Forgot Your Windows 10 or 11 Password? Safe Ways to Sign In Again

Forgot the password or PIN you use to sign in to your Windows PC? The right recovery steps depend on whether you use a Microsoft account, a local account, or an account managed by your work or school.

Start with the sign-in method you normally use. Resetting an account password is different from resetting a Windows Hello PIN, and neither normally requires reinstalling Windows.

This guide covers Windows 11 and Windows 10. It also explains what the extended Windows 10 security update period means for people who continue using a Windows 10 PC.

Which sign-in problem do you have?

At the sign-in screen, select Sign-in options if it appears. You may be able to switch from a PIN to a password without resetting anything.

Before resetting a password, check these simple details

• Check Caps Lock and the keyboard layout shown on the sign-in screen.
• Make sure you selected the correct user account if several people use the PC.
• If you recently changed a Microsoft account password online, connect the PC to the internet from the sign-in screen and try the new password.
• Check whether Sign-in options lets you use a password instead of a forgotten PIN.

If these checks do not help, follow the section for your account type below.

1. Reset a forgotten Microsoft account password

If you sign in to Windows with a personal Microsoft account, you can reset that account’s password from the Windows sign-in screen or from another device.

1. On the Windows sign-in screen, look for I forgot my password. Alternatively, use another phone or computer to open Microsoft’s forgotten password guide.
2. Enter the Microsoft account you use with the PC.
3. Follow the identity verification steps available for your account.
4. Create a new password, connect the Windows PC to the internet, and try signing in again.

If you cannot receive a verification code because your recovery email or phone number is unavailable, follow Microsoft’s account recovery instructions on the same official page. A Windows password reset disk does not reset a Microsoft account password.

2. Reset a forgotten Windows Hello PIN

A Windows Hello PIN is different from your Microsoft account password. If you forgot only the PIN, select Sign-in options and try signing in with your password first.

If I forgot my PIN appears below the PIN box, select it and follow the on-screen instructions to verify your Microsoft account and create a new PIN. Microsoft states that this sign-in-screen reset option is available for Microsoft accounts, not local accounts.

If the link is missing, try signing in with your password. After signing in, you can review the PIN under Settings → Accounts → Sign-in options. If you have forgotten both your Microsoft account password and PIN, recover the account password first.

For detailed steps, see Microsoft’s guide to changing or resetting a PIN.

3. Reset a local account password

A local account belongs to the PC itself. It is not reset through the Microsoft account website. The options available depend on what you set up before losing access.

Answer your security questions

At the sign-in screen, select the password entry option. After an unsuccessful attempt, select Reset password if it appears. Answer the security questions you created for that local account, then set a new password.

If you do not see security questions or cannot answer them, move to the other options below. Their availability depends on how the PC was set up.

Use a password reset disk you created earlier

If you previously created a password reset disk for this local account, connect it and choose the reset-disk option from the password reset screen. The disk must have been created before you forgot the password; another USB drive cannot replace it.

Check for another administrator account

If another administrator account is already set up on the PC and you can sign in to it, that administrator may be able to reset the local account password. Microsoft’s local account password guide explains this option.

If none of these options is available, there may be no supported way to recover that local account password. Review your backups and the recovery considerations below before resetting the PC.

4. If this is a work or school PC

A work or school device may use an organization-managed account, additional sign-in requirements, and device encryption. Contact your IT support team or administrator for the correct recovery steps.

Tell them what appears on the sign-in screen and whether the problem is your password, PIN, or a BitLocker recovery-key request. Avoid resetting an organization-managed PC on your own.

5. If Windows asks for a BitLocker recovery key

A BitLocker recovery key is a 48-digit key used to unlock an encrypted drive. It is not your Windows password or PIN. Some recovery actions may require it even when you own the PC.

From another device, check the Microsoft account that may hold the key at aka.ms/myrecoverykey. If the PC was set up by someone else, the key may be associated with that person’s account. For a work or school device, contact the organization that manages it.

If you cannot find the key, do not assume that Keep my files will make encrypted data accessible. Read Microsoft’s BitLocker recovery-key instructions before choosing a reset option.

Resetting Windows is a last resort

If the supported account recovery options do not work, Reset this PC may let you set up Windows again. It is a substantial change to the device, not a way to retrieve your forgotten password.

Back up accessible files first. If the device is encrypted, locate its BitLocker recovery key before proceeding. Even when you choose Keep my files, a reset is not a substitute for a backup, and it does not guarantee access to encrypted files without the required key.

Microsoft explains the choices and requirements in its Reset your PC guide. If the sign-in problem began after another system issue, describe that issue when seeking support; Startup Repair and System Restore are intended for different problems and do not reset a forgotten account password.

What Windows 10 ESU means in 2026

Windows 10 reached the end of standard support on October 14, 2025. Eligible personal PCs enrolled in the Windows 10 Consumer Extended Security Updates (ESU) program can receive critical and important security updates until October 12, 2027.

Microsoft says that if your eligible PC is already enrolled, its coverage continues automatically through that date; you do not need to enroll again for the added year. If it is not enrolled, you can check eligibility and enrollment under Settings → Update & Security → Windows Update after you regain access to the PC.

ESU does not reset a forgotten password or PIN. It provides security updates for enrolled devices. It also does not restore full Windows 10 support or turn ESU enrollment into a replacement for regular backups.

Consumer ESU has eligibility requirements, including Windows 10 version 22H2 and a Microsoft account with administrator rights for enrollment. Organization-managed devices use a different ESU path. Check Microsoft’s current Consumer ESU page for the available enrollment options and requirements.

How to reduce the risk of another lockout

• Keep your Microsoft account recovery information current.
• Know which account you use to sign in to each PC and which sign-in options are available.
• If you use a local account, consider creating a password reset disk while you can still sign in.
• Store your BitLocker recovery key where you can reach it from another device.
• Keep a separate backup of important personal files.

Frequently asked questions

Can I reset my Windows password without deleting my files?

Resetting a Microsoft account password online or a local account password through its configured recovery options does not normally delete files. Resetting Windows is a separate process with different consequences, so try account recovery first.

Can I use “I forgot my PIN” with a local account?

Microsoft says the I forgot my PIN option on the Windows sign-in screen is available for Microsoft accounts, not local accounts. If it is unavailable, try the password sign-in option and follow the appropriate local account recovery steps.

Does the Windows 10 ESU extension change password recovery?

No. The consumer ESU extension changes how long eligible enrolled Windows 10 PCs can receive security updates. The password, PIN, and local account recovery steps still depend on your sign-in method.

Summary

If you cannot sign in to Windows 11 or Windows 10, first identify whether you forgot a Microsoft account password, local account password, or Windows Hello PIN. Use the recovery option for that specific sign-in method. If Windows requests a BitLocker key, find it before making major changes to the PC.

For Windows 10 users, eligible consumer ESU coverage now runs through October 12, 2027. You can review enrollment after regaining access, but ESU itself does not unlock the PC.

タグ: Windows 11, Windows 10, Microsoft account, Local Account, Windows 10 ESU, Windows password reset, Windows Hello PIN