Windows 10: How to Change the Password

Lee Stanton April 20, 2023

Changing your computer’s password is paramount for safeguarding personal information and documents. On occasion, the problem might be that you forgot the password of a computer you haven’t used for a long time, and you don’t know how to access it.

In this article, you’ll learn how to change your computer password on Windows 10 and additional information regarding your computer’s account and password.

Changing Your Password

Windows has updated its security features on its latest systems, meaning that changing password troubleshooting for Windows 8.1, for example, will not work. If you have Windows 10 or higher and you need to change your passwords, follow these steps:

Press the “Start” key on your keyboard, which generally has the Windows logo.
Select “Settings” from the pop-up menu.
Click on “Account.”
then “Sign-in options.”
Under “Password,” select “Change.”
Enter your current password and the new one on the pop-up window. You’ll be asked to enter your new password a second time for confirmation.

Changing Your Windows Hello PIN

If you use a PIN as a password to access your computer and you need to change it, follow these steps:

Press the Windows logo’s on your screen.
You’ll see a pop-up menu. Click on “Settings.”
Go to “Account.”
Then click “Sign-in options.”
Select “Windows Hello PIN.”
Enter your current password and the new one on the pop-up window. You’ll be asked to enter your new PIN a second time for confirmation.

Resetting Your Password With Windows 10

Windows 10 has various options to reset your passport if you’ve forgotten it. The easiest one is through the security questions. You were probably asked to choose a few security questions when you set up your account if you have Windows 10 version 1803 or later. If you do, follow these steps to reset your password.

Click on “Reset password” on the sign-in screen.
Answer the security question.
Enter a new password.
Sign in using your new password.

If you have Windows 10 before version 1803, you won’t have the option to reset your password by answering the security questions. In this case, the password can still be reset. However, this method will reset your password and device and permanently delete data, settings, and programs from your computer. If you want to reset your password and device, here you’ll find the steps to do it:

On your keyboard, press the Shift and Power keys. Click on “Restart” in the lower-right corner.
On the “Choose an option” menu, select “Troubleshoot.”
Select “Reset this PC.”
Click on “Remove everything.”

Resetting Your Password From Administrative Account

When you’ve forgotten the account password on a computer with multiple users, you can change the password by contacting the owner of the administrative account. Alternatively, you can reset the password yourself if you have administrative rights. Follow these steps to reset your password:

On the login screen, enter the account password with administrative rights. Press the “Start” logo on your screen.
Select “Settings” from the pop-up menu.
Click on “Account.”
From the menu, select “Other users.”
Locate your user and click on “Reset password.”
Enter a new password and click “Ok.

Common Issues Logging in With Windows 10

Occasionally, you enter the right password but can’t access your account. There is various thing you can try to solve this problem:

If your password has letters and numbers, make sure your keyboard doesn’t have the caps lock ON. This makes your password incorrect even if you’re typing it correctly.
If you see a message that reads, “We can’t sign into your account,” this problem can often be fixed by signing out of your account and signing back in. Try rebooting your computer.
Make sure Windows 10 is updated to the latest version available.

If you’re still unable to log in, you can restart your computer in safe mode. Safe mode won’t only help you with your password issues but also fix system problems. You can restart your computer in safe mode from the sign-in screen or a black screen. Here’s the troubleshooting on both alternatives:

From the sign-in screen:

On the Windows sign-in screen, press the “Shift” key and the Power key together. From the menu, select “Restart.”
After the PC restarts, you’ll see a blue menu named “Choose an option.” Click on “Troubleshoot.”
Select “Advanced options” and then “Startup settings.”
Click on “Restart.”

From a blank or black screen:

Press the key with the Windows logo and the R key.
In the “Open” box, type “msconfig” and then select OK.
Select the “Boot” tab.
In the “Boot options” menu, clear the “Safe boot” checkbox.

An advanced alternative to solve login issues will be to run the startup repair tool integrated into your computer. Follow these steps to access this tool:

Press the “Shift” key and restart your computer. Repeat the process until you see the WinRE (Windows Recovery) menu.
Click on “Choose an option” and Select “Troubleshoot.”
Then “Advanced options.”
Click on “Automatic repair.” It can also be listed as “Startup repair.”
Wait for the repair process to complete and try to log in again.

Other Login Alternatives for Windows 10

Windows 10 and higher have various login options. The most popular ones are fingerprint and facial recognition. To set your facial recognition login, follow these steps:

Press the Windows logo key on your keyboard.
Select “Settings” from the pop-up menu.
Click on “Account.”
From the menu, select “Sign-in options.”
Press “Facial Recognition (Windows Hello)” from the menu.
Follow the instructions for your webcam to recognize your face from every angle.

If you want to use your fingerprint as a password to access your computer, note that your keyboard must have a special scanner in one of the keys. If you do, you can set up your fingerprint as a login option by following these steps:

Press the “Start” key on your keyboard.
Click “Settings.”
Select “Account.”
Then “Sign-in options.”
Click “Fingerprint Recognition (Windows Hello)” from the menu.
Put your finger on the scanner and follow the instructions so the computer can scan your print accurately.

Additional FAQs

How do I add a new user to my computer?

To add a new user to a PC, here is the process:

1. Head to the “Settings” panel.

2. Click on “Accounts” and then “Family & other users.”

3. Select “Add someone else to this PC.”

You will be asked for the Microsoft account and password of the new user.

Can I change my local user account to an administrative account?

Yes, changing your user account to an administrative account is possible. Here’s how to get started:

1. In “Settings,” select “Accounts.”

2. Go to “Family & other users” and choose your account.

3. Under your name, it will say “Local account,” click on it.

4. Select “Change account type.”

5. Click on “Administrator.”

What are the different account types in Windows 10?

You can create three different types of accounts with Windows 10: the administrator, the standard user, and the guest account. With an administrative account, you’ll have total access to open documents and install apps, while the other alternatives provide more restrictive permissions.

How do I change security questions with Windows 10?

Windows 10 and 11 require three security questions as second-layer security. If you want to update the questions you set when you created your account, follow these steps:

1. On the “Settings” panel, select “Accounts.”

2. Click on “Connection options.”

3. Go to “Update security questions.”

You’ll be able to change your security questions for new ones.

Can I delete my login passwords?

Yes. If you don’t want your computer to have a security password, you can delete it so anyone can access it.

1. Press the “Start” key on your keyboard.

2. Select “Settings” from the pop-up menu.

3. Click on “Account.”

4. From the menu, select “Sign-in options.”

5. Choose the kind of password you want to delete. It can be a fingerprint scan, facial recognition, password, or PIN.

6. When you select them, you’ll find the option to “Remove.”

Safety First

A password, PIN, facial recognition, or any other security method on your computer is essential to protect stored information. However, you might forget your password or PIN and can’t access your computer. Before resetting the PC, ensure you’ve exhausted all the possibilities to change your password.

Do you change your password regularly? Or do you do it when you’ve encountered a security breach? Let us know in the comment section.