Reset Password Process is Useless!

Question

I followed the forgot password steps, provided an alternative email, got the verification code and went through the reset password process. It asks me to provide a previous password in order to be allowed to reset it. I'm on this site because I don't remember!!! Hello??? Is there any way around this?

Answer 1

Hello, thank you for reaching out to Microsoft Q&A.

Please open an incognito window on any web browser and sign in with your Microsoft account here-

If this is a personal account, please use the following link to reset the password: https://account.live.com/ResetPassword.aspx

If this is a work or school account, please use the following link to reset the password: https://passwordreset.microsoftonline.com/n/passwordreset/#!/

Before you look to reset your password, double-check that you are using the correct email address when logging in. See if you can reset it successfully.

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When it comes to password resets, Microsoft has a fantastic support article that provides all the steps. You can find it here:

I can't sign in to my Microsoft account

Let me know if you still need more help.

Answer 2

For consumer Outlook.com / Microsoft accounts, the password reset flow can require either:

1. A previously used password, or
2. Sufficient alternative verification (codes to phone/email, security info, etc.).

If a previous password is requested and cannot be provided, the only supported workaround is to switch to the full account‑recovery path and prove ownership with other data instead of an old password.

Use these options:

1. Start from the standard reset flow
   • Go to the Microsoft account password reset page and choose Forgot password? as described in Reset a forgotten Microsoft account password.
   • Enter the account (Outlook.com address) and follow the prompts to send a code to any available phone/email.
2. When asked for old password or security methods
   • If the flow insists on a previous password or a method that is not available, look for an option like I don’t have any of these or similar. That redirects to the account recovery form.
3. Use the account recovery form
   • Fill out the recovery form in detail (recent email subjects, folder names, contacts, billing info, etc.). This is the only way to bypass the “old password” requirement when 2FA / security checks block the normal reset.
   • If 2‑step verification is enabled, recovery still requires passing the security checks; the form cannot override 2FA, as noted in the Q&A guidance.
4. If codes are not received or the flow keeps failing
   • Try again in a private/incognito browser session or a different browser/network, as suggested in the Q&A examples.
   • If still blocked, sign in with any other Microsoft account (or create a new one) and contact Microsoft Support via the Microsoft account support/contact paths referenced in the Q&A posts, choosing an option such as “I can’t sign in” or “recover account.”

If none of the recovery options or forms succeed, support cannot manually bypass the security checks; access is only restored when the automated systems can validate ownership.

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References:

• Reset a forgotten Microsoft account password
• How to use two-step verification with your Microsoft account
• I can't sign in to my Microsoft account
• I've forgotten my Skype user name or password
• Forgot password to sign in to Microsoft 365, Intune, or Azure
• All about passwords
• Change or reset your password in Microsoft 365 operated by 21vianet
• Unable to change password in my Outlook - Microsoft Q&A
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