How can I reset the password to my child's account?

Let's be blunt: the ongoing nightmare of trying to recover Microsoft accounts created for our children's Minecraft access is beyond ridiculous. It's a clear demonstration of negligence on Microsoft's part that this issue, as evidenced by a thread stretching back over TWO YEARS, remains unresolved.

We are not talking about compromised primary email accounts here. These are often bare-bones accounts set up solely to enable a child's access to Minecraft or to add friends. Expecting parents to recall specific email subjects from Microsoft or Minecraft, or even potential spam, for accounts that weren't intended for regular email use is utterly absurd. The current account recovery form is fundamentally flawed for this common scenario.

Frankly, Microsoft's inaction on this is insulting to parents. We've spent money on your products, and yet we're met with an archaic and useless recovery system when a simple issue arises. It's not like there isn't a clear solution! Google has already demonstrated a user-friendly approach with their Parent Control app, allowing direct password resets. Why is Microsoft, a tech giant with vast resources, failing so spectacularly in this basic parental control functionality?

The endless loops with support, the canned responses, and the feeling of being completely ignored are infuriating. We are not just numbers; we are paying customers who are being actively inconvenienced by a system that is clearly not fit for purpose.

It's time for Microsoft to stop dragging its feet and acknowledge the significant pain point they have created for parents. We demand a real solution, and we demand it now. This isn't a minor inconvenience; it's preventing our children from accessing a product we've paid for and causing unnecessary stress and frustration.

What are we going to do about this? Simply venting isn't enough. We need to explore ways to escalate this beyond forum posts and ineffective support channels. I urge anyone with ideas on how to collectively and forcefully bring this to Microsoft's attention – be it through social media campaigns, direct complaints to consumer protection agencies, or any other means – to speak up.

Microsoft, your silence and inaction on this issue speak volumes. It's time to listen to your customers and implement a sensible, parent-centric solution for child account recovery. The fact that this has persisted for years is simply UNACCEPTABLE.

I found a solution that worked for me, I didn't write it down as it happened but here are the steps I used.

Login to the child’s account on a PC using their PIN.

On a browser go to https://account.microsoft.com > Sign In and sign into the child account with the PIN

If this is the first time you’ve signed into this account in this way, you should get a prompt to add a backup email address for account recovery. If not navigate to Security and add an email address to receive a code.

After adding a parent email address, navigate to Security > Change Password > Forgot your password?

Microsoft emailed a code to the backup email address that allowed me to create a new password for my child’s account.

Same issue.

Xbox needed password for my kid's account. Typed it in, but it said it was incorrect.

Tried to reset - it then gave option to say did they use xbox, I ticked yes, but it wanted the Gamertag. I put it in and it said it wasn't valid!

No way to reset password, so will have to recreate a new account.

No mechanism to reset password on behalf of a kid?!

Microsoft are one of the biggest companies in the world and yet stuff like this is farcical.

Same problem here.

Created an account. Mistake the password.

Tried to recover the password, filled in all the personal info. Results in not enough.

More information is not possible to fill in. There is no emails sent, there are no previous passwords.

So end up with a useless new account for my child?

I want it back!

For me there is no pin.

Nothing with xbox

Never logged in on a computer profile

So its a clean created simple mail account on outlook.com domain eith a mistyped password.

Ending in a useless mailaccount.