I am locked out of my new pc

Question

PC required password after not being required for months...entered old password and did not work. Could not get change password option because want external devise (eg thumb drive with stored access) which I do not have.

Changed Microsoft password using cell phone. My cell phone will not connect to pc so still locked out of PC.

Please help

Answer 1

Because the Microsoft account password was changed but Windows still won’t let access the PC, use the supported Windows password reset options depending on how sign-in is configured.

1. If signing in with a Microsoft account on the PC

• On the PC sign-in screen, make sure the correct Microsoft account is selected.
• Select I forgot my password under the password box.
• Follow the prompts (they will match the reset just done on the phone): verify identity and enter the new password.
• If already signed in somewhere else with this Microsoft account, the password can also be changed from Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options > Password > Change, but in this case the main path is via the sign-in screen.

Details are in the Windows password reset guidance:

• When not signed in, use I forgot my password or Sign-in options > Web sign-in and then Forgot my password as described in the Microsoft account section.

2. If the PC uses a local account instead of a Microsoft account If the account on the PC is actually a local account (no email address shown on the sign-in screen), changing the Microsoft account password online will not affect it. Then use one of these:

• From the sign-in screen for a local account:
  1. Select the password entry button.
  2. Select OK then Reset password.
  3. Answer the security questions configured when the account was created and set a new password.
• If already signed in (for future changes):
  1. Open Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options.
  2. Select Password > Change and follow the instructions.

3. If locked out of a local account and there is another admin account on the PC If another administrator account exists on the same PC:
4. Sign in with that administrator account.
5. Open Computer Management.
6. Expand Local Users and Groups > Users.
7. Right-click the locked-out user and select Set Password….
8. Enter and confirm a new password.

If there is no other administrator account and the local password cannot be reset using security questions, the only supported option is to reset the Windows device, which may remove apps and settings. Guidance is under Reset your PC in the Windows help.

4. If this is a work or school (organization) account If the PC uses a work or school account managed by an organization:
5. Start at https://mysignins.microsoft.com/security-info and choose Can’t access your account?.
6. Enter the work or school username and follow the steps to reset the password using security info, if the administrator has enabled self-service password reset.
7. If that option is not available, contact the organization’s administrator or helpdesk to reset the password.

If none of these options work and there is no way to complete verification, the remaining supported path is to reset or reinstall Windows on the PC, which will restore access but may remove installed applications and some settings.

---

References:

• Change or reset your password in Windows
• Reset your Microsoft work or school account password using security info
• Change your work or school account password
• Help with the Microsoft account recovery form
• Reset a forgotten Microsoft account password
• Troubleshoot sign-in issues and account access problems