How to reset msn email password without any past password information

Haydee Mato 0 Reputation points
2026-01-16T23:47:50.84+00:00

I have an office PC which was set up with an MSN e-mail account. The PC has locked and is requesting the bit-locker code. I cannot remember what password was used to create the MSN e-mail account, therefore I have no clue what to put in for "passwords that may have been used with this account." I need to access the information for this PC as it has information that is needed for an audit. Please contact me at (201) 320.2388.

Windows for business | Windows 365 Business
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  1. Domic Vo 16,480 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-01-17T00:19:24.2133333+00:00

    Hello Haydee Mato,

    BitLocker does not unlock with the MSN account password. What you need is the BitLocker recovery key, a 48‑digit numeric code that was generated when BitLocker was first enabled. That key is separate from the account password and is the only supported way to regain access to the encrypted drive.

    The recovery key may have been saved automatically to your Microsoft account if BitLocker was enabled during setup. To check, sign in to another device with the same MSN/Outlook account and go to:

    https://account.microsoft.com/devices/recoverykey

    There you will see a list of recovery keys associated with your account. Compare the Key ID shown on the locked PC screen with the IDs listed online. Only the key with the matching ID will unlock the drive.

    If the key is not in your Microsoft account, it may have been saved in one of these places: printed on paper, stored in a text file, saved to a USB drive, or backed up in Active Directory/Azure AD if the PC was domain‑joined. Without that recovery key, the encrypted data cannot be accessed. Microsoft designed BitLocker this way to ensure that only the rightful owner with the recovery key can unlock the drive.

    Since you mentioned the PC is needed for an audit, I strongly recommend focusing on locating the recovery key in the above locations. If the MSN account password is forgotten, you can reset it through Microsoft’s account recovery process, but that will not substitute for the BitLocker recovery key.

    I hope you've found something useful here. If it helps you get more insight into the issue, it's appreciated to accept the answer. Should you have more questions, feel free to leave a message. Have a nice day!

    Domic Vo.

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  2. Q&A Assist
    2026-01-16T23:47:59.9466667+00:00
    AI generated content. This question contains an answer created with AI from Q&A Assist. Learn more

    To reset your MSN email password without any past password information, you can follow these steps:

    1. Go to the Microsoft account password reset page: Visit the password reset page at https://account.live.com/password/reset.
    2. Choose the option: Select "I forgot my password" and click "Next".
    3. Enter your email address: Input your MSN email address and follow the prompts.
    4. Verification method: Since you do not remember the password, you will need to choose a verification method. If you have access to any recovery email or phone number associated with the account, select that option to receive a verification code.
    5. Follow instructions: Enter the verification code you receive and follow the instructions to create a new password.
    6. If you can't access recovery options: If you do not have access to any recovery options, you may need to fill out the account recovery form to verify your identity. You can find this form linked on the password reset page.

    If you are unable to reset your password through these methods, consider contacting Microsoft Support for further assistance, especially since you need access to important information on your PC for an audit.


    References:

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