Child's account password

Question

As I have seen many before me have setup an account for their children and have no way of now resetting the password. I have now come into the same problem.

I can not reset the password through the reset portal because I "do not have enough information". The lack of use of the account and not having it used for constant emails means there is no additional information I can provide.

How can I reset the password or do I now need to make a new account?

Answer 1

Hey there! Nice to meet you!

If you do not have any linked verification methods for a password reset, I'm afraid the only way to recover the child account is through the account recovery web form: https://account.live.com/acsr

Important: If the account has an active 2FA, ACSR will inform you that the recovery request will be ignored. If you only receive a message that the recovery request is either successful or indicates insufficient information, this means that 2FA is disabled.

You'll need to keep trying until you're verified by Microsoft, and you can do this up to 2 times every 24 hours.

If you didn't receive the results from the account recovery webform, please try submitting another request via Incognito/InPrivate window and using different devices and network services. Then please check your email inbox, junk, and spam folders.

If your Microsoft account recovery request was not granted, please review this link for tips on improving your chances of a successful recovery: https://support.microsoft.com/office/dc56c3e3-dff0-4ed5-8edb-60290eea6b53

Please be advised that Microsoft Support will not be able to grant you access to your account.

Thank you for your understanding.

Best regards,

Darhyl

Answer 2

For a child’s Microsoft/Outlook.com account, password reset and recovery still use the standard Microsoft account recovery process. If the reset portal says there isn’t enough information, there is no manual override; only the automated recovery can restore access.

Steps to try:

1. Use the normal password reset flow
   • Go to the Microsoft account sign-in page for the child’s account.
   • Select Forgotten your password? and follow the steps in Reset a forgotten Microsoft account password.
   • When prompted, choose any available verification option (email, phone, etc.).
2. If verification options are missing or inaccessible
   • If no code-delivery option appears, or none are accessible, use the sign-in helper tool linked from the reset article:
     • In the reset flow, if you “don’t see an option for where to send a code, or you no longer have access to any of the verification options shown, use this sign-in helper tool.”
3. If the system still says “not enough information”
   • Complete the Microsoft account recovery form (ACSR) as fully and accurately as possible. Guidance is in Help with the Microsoft account recovery form.
   • Submit it from a device and location that are normally used for that account.
   • If the form is rejected for insufficient information, the account cannot be recovered by support or moderators; the process is fully automated for security.
4. When recovery is not successful
   • If the reset portal and recovery form both fail due to lack of information, the only option is to create a new Microsoft account for the child and use that going forward.

There is no separate or special path for child accounts that bypasses the standard recovery and security checks. If the automated tools cannot verify ownership, Microsoft cannot reset the password.

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References:

• I can't sign in to my Microsoft account
• Reset a forgotten Microsoft account password
• Help with the Microsoft account recovery form
• Unable to change password in my Outlook - Microsoft Q&A
• I need to speak with a real person and it seems impossible. - Microsoft Q&A
• Locked out of my Outlook account and recovery options not working - Microsoft Q&A