Change or reset your Windows password

If you forgot or lost your password for Windows 10, Windows 8.1, or Windows 7, you may be able to change or reset it. To get started, choose your version of Windows from the Select Product Version drop-down menu.

If you already know your current password and want to change it

Select Start > Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options . Under Password, select the Change button and follow the steps.

Reset your Windows 10 local account password

If you’ve forgotten or lost your Windows 10 password for a local account and need to sign back in to your device, the below options might help you get up and running. For more info on local standard vs. administrative accounts, see Create a local user or administrator account in Windows 10.

Windows 10 version 1803 and later

If you added security questions when you set up your local account for Windows 10, then you have at least version 1803 and you can answer security questions to sign back in.

After you’ve entered an incorrect password:

Select the Reset password link on the sign-in screen. If you use a PIN instead, see PIN sign-in issues. If you’re using a work device that’s on a network, you may not see an option to reset your password or PIN. In that case, contact your administrator.

Note: If you don’t see security questions after you select the Reset password link, make sure your device name isn’t the same as your local user account name (the name you see when you sign in). To see your device name, right-click Start in the taskbar, select System, andscroll to the Device specifications section. If the device name is the same as your account name, you can create a new administrator account, sign in as an administrator, and then rename your PC (when you view your device name, you can also rename it).

Answer your security questions.

Enter a new password.

Sign in as usual with the new password.

Windows 10 before version 1803

For versions of Windows 10 earlier than 1803, local account passwords can’t be reset because there are no security questions. You can reset your device to choose a new password, however this option will permanently delete your data, programs, and settings. If you’ve backed up your files you’ll be able to restore your deleted files. For more information, see Recovery options in Windows 10.
To reset your device, which will delete data, programs, and settings:

Press the Shift key while you select the Power button > Restart in the lower-right corner of the screen.

On the Choose an option screen, select Troubleshoot > Reset this PC.

Select Remove everything.

Warning: Resetting your device will permanently delete data, programs, and settings.

Reset your Microsoft account password you use to sign in to your computer

On the sign-in screen, type your Microsoft account name if it’s not already displayed. If there are multiple accounts on the computer, choose the one you want to reset. Below the password text box, select I forgot my password. Follow the steps to reset your password.

Troubleshoot problems signing in

If you’re still having trouble signing to your account, see more solutions in Troubleshoot problems signing in.

Reset your password

Note: If you’ve forgotten your Windows 10 password, see Reset your Windows 10 local account password.

If you’ve forgotten your Windows 8.1 password, there are several ways to retrieve or reset it:

If your PC is on a domain, your system administrator must reset your password.

If you’re using a Microsoft account, you can reset your password online. For more info, see How to reset your Microsoft account password.

If you’re using a local account, use your password hint as a reminder.

If you still can’t sign in, you must reinstall Windows. For Windows RT 8.1, contact your PC manufacturer.

More help with passwords in Windows 8.1

If you forget or lose your password, see Reset your password above to reset or recover it.

If you think your Microsoft account password has been compromised or stolen by someone with malicious intent, we can help. For more info, see When you can’t sign in to your Microsoft account.

If you’re signing in to only your local PC, yes. However, we recommend that you keep your PC more secure by using a strong password. When you use a password, only someone who knows it can sign in. If you want to sign in to Windows with a Microsoft account, a password is required. For more info, see Can I sign in to Windows without a password? To learn more about Microsoft accounts and local accounts, see Create a user account.

Stronger passwords contain a variety of characters, including uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols or spaces. A strong password should also be something that is difficult for a stranger to guess or crack. It shouldn’t contain a complete word, or easy-to-find details like your real name, your user name, or your birth date.

If you’re signing in to a Microsoft account, your password is limited to 16 characters. For more info about Microsoft accounts, see Create a user account.

You can update your password regularly to keep it more secure. If your PC isn’t connected to a domain, follow these steps:

Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, tap Settings, and then tap Change PC settings.
(If you’re using a mouse, point to the lower-right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer up, click Settings, and then click Change PC settings.)

Tap or click Accounts, and then tap or click Sign-in options.

Tap or click Change your password and follow the instructions.

If your PC is connected to a domain, your system administrator might manage how frequently you must change your password. To do so, choose one of the following:

If you’re using a keyboard, press Ctrl+Alt+Delete, tap or click Change a password, and follow the instructions.

If you’re using a tablet, press and hold the Windows button, press the power button, and then tap or click Change a password and follow the instructions.

It depends on whether you’re using a third-party email address. If your email address ends in outlook.com, hotmail.com, live.com, or another Microsoft service, changing the password for your Microsoft account also changes it for that email service.

But you can use any email address for your Microsoft account, even an email address from a third-party web-based mail service like Google Mail or Yahoo! Mail. When you choose a password for your Microsoft account, it doesn’t change the password you might need to use to sign in to web mail on a third-party site.

Create a picture password to sign in with gestures instead of by entering characters.

Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, tap Settings, and then tap Change PC settings.
(If you’re using a mouse, point to the lower-right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer up, click Settings, and then click Change PC settings.)

Tap or click Accounts, and then tap or click Sign-in options.

Under Picture password, tap or click Add, and then follow the instructions.

When you choose a password for your user account, it’s important to pick something you can remember. You’re going to need it again later!

Of course, you can also write your password down and keep it in a safe place. Taped to the underside of your laptop or the inside of your desk drawer is probably not a good idea, however. If you do write your password down, be sure to keep it separate from your PC.

For added security, use different passwords for different purposes. For example, it’s a good idea to keep distinctly different passwords for a social networking account and your online bank account.

If you do forget or lose your password, there are still several things you can try to reset or recover it. For more info, see Reset your password above to reset or recover it.

Reset your password

My computer is on a domain

Select the Start button , select Control Panel, select User Accounts, select User Accounts, and then select Manage User Accounts. If you’re prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

On the Users tab, under Users for this computer, select the user account name, and then select Reset Password.

Type the new password, confirm the new password, and then select OK.

My computer is in a workgroup

If you type the wrong password when you attempt to log on, Windows displays a message that the password is incorrect. Select OK to close the message.

Select Reset password, and then insert your password reset disk or USB flash drive.

Follow the steps in the Password Reset wizard to create a new password.

Log on with the new password. If you forget your password again, you can use the same password reset disk. You don’t need to make a new one.

Note: If an administrator resets your password, you might lose access to some of your files.

Change your password

Press Ctrl+ Alt+ Delete, and then select Change a password.

Type your old password followed by a new password as indicated, and then type the new password again to confirm it.

Note: If you are logged on as an administrator, you can create and change passwords for all user accounts on the computer.

Warning: If you use an administrator account to change a password for another account, any encrypted files or e mail messages for that other account will no longer be accessible to the person who was using that account.

Here’s how to fix Windows needs your current credentials message

Say that every time you log into Windows, a Windows needs your current credentials message appears in the lower right corner. But if you log in with your password, lock the screen, and repeat the login attempt – it just shows up again, out of the blue. This can be rather annoying and it can make you wish you never pressed the start button on your machine altogether.

Looks like we’ve got an error on our hands. An error associated with accounts that have a password or PIN requirement login. We’re aware that this error can be annoying, but just bear with us, we have a couple of solutions ahead.

How can I fix Windows needs your current credentials error?

1. Change Group Policy Setting
2. Verify your account
   
3. Active the trial version of Windows
   

1. Change Group Policy Setting

One way to fix Windows needs your current credentials message is to make changes to the Group Policy settings. To do that, follow these steps:

1. Go to Run and type gpedit.msc and click OK to open the Local Group Policy Editor.
2. A window appears where you will need to follow this path: Computer Configuration >Administrative Templates >System >Logon.
3. Once you select Logon, in the right pane double-click the Always wait for the network at computer startup and logon option.
4. If this option is Enabled click to Disable it. You can also set it to Not Configured.
5. Click Apply and then click OK.
6. Exit the Group Policy Editor and restart the device.

2. Verify your account

Some users claim that you can fix Windows needs your current credentials message simply by verifying your account. Do that by following these steps:

1. Go to the Start Menu.
2. Right-click on your user profile.
3. Go to Change account settings.
4. Go to Your info.
5. Hit the Verify link and you will be lead to a series of on-screen instructions that you will need to follow to complete the process.
6. Reboot the device after you’re done with the verification process.

3. Active the trial version of Windows

1. Click Start then click Settings.
2. Click Update & security to go to Activation.
3. Click the Change product key option.
4. When prompted, enter the following product key VK7JG_NPHTM_C97JM_9MPGT_3V66T and press Enter. This will only activate the trial version.
5. Complete the installation until a login screen for the upgraded OS appears with the following message: Edition upgrade completed.
6. You’re all good to go.

We hope that you solved Windows needs your current credentials message using one of our solutions. In the meantime, let us know in the comment section down below on what solution you came up with.

RELATED STORIES TO CHECK OUT:

FIX: Windows 10 not accepting password [Safe Mode, Update]

• Users report that their Windows 10 not accepting password which without any further indication on what they should do next.
• When Windows 10 is not recognizing your password, using a recovery tool can help.
• Adjusting your antivirus settings can also help, along with changing your local account password.
• Lastly, some users reported that when their computer is not recognizing the password, try changing it.

If your Windows 10 isn’t recognizing your current password then this is the tutorial you should follow in order to fix this issue.

Seeing that some of the Windows 10 users are having difficulty entering their correct passwords or perhaps the system isn’t accepting the correct password, you will get a detailed explanation in the lines below as why this is happening and how you can fix this issue.

If you’re Windows 8 or Windows 10 device isn’t recognizing your password even though it is the correct one then it will most likely be because some registries inside the operating system have been modified by one or more applications on perhaps the Microsoft account you created might malfunction.

How can I fix Windows 10 not accepting password?

1. Use Stellar Password Recovery

Before discussing more about the steps you can make in order to solve this issue, we would recommend that you use a dedicated tool, such as Stellar Password Recovery.

Stellar Password Recovery is a simple tool, easy to use, and with a straightforward interface that would make the recovery process fairly simple.

All in all, this is the perfect tool to use that will help you recover most lost passwords.

Let’s look at the most important features:

• Friendly interface
• Compatible with a wide number of Windows versions
• Comes with a free trial
• Windows login password resets through a bootable disc
• Live Update feature

Stellar Password Recovery

2. Change password from local account

1. Logging into the local account and try and change the Microsoft account password from there. (Go to the fifth method below for a detailed explanation)
2. After you changed the password you will need to reboot your Windows 10 device.
3. After the restart of the operating system is completed try logging into the Microsoft account with the new password you made.

3. Run a security scan

Another way to solve this issue would be to run a security scan using Vipre Antivirus. It’s a reliable and easy to use solution that will ensure complete, real-time protection and scan for your system.

Run a virus and a malware scan on your Windows 10 device for the full hard drive.
This means the partition where Windows 10 is installed as well as the other ones you might have made when you installed the operating system.

After the virus and malware scan is completed reboot the Windows 10 device. After the reboot of the system try and see if your password is working properly.

Vipre Antivirus

4. Create a new Microsoft Account

1. Move the mouse pointer to the lower right side of the screen.
2. Left-click on the Settings feature.
3. Now, left-click on Change PC Settings.
4. Left-click or tap on the Accounts feature.
5. Select and left click on Other accounts.
6. Left-click or tap on Add an account.
7. You will need to follow the instructions posted on the screen to proceed with the new account.

5. Create a Local Account on your PC

1. Move the mouse cursor to the lower right side of the screen.
2. Tap on the Settings feature and tap on the Change PC settings.
3. Select Accounts and go to the Other accounts option.
4. Tap on Add an account and select Sign in without a Microsoft account (Not recommended) feature.
5. Write in a new username for the account and enter a password.
6. Click on Next and Finish.

6. Change your current password

Another password related issue is when you try to login into Windows Marketplace to play your favorite games and the system gives you the ‘WIndows live ID incorrect’ or password incorrect.

You have to know that this is a problem that can be fixed before you might want to create a whole new account. We recommend you to check our dedicated guide that will help you fix Windows live ID’/’Password is incorrect.

So you have above a couple of methods on how you can handle the password recognition issue you are having. Please write to us below if you have any other suggestions or questions on this issue.