you can keep trying to access your account up to two times per day. If it was able to verify your account, you’ll receive instructions for how to sign back in at the same working email address.

Store your Windows password with a password manager

To save your future self the time and effort of having to reset or recover your Windows password, store your Windows password in a password manager. Password managers help you generate strong passwords, allow you to share credentials securely and provide encrypted password storage, among other benefits.

Below are three of the best password managers we recommend:

• NordPass: NordPass gets a near-five star review from our editorial board for several reasons, including its easy-to-use interface and design, its use of XChaCha encryption, and its affordability.

  Get NordPass | Read NordPass Review

• Roboform: Roboform is a solid choice for those looking to store passwords with superior encryption and for those who want basic features like autofill. It’s also one of the most affordable password managers out there.

  Get Roboform | Read Roboform Review

• Keeper: Choose Keeper as your password manager if you want a strong tool with a secure password vault, the ability to save unlimited passwords, and security audit features at a reasonable price.

  Get Keeper | Read Keeper Review

How to recover your password in Windows 7

To recover your Windows 7 password, start by resetting your password using Command Prompt. This step requires you to be able to access another administrator account on your device.

1. Log in to that account and select the Start button.
2. Select All programs < Accessories and right-click on Command Prompt.
3. Select Run as administrator.
4. Type “net user” into the Command Prompt and hit your Enter key.
5. Once you’re viewing all the accounts on your device, type “net user [username] [password].” The username is the account you need to reset, and the password is the new password you choose.
6. Once that step is complete, you can log in with your new password.

If you don’t have access to an administrator account but you did create a reset disk before forgetting your Windows 7 password, follow these steps to reset your password:

1. Insert the USB flash drive that contains your reset disk. Select Reset password after entering the wrong password.
2. Select Next on the Password Reset Wizard that appears.
3. From the drop-down menu, select the password reset disk and select Next.
4. Enter the new password of your choosing as well as a hint to remember it.
5. Then, select Next followed by Finish.
6. Once that step is complete, you can log in with that new password.

If you don’t have access to an administrator account and you didn’t create a reset disk — but you do have your Windows 7 installation CD — follow these steps:

1. Insert the CD and restart your device.
2. Watch for the “Press any key to boot from CD or DVD” message. Press a key when it appears.
3. When the Install Windows screen appears, press the Shift+F10 keys. The Command Prompt window will appear.
4. Enter these commands and press the Enter key after each one:
   1. move c:\windows\system32\sethc.exe
   2. C:\windows\system32\sethc.exe.bak
   3. c:\windows\system32\cmd.exe c:\windows\system32\sethc.exe
5. Type in “wpeutil reboot” to restart your device.
6. Press the Shift key five times when you see the login screen.
7. Create a new password when a Command Prompt window appears.
8. Follow the instructions from above to reset your password using Command Prompt.

If you can’t perform any of these processes, or you attempt to and they’re unsuccessful, follow the steps in the above section titled Fill out the account recovery form.

How to recover your local account password

A local user account is an offline account for anyone who will frequently use your device, but a Microsoft account gives anyone who uses your device full access to apps, files, and Microsoft services across devices.

To recover a local account password, Microsoft recommends resetting it using security questions you established when you set up the local account.

1. After entering the incorrect password, select Reset password on the login screen.
2. Answer your security questions.
3. When successful, enter a new password.
4. Once that step is complete, you‘ll be able to log in with that new password.

Note that if you’re on a work device, you’ll likely have to contact your administrator. And if you use a PIN, reference Microsoft’s PIN sign-in help site.

Windows password recovery FAQs

Bottom line

If you need to recover your Windows password, start by following the above steps to reset your password. If you aren’t successful using those steps, use either Microsoft’s Sign-in Helper tool or fill out their account recovery form.

To avoid password loss and account lockout in the future, choose a password manager solution from our list of the best password managers for Windows.