How to Change Your Windows Password

To change Windows password settings on Windows 11 or Windows 10, open Settings → Accounts → Sign-in options, select Password → Change, enter your current password, then set a new one. You can also press Ctrl + Alt + Delete and choose Change a password. If you sign in with a Microsoft account, the change applies to that account everywhere, not just this PC.

The right method depends on the type of account you use and whether you still know the current password. This guide covers each case, plus how passwords and PINs differ.

Are You Using a Microsoft Account or a Local Account?

Check this first, because a Microsoft account password is changed for the whole account, while a local account password exists only on that one PC. Open Settings → Accounts → Your info: if you see an email address under your name, you use a Microsoft account; if you see Local account, you do not.

A Microsoft account also links your digital licence to your hardware, which makes reactivating Windows after a hardware change simpler. Our guide to the Microsoft account devices page explains how that link works.

How to Change Windows Password in Settings

Settings is the standard way to change your password on Windows 11 and Windows 10, and it works for both Microsoft and local accounts. You need your current password.

1. Press Windows + I to open Settings.
2. Select Accounts → Sign-in options.
3. Select Password, then Change.
4. Confirm your identity with your PIN or current password when asked.
5. Enter your current password, then the new password twice. Local accounts also ask for a password hint.
6. Select Next, then Finish.

For a Microsoft account, the new password takes effect online straight away. Other devices signed in with the same account will ask for it the next time they need to verify you. If you have forgotten the current password, select Forgot my current password on the same screen and follow the verification steps described in Microsoft's password reset guide.

How Do You Change Your Password with Ctrl + Alt + Delete?

Pressing Ctrl + Alt + Delete opens the security screen, which includes a Change a password option that works without opening Settings. It is handy on PCs where Settings is restricted or slow to load.

1. Press Ctrl + Alt + Delete.
2. Select Change a password.
3. Type your old password, then the new password, then confirm it.
4. Press Enter, then select OK.

In a Remote Desktop session, the same screen opens with Ctrl + Alt + End instead, because the remote PC would otherwise not receive the key combination.

How to Change Your Microsoft Account Password Online

You can change a Microsoft account password from any browser, which is useful if you suspect someone else knows it and you are not at your PC. The change applies to Windows sign-in on every device that uses the account.

1. Go to your Microsoft account website and sign in.
2. Open the Security section.
3. Choose the option to change your password and verify your identity with a code.
4. Enter the new password and save.

Cause and effect worth knowing: a PC that has been offline may still accept the old password for a while, because Windows caches your credentials so you can sign in without internet. Once it reconnects, it picks up the new password.

How Do You Change Another User's Password as an Administrator?

An administrator can set a new password for another local account on the same PC, but not for someone else's Microsoft account. Microsoft account owners must change their own password online.

1. Open Control Panel → User Accounts → User Accounts → Manage another account.
2. Choose the local account.
3. Select Change the password, type the new password twice, add a hint and confirm.

Alternatively, open Terminal as administrator and run net user username *, replacing username with the account name; Windows prompts for the new password twice. Windows 11 Pro also includes the Local Users and Groups console (lusrmgr.msc), which Home does not; it is one of the management tools covered in our guide on upgrading Windows 11 Home to Pro.

Be aware that resetting someone's local password this way can cut them off from data protected by that password, such as files encrypted with EFS and saved browser passwords. Use it for accounts you manage, with the user's knowledge.

What Is the Difference Between a Password and a PIN?

A Windows Hello PIN unlocks only the device it was created on, while a password can be used anywhere the account works. That is why Microsoft encourages PIN sign-in: if someone learns your PIN, they also need your physical device to use it.

Changing your password does not change your PIN, and the reverse is also true. To change a PIN on Windows 11, open Settings → Accounts → Sign-in options → PIN (Windows Hello), select Change PIN, enter the current PIN, then the new one twice.

A Common Mistake We See

A frequent problem after a password change is losing access to encrypted data, not to Windows itself. If BitLocker or device encryption is on, the recovery key is usually stored in the Microsoft account that set it up, so losing access to that account can also mean losing access to the key. Before a reset, confirm you can sign in to your account online and see your recovery key; our comparison of BitLocker on Home vs Pro explains where keys are kept.

It is also wise to have a Windows recovery drive ready before you experiment with account changes, so a sign-in problem never becomes a reinstall.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I change my Windows 11 password if I forgot it?

For a Microsoft account, select I forgot my password on the sign-in screen, or reset it from any browser. For a local account, select Reset password after a wrong attempt and answer your security questions. Microsoft support cannot retrieve or bypass a lost password for you.

Does changing my Windows password change my Outlook password?

Yes, if you sign in to Windows with a Microsoft account. That account's password is the same one used for Outlook.com, OneDrive and other Microsoft services. A local account password is separate and has no effect on online services.

How do I change my PIN on Windows 11?

Open Settings → Accounts → Sign-in options → PIN (Windows Hello) and select Change PIN. Enter your current PIN, then type the new PIN twice. Tick Include letters and symbols if you want a stronger, alphanumeric PIN.

Can I remove my Windows password completely?

A local account can be set to a blank password, but that leaves the PC open to anyone with physical access. A safer option is a short Windows Hello PIN, fingerprint or face sign-in, which is quick to use and still protects your files.

Why does Windows still accept my old password?

Windows caches credentials so you can sign in offline. If the PC has not connected to the internet since you changed a Microsoft account password online, it still recognises the old one. Connect to the internet and sign in once; the new password then takes over.

Will changing my password affect Windows activation?

No. Activation is tied to your hardware and, if linked, to your Microsoft account, not to your password. Changing or resetting the password leaves your digital licence and product key untouched.

Conclusion

To change Windows password details safely, use Settings → Accounts → Sign-in options or Ctrl + Alt + Delete, and remember that a Microsoft account password changes everywhere at once. Pair a strong password with a Windows Hello PIN and keep your BitLocker recovery key accessible. If you are setting up a new PC, our Windows 11 licences include instant email delivery and activation support.

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