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How to Reset Your Microsoft Account Password
What to do if you've forgotten your password
By Tim Fisher Tim Fisher Senior Vice President & Group General Manager, Tech & Sustainability Emporia State University Tim Fisher has more than 30 years' of professional technology experience. He's been writing about tech for more than two decades and serves as the VP and General Manager of Lifewire. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on January 31, 2022 Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Apps Best Apps Payment Services What to Know
At the Recover Your Account page, enter your Microsoft email address or an alternate, a phone number, or Skype name.Verify your identity when prompted to do so. Enter a new password.Select Sign In to log in your your Microsoft account using the new password. This article explains how to reset your Microsoft account password using the Microsoft Recover Your Account page in a web browser. When you reset your Microsoft account password, it changes for all the sites and services you use your Microsoft account for. How to Reset Your Microsoft Account Password
Your Microsoft account is a single sign-on account, meaning that this single account can be used to log on to a number of different services. Microsoft accounts are commonly used to sign on to Windows 11, Windows 10, and Windows 8 computers, the Microsoft Store, Windows Phone devices, Xbox video game systems, Outlook.com, Skype, Microsoft 365, OneDrive, and more. Reset your Microsoft password if you have forgotten it or think it might have been compromised. The process is easy. Open the Recover Your Account page from any browser on any computer or device, even your smartphone. Enter your Microsoft email address or the alternate email address, phone number, or Skype name associated with the account, and then select Next. Enter the code that was generated by your authenticator app or sent to your alternate email address or phone number. Choose Use a different verification option if you need to. You'll see this screen if you have to complete some other information, such as entering the last four digits of your phone number or your complete email address, so that you can receive a verification code by text. Complete the information and then choose Get code. Enter the verification code you received and select Next. You might have to complete the other verification process if you have two-step verification turned on. For example, if you entered the code you received via text message, you might need to also use the authenticator app to get another code. Enter the desired new password. It must be a minimum of eight characters and is password sensitive. Reenter the password and select Next. How to Create a Strong Password Microsoft requires that you do not use a password you have used in the past. A notification will appear that your password has been changed. Select Sign in to log in to your Microsoft account using the new password. If you reset your Microsoft account password so you can now log in to your Windows 11, 10, or 8 computer, be sure you're connected to the internet at the Windows sign-in screen. If for some reason the internet isn't available to you at this point then Windows won't get word from Microsoft's servers about your new password! If you're trying to reset your Windows 11/10/8 password, but you do not log in to Windows with an email address, then you're not using a Microsoft account to sign in to Windows and this procedure won't work for you. What you're using instead is a traditional "local account" meaning the slightly more involved How to Reset a Windows 11/10/8 Password tutorial is what you need to follow. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How to Create a Password in Windows How to Change Another User's Password in Windows How to Change Your Facebook Password How to Recover a Forgotten Gmail Password How Do I Reset My Windows Password? How to Change Your Password in Windows How to Reset or Change Your Instagram Password How Do I Create a Windows Password Reset Disk? What to Do If You Forget Your Windows 7 Password How to Change Microsoft Email Addresses I Forgot My Windows 8 Password! What Are My Options? How to Reset a Lost Windows Live Hotmail Password How to Reset a Windows 8 Password How to Recover/Reactivate an Old Yahoo Mail Account How to Fix It When You're Locked Out of Your Gmail Account How to Reset a Windows Vista Password [Easy, 15-20 Min] Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies