[Article] Troubleshooting log in issues in Windows 10 – Incorrect Password Errors

Question

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Technical Level : Intermediate

Summary

If you just upgraded to Windows 10, but you are unable to log in because of an incorrect password error, there might be a combination of factors why. In this article, we show you how you can resolve the problem.

Details

First, if believe you have forgotten your password and you were running a previous version of Windows such as Windows 8.0 or Windows 8.1, then review the following article. Also, this pertains to configurations that used a Microsoft Account, such as a Hotmail, Outlook, Live or MSN.com domains. If you were previously running Windows 7 or earlier or a local account on Windows 8.0 or Windows 8.1, then password reset might not work:

When you can't sign in to your Microsoft account https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/12429/microsoft-account-sign-in-cant

Why can't you sign in? https://account.live.com/ResetPassword.aspx The Microsoft Community can not help with lost or forgotten pins/passwords  per Microsoft Policy. (All the help we are allowed to provide is in the links below - and there is some.)

If you forgot you password, please review: Microsoft: I Forgot My Password

If you upgraded from Windows 7 or Windows 8.0/8.1 with a local account, there might be a number of reasons why you are unable to log in.

Were you using a password at all in your previous version of Windows? If you were not using a password and you are prompted, leave the password box blank then hit Enter.

Check to make sure your language option on the Sign in screen is correct. If you are English speaker, check to make sure it is set to that language.

 

Were you using a PIN or a password? A password contains alphanumeric characters and possibly symbols, while a PIN consist of four numbers. Check to make sure you are choosing the right option. To do so, click the Sign-in options link, then choose the appropriate button.

 

Is caps lock on or is it possibly interchanging because of an issue with your keyboard? For instance, caps lock might not be working properly on your keyboard, when you are supposed to be entering capital letters, it is registering common letters. Use the password preview to check your password. You can also try using the on screen keyboard to log in.

  

If you have multiple user accounts setup on your computer, make sure you are logging into the right one.

 

PIN Not Working

If your PIN is not working after a Windows Update or you forgot it; switch to using your password instead then update the PIN.

1. On the login screen, click on "Sign-in options", and try to login to Windows with your Microsoft account or local account "Password".
2. Click on Windows icon on the bottom-right corner, on the top of Start Menu, click on your account, and then select "Change account settings".
3. On the left-side panel of Accounts settings, select "Sign-in options".
4. On this page you have a number of "options" "Require sign-in", "Windows Hello", "Password" and then comes "PIN".
5. Directly below "PIN", you will see two buttons: "Change" and "Remove".  Click on "Remove". 
6. You will be asked "Are you sure you want to remove your PIN?" etc, etc. Below all this you will find two more buttons: "Remove" and "Cancel". Click "Remove". 
7. A Log-in Box now opens for you to re-enter your "Password". Enter your password then click "OK". 
8. You will be returned to the "Sign-in options" page where you can now "Add" a "PIN" once again.
9. Enter your new PIN and confirm PIN, click on "OK" to reset your new PIN for your Windows.
10. Please be sure to Restart your PC and Sign-in with your new PIN to confirm. 

Log In Using Another User Account

If there is another account on the system with Administrator privileges, try logging into that account, then reset your password from there. Press Windows key + R then type: control userpasswords2 then hit Enter on your keyboard

Select your account then click Reset Password. Enter a new password then click OK. Try logging into the account.

 

For computers connected to a Domain, contact your Network Administrator. There might be an issue with Kerberos authentication or the version of Windows Server is not compatible.

Restart your computer a few times to see if you are able to then log in. There might be a small delay also, so wait a few seconds then try again. Again, use the preview button to make sure you entered the right characters.

If Windows 10 prompts for a password when you never had one and you are unable to log in, your best option is to try rolling back to your previous version from the sign in screen. If you are able to rollback successfully to your previous version of Windows, try updating your password in Control Panel then try using the Media Creation Tool to upgrade or the ISO file.

Advanced options you can consider trying:

|Cannot create user account during out of box experience or sign in, non-responsive bahaviour (Welcome Back) page.|Option 1:Wait 1 hour and try again.Option 2:If you are upgrading from a previous version and Windows is configured to boot to the desktop automatically, hold down  CTRL + ESC keys and Windows 10 will load the default user.Press Windows key + X, click Computer ManagementClick Local Users and GroupsDouble click UsersRight click in the right pane and click New userCreate a new user account and passwordCredit: Rajasekar SOption 3:If you are using a laptop, power down laptop.Remove batteryWait 10 minutesConnect using direct currentPower up laptopProceed to create user account and log inOption 4:If you are attempting to setup a Microsoft Account, setup a local account instead then connect to a Microsoft Account after setup.If you are setting up a Local Account and you are getting an error message, power down computer.Disconnect from the Internet (Wired/Wireless).Unplug computer, wait 10 minutes.Reconnect computer, start up (remain disconnected from the Internet), also disconnect any non-essential devices.Try creating account again.If the problem persist, try Startup repairBoot from the Windows 10 mediaHow to download official Windows 10 ISO filesa) At the Install Now screenb) Click Repair your computerc) Click Advanced Optionsd) Click Safe ModeIf you get an error message saying that ‘installation cannot be completed in safe mode’, then press Shift+F10 key. That will openCommand Prompt, from command prompt.
We are going to attempt to create a new user account.Example: net user Username Password /addWhere there is Username replace with the account name and where there Password replace with the desired password.Example: net user adacosta2 pwhelp /addPress Enter on your keyboardYou should see the following message The command completed successfully.Type exit to close the command prompt.Restart the machine and try logging into the new account.| | -------- | -------- | |Cannot create user account during out of box experience or sign in, non-responsive bahaviour (Welcome Back) page.|**Option 1:**Wait 1 hour and try again.Option 2:If you are upgrading from a previous version and Windows is configured to boot to the desktop automatically, hold down  CTRL + ESC keys and Windows 10 will load the default user.Press Windows key + X, click Computer ManagementClick Local Users and GroupsDouble click UsersRight click in the right pane and click New userCreate a new user account and passwordCredit: Rajasekar SOption 3:If you are using a laptop, power down laptop.Remove batteryWait 10 minutesConnect using direct currentPower up laptopProceed to create user account and log inOption 4:If you are attempting to setup a Microsoft Account, setup a local account instead then connect to a Microsoft Account after setup.If you are setting up a Local Account and you are getting an error message, power down computer.Disconnect from the Internet (Wired/Wireless).Unplug computer, wait 10 minutes.Reconnect computer, start up (remain disconnected from the Internet), also disconnect any non-essential devices.Try creating account again.If the problem persist, try Startup repairBoot from the Windows 10 mediaHow to download official Windows 10 ISO filesa) At the Install Now screenb) Click Repair your computerc) Click Advanced Optionsd) Click Safe ModeIf you get an error message saying that ‘installation cannot be completed in safe mode’, then press Shift+F10 key. That will openCommand Prompt, from command prompt. We are going to attempt to create a new user account.Example: net user Username Password /addWhere there is Username replace with the account name and where there Password replace with the desired password.Example: net user adacosta2 pwhelp /addPress Enter on your keyboardYou should see the following message The command completed successfully.Type exit to close the command prompt.Restart the machine and try logging into the new account.|