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forgot windows password

Gina Rainey 0 Reputation points
2026-04-23T18:50:42.3566667+00:00

I forgot my windows password. I had PIN but that wasn't available after signing up for Office.

Windows for home | Other | Security and privacy
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  1. John Jefferson Doyon 73,800 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-04-23T19:26:10.3166667+00:00

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

    To help narrow down the issue:

    1. Are you signing in with a Microsoft account (email address) or a local account (no email)?
    2. What exactly do you see on the sign-in screen? Any error message?

    To reset a forgotten Windows password, use the "I forgot my password" link on the sign-in screen to reset a Microsoft account via email/phone. Or reset it here: https://account.microsoft.com/password/reset > Then try signing in again (make sure you’re connected to the internet).

    For local accounts, answer security questions or use a password reset disk.

    If the issue persists, please provide more details by answering my questions.

    Click "Add comment" below to let me know.

    Regards,

    John J.D.

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  2. AI answer

    2026-04-23T18:50:51.8133333+00:00

    Follow these steps depending on how the account signs in.

    1. At the Windows sign-in screen, select Sign-in options.
    2. If available, choose to sign in with your password or PIN instead of Windows Hello.

    If the password is forgotten and the account is a Microsoft account:

    1. On the sign-in screen, select I forgot my password and follow the prompts; or
    2. On the sign-in screen, select Sign-in options > Web sign-in, follow the prompts to sign in, then choose Forgot my password; or
    3. From another device or any browser, go to Reset password and complete the reset.
    4. After resetting, return to the PC and sign in with the new password.
    5. Once signed in, open Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options and reconfigure PIN if desired.

    If the account is a local (non-Microsoft) account and the password is forgotten:

    1. At the sign-in screen, switch to password entry.
    2. Select OK, then Reset password.
    3. Answer the security questions configured when the account was created.
    4. Set a new password and sign in.

    If the PIN stopped working after changes (for example, after signing up for Office) but the password works:

    1. Sign in with the working password.
    2. Open Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options.
    3. Under PIN, choose to Change or Remove and then Set up a new PIN.

    If sign-in is still not possible after these steps, use the Windows sign-in troubleshooting article to choose the path that matches the exact issue (forgot PIN, forgot password, or Microsoft account problems).

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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