Forgot your Windows 11 password: how to sign in again (official methods)

Forgot your Windows 11 password? How you get back in depends on the type of account on the computer. This guide covers only the official methods — no third-party tools that tamper with the system.

In this article

1. Step 1: find out the account type
2. Step 2: Microsoft account
3. Step 3: local account
4. Step 4: last resort — reset the PC
5. So it doesn’t happen again
6. FAQ

Step 1: find out the account type

• Microsoft account: the sign-in screen shows an email address (Outlook, Hotmail or another) under the name.
• Local account: only a name appears, with no email.
• Work or school account: the corporate email appears, or the computer belongs to your company. In that case, contact IT support — only they can reset it.

Step 2: Microsoft account

1. On the sign-in screen, type any password to make the I forgot my password link appear, and click it.
2. Verify your identity with the code sent to your recovery email or phone.
3. Create the new password and sign in to Windows with it (the computer needs an internet connection).

You can also reset it from another device at account.live.com/password/reset. Then sign in to Windows with the new password.

Step 3: local account

1. After a wrong password, click Reset password and answer the security questions you set up during Windows setup.
2. If you created a password reset disk (USB drive), plug it in and follow the wizard.
3. If there’s another administrator account on the computer, sign in with it and open Settings › Accounts › Other users; or right-click Start, open Computer Management › Local Users and Groups › Users, right-click your account and choose Set Password.

Step 4: last resort — reset the PC

If none of these options work, you can reinstall Windows from the sign-in screen. Personal files will be deleted if there’s no backup.

1. On the sign-in screen, hold Shift and click Power › Restart.
2. Choose Troubleshoot › Reset this PC and follow the instructions.

If the drive uses BitLocker, the reset may ask for the recovery key, which is usually saved in your Microsoft account at aka.ms/myrecoverykey.

So it doesn’t happen again

• Set up a PIN and Windows Hello as extra sign-in options.
• Keep your Microsoft account’s recovery email and phone up to date and turn on two-factor authentication.
• Store the password in a password manager.

FAQ

Is there a way to “crack” the Windows password?

Unofficial tools exist, but they modify system files and can be used to break into other people’s computers — so we don’t recommend them. The methods above solve it safely on a computer that’s yours.

I forgot my PIN but know the password.

On the sign-in screen, click I forgot my PIN, confirm your password and create a new PIN.

It’s a company computer asking for the domain password.

Only IT support can reset it. Many companies have a self-service password reset portal: ask IT.