How to obtain outlook password to login in device used long time ago.

Question

I require help to retrieve password for my outlook account which i have not used for a long time which was used as security to log in a device which was spoilt and now has repaired and cannot be able to login to the device has it is demanding password. I have never use the outlook since the device spoilt now over 5 yrs and cannot remember details on emails sent etc. I have tried to recover with the code sent via email but it is indicating that i am offline while i am online with text "Your PC is offline please sign in with the last password used on this pc" . Please help.

Answer 1

Hi, I'm John! I will help you with this.

Can you please tell me when was the last time you were able to access that Outlook account? I ask because Microsoft may permanently close accounts that haven’t been used for over 2 years.

Also, please try searching for the account using these steps from Microsoft: https://support.microsoft.com/account-billing/forgotten-your-microsoft-account-username-b2049472-3b8f-27d3-61c6-67a668453f4c Click on "Search" and follow the instructions provided.

If you receive any error messages, such as “account doesn’t exist” or anything else, please let me know.

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Also, regarding the message:

"Your PC is offline. Please sign in with the last password used on this PC."

This usually appears when the device has no internet connection at the login screen. Even if your Wi-Fi is working, the PC may not actually be connected.

Please check:

• Do you see the Wi-Fi icon at the bottom right of the login screen?
• Are you able to connect to your network from there before entering the password?

If the PC truly is offline, it will only accept the last password that was used on that device before it was repaired.

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Click "Add comment" to let me know.

Regards,

John J.D.

Answer 2

To sign back in when the PC says “Your PC is offline, please sign in with the last password used on this PC,” the Outlook (Microsoft) account password must be reset first, then the new password used on the device.

Follow these steps:

1. Reset the Microsoft/Outlook account password
   • Go to the Microsoft account password reset page: Reset a forgotten Microsoft account password.
   • Select Forgotten your password? or use the Reset password link in that article.
   • Enter the Outlook email address used on the PC and follow the prompts.
   • Choose a verification method (email, phone, etc.) and enter the code.
   • Set a new password.
   If the normal reset flow does not show usable verification options or they no longer work, use the sign‑in helper tools linked in the same article to recover the account:
   • If no verification options are available or accessible, use the sign-in helper tool.
   • If the verification options shown are not recognized, use this sign-in helper tool.
2. If the username/password have “stopped working”
   • Use the “Recover your account” flow described in My username and password have stopped working to regain access.
   • Enter the Outlook address, choose where to receive a security code, verify identity, and then set a new password.
3. Wait out any lockout if there were too many attempts
   • If there have been many failed sign‑in or recovery attempts, the account may be temporarily locked. In that case, wait the lockout period (typically about 24 hours) before trying again, and avoid repeated attempts during that time.
4. Sign in on the repaired PC
   • Once the Microsoft/Outlook account password has been successfully reset and confirmed working on the web, use that new password at the Windows sign‑in screen on the repaired device when it prompts for the “last password used on this PC.”

If none of the recovery options work and the account cannot be recovered through the automated tools, support and forum moderators cannot bypass or manually reset passwords for consumer Microsoft accounts; only the automated recovery process can restore access.

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References:

• Reset a forgotten Microsoft account password
• My username and password have stopped working
• How can I recover my password for Microsoft accounts, including Outlook.com, Hotmail, Live, MSN, Onenote, etc.?
• Can't sign in to the Outlook mobile app
• Add an email account to Outlook for Windows
• Locked out of my Outlook account and recovery options not working - Microsoft Q&A
• My personal hotmail account hacked by hacker with authentication app enabled. - Microsoft Q&A
• Can't sign in to my email - Microsoft Q&A
• hello my email was (Moderator note: PII removed)@icloud.com and now its (Moderator note: PII removed)@jerkoffmail.com can please someone help me and the team change it my username in xbox is (Moderator note: PII removed) please help me team and change it - Microsoft Q&A