How to Reset a Windows 10 or 11 Password Without Logging In

You can reset a forgotten Windows 10 or Windows 11 password without signing in, right from the sign-in screen. Type any password, press Enter, and click Reset password (or I forgot my password). If you sign in with a Microsoft account (an email address), Windows walks you through verifying your identity with a code, or you can reset it from any phone or computer at account.live.com/password/reset. If you use a local account, answer your security questions, use a password reset disk, or have another administrator reset it. As a last resort, reset the PC from the recovery screen, which removes your apps and may remove your files.

First, which kind of account do you have?

• Microsoft account: The sign-in screen shows an email address, and you might sign in with a PIN. Resetting the password online works.
• Local account: The sign-in screen shows just a name. Recovery options depend on what you set up earlier.

Method 1: Reset a Microsoft account password

1. On the sign-in screen, click I forgot my password or Reset password. (Enter a wrong password first if you don’t see it.)
2. Complete the verification. Microsoft sends a code to your recovery phone number or email.
3. Enter the code and create a new password.
4. Sign in with the new password. Make sure your PC is connected to the internet.

No access to the recovery info? Go to account.live.com/acsr on another device and fill out Microsoft’s account recovery form.

Method 2: Reset a local account password with security questions

1. Enter a wrong password and press Enter.
2. Click Reset password.
3. Answer the three security questions you set up and enter a new password.

This option only appears if you added security questions when you created the account.

Method 3: Use a password reset disk

If you made a password reset disk on a USB drive before you forgot your password:

1. Insert the USB drive.
2. Enter a wrong password, then click Reset password > Use a password reset disk instead.
3. Follow the wizard to create a new password.

Method 4: Have another administrator reset it

If someone else has an administrator account on the PC, they can sign in and reset yours:

1. Sign in with the other administrator account.
2. Press Windows + R, type netplwiz, and press Enter.
3. Select the locked account and click Reset Password.
4. Enter a new password and click OK.

Files encrypted with EFS and some saved passwords for the locked account may become unreadable after an admin reset.

Method 5: Reset this PC (last resort)

If none of the above works, you can reinstall Windows without signing in:

1. On the sign-in screen, click the Power icon, hold Shift, and click Restart.
2. Choose Troubleshoot > Reset this PC.
3. Choose Remove everything. Without signing in, Keep my files may not be available for a local account you can’t verify.
4. Follow the prompts. If BitLocker is on, you’ll need your recovery key. See where to find your BitLocker recovery key.

This erases your apps and settings, and usually your files, so use it only when you can’t recover the account.

A note on “password bypass” tricks

Older guides describe replacing system files from a recovery prompt or using third-party tools to strip passwords. These can break Windows, don’t work with Microsoft accounts, may trigger BitLocker lockouts, and are a security risk on shared PCs. The official methods above are safer.

Prevent this next time

• Set up a Windows Hello PIN or fingerprint as a backup sign-in.
• Keep your Microsoft account recovery phone and email current at account.microsoft.com/security.
• For local accounts, add security questions or create a password reset disk: search for Create a password reset disk in the Start menu.

Related: Regain access to a Windows 10 admin account.

Frequently asked questions

I forgot my PIN, not my password. What do I do?

Click I forgot my PIN on the sign-in screen and follow the steps. You’ll verify your Microsoft account or enter your local password.

Can I reset my password without internet?

For a Microsoft account, you need internet to verify and sync the new password. Local accounts can use security questions or a reset disk offline.

Is this the same on Windows 11 and Windows 10?

Yes. The sign-in screen options and recovery steps are the same.

Kermit Matthews

Kermit Matthews runs Live2Tech from just outside Philadelphia. He started on a university help desk, spent years as the IT person for small businesses, and has been writing tech guides full time since 2020. Each guide is checked on a device he owns, and re-checked when a menu moves. More about Kermit.