If Windows still lets sign-in with PIN or Face ID, the next steps depend on whether the PC uses a Microsoft account or a local account.
- Check the password change path in Windows:
- Open Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options.
- Select Password > Change.
- If available, select Forgot my current password or I forgot my password and follow the verification steps.
- If the PC uses a Microsoft account:
- From the sign-in screen, select I forgot my password.
- Or select Sign-in options > Web sign-in, sign in, then select Forgot my password.
- Or use the Microsoft account reset flow: Reset password.
- If password reset was already tried and it failed, use the Sign-in Helper tool to identify the account issue and the required recovery steps: Sign-in Helper.
- If the password is known but no longer works, the Sign-in Helper tool is also the recommended path.
- If the PC uses a local account:
- At the Windows sign-in screen, select the password entry button, then OK > Reset password.
- Answer the security questions that were set when the account was created.
- If already signed in and Windows shows the local password options, go to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options > Password > Change, then select I forgot my password and answer the security questions.
- If this is a local account and there are no reset options:
- If another administrator account exists on the PC, open Computer Management > Local Users and Groups > Users.
- Right-click the affected user and select Set Password...
- Enter and confirm the new password.
- Important limitation:
- Microsoft support cannot retrieve or bypass a lost or forgotten password.
- If no Microsoft account recovery works, no local account reset options are available, and there is no other administrator account on the PC, the remaining supported option is to reset the Windows device.
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