Solved Can't remember my Windows password


Nikilet2

New member
Local time
10:20 AM
Posts
12
OS
Windows 11
I've been using my PIN forever to login and I no longer remember my actual password. Is there a way to find out what that is?
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 11Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-8700 CPU @ 3.20GHz16 GB
OS
Windows 11
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Manufacturer/Model
Dell XPS
CPU
Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-8700 CPU @ 3.20GHz
Memory
16 GB
No, there isn't.

There are ways to reset it though. How you do that depends on whether you use a Local Account or a Microsoft Account to sign in.
 

My Computers My Computers

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 HomeAMD Athlon Silver 3050U8GBRadeon Graphics
    OS
    Windows 11 Home
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Aspire 3 A315-23-R9VY
    CPU
    AMD Athlon Silver 3050U
    Memory
    8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Radeon Graphics
    Monitor(s) Displays
    laptop screen
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768 native resolution, up to 2560x1440 with Radeon Virtual Super Resolution
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung EVO 870 SSD (from April 2026: 250GB EVO 850)
    Internet Speed
    150 Mbps
    Browser
    Edge, Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    UPDATE - 11 April 2026: due to lid hinges starting to break up this laptop has been retired from active duty. The OS with all software and files has been migrated to my System Seven in 'Other systems' to carry on as my general purpose 'main machine'.

    I've now clean installed 25H2 and used Garlin's scripts to update Secure Boot to CA 2023 and revoke the PCA 2011 certificates. It's new role is to test secure boot issues.

    Info for 2021-2026:
    fully 'Windows 11 ready' laptop. Windows 10 C: partition migrated from my old unsupported 'main machine' then upgraded to 11. A test migration ran Insider builds for 2 months. When 11 was released on 5th October 2021 it was re-imaged back to 10 and was offered the upgrade in Windows Update on 20th October. Windows Update offered the 22H2 Feature Update on 20th September 2022. It got the 23H2 Feature Update on 4th November 2023 through Windows Update, 24H2 on 3rd October 2024 through Windows Update by setting the Target Release Version for 24H2, and 25H2 on 30th September 2025 through Windows Update by setting the Target Release Version for 25H2.
  • At a glance

    Windows 11 ProIntel® Core™ i5-520M8GB(integrated graphics) Intel HD Graphics
    Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Latitude E4310
    CPU
    Intel® Core™ i5-520M
    Motherboard
    0T6M8G
    Memory
    8GB
    Graphics card(s)
    (integrated graphics) Intel HD Graphics
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768
    Hard Drives
    500GB Crucial MX500 SSD
    Browser
    Firefox, Edge
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    unsupported machine: Legacy bios, MBR, TPM 1.2, upgraded from W10 to W11 using W10/W11 hybrid install media workaround.

    In-place upgrade to 22H2 using ISO and a workaround.
    Feature Update to 23H2 by manually installing the Enablement Package.
    In-place upgrade to 24H2 using hybrid 23H2/24H2 install media.
    Upgraded to 25H2 by Enablement Package.

    Also running Insider Experimental 263xx and 29xxx builds and Windows 10 as native boot .vhdx.
  • My SYSTEM THREE is a Dell Latitude 5410, i7-10610U, 32GB RAM, 512GB NVMe ssd, supported device running Windows 11 Pro.

    My SYSTEM FOUR was a 2-in-1 convertible Lenovo Yoga 11e (1st gen) type 20DA, Celeron N2930, 8GB RAM, 256GB ssd. Unsupported device. This has now been sold. It has been replaced by my System Eight.

    My SYSTEM FIVE is a Dell Latitude 3190 2-in-1, Pentium Silver N5030, 8GB RAM, 1TB NVMe ssd, supported device running Windows 11 Pro, plus Insider Beta, Experimental 263xx and 29xxx builds (and a few others) as a native boot .vhdx.

    My SYSTEM SIX is a Dell Latitude 5550, Core Ultra 7 165H, 64GB RAM, 1TB NVMe SSD, supported device, Windows 11 Pro, Hyper-V host machine. Updated to 25H2 on 30th September 2025.

    My SYSTEM SEVEN is a Lenovo Thinkpad T580, 1920x1080 touchscreen, Intel Core i7-8650U, 16GB RAM, 512GB NVMe SSD + 2nd 512GB NVMe SSD, a supported device for Windows 11. This is my current general purpose 'main machine'. The installed Windows 11 Home from my System One has been migrated to this machine. As its new home has an existing digital licence for Pro I've been able to upgrade the migrated OS from Home to Pro.

    My SYSTEM EIGHT is a 2-in-1 convertible Lenovo Yoga 11e (5th gen) type 20LN, Celeron N4120, 8GB RAM, 512GB NVMe ssd, a supported device for Windows 11. Currently running Windows 11 Pro, plus Insider Beta, Experimental 263xx and 29xxx builds as native boot vhdx.
Hello, :alien:

You could reset your account's password using an available option in the tutorial below.

 

My Computers My Computers

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Pro for WorkstationsIntel i7-8700K 5 GHz64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600...ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING (11GB GD...
    OS
    Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self build
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING (11GB GDDR5X)
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G75 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    TerraMaster F8 SSD Plus NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3 wall mounted
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Amazon Basics Wired Full Keyboard MD005
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 4
    Internet Speed
    2 Gbps Download and 100 Mbps Upload
    Browser
    Chrome and Edge
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    CyberPower CP1500PFCLCD
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • At a glance

    Windows 11 ProSnapdragon X Elite (12 core) 3.42 GHz16 GB LPDDR5x-7467 MHz
    Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Surface Laptop 7 Copilot+ PC
    CPU
    Snapdragon X Elite (12 core) 3.42 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB LPDDR5x-7467 MHz
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15" HDR
    Screen Resolution
    2496 x 1664
    Hard Drives
    1 TB SSD
    Internet Speed
    Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4
    Browser
    Chrome and Edge
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender
This video will show you how to reset your local user password to blank using Command Prompt.

 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 11AMD Ryzen 7 5700GMicron Technology DDR4-3200 16GBNVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
OS
Windows 11
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Manufacturer/Model
HP Pavilion
CPU
AMD Ryzen 7 5700G
Motherboard
Erica6
Memory
Micron Technology DDR4-3200 16GB
Graphics Card(s)
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
Sound Card
Realtek ALC671
Monitor(s) Displays
Samsung SyncMaster U28E590
Screen Resolution
3840 x 2160
Hard Drives
SAMSUNG MZVLQ1T0HALB-000H1
I can't understand a word on either of those videos. I Googled it and apparently I have a Microsoft account. Bur I know I never used the password I have for my Microsoft account to sign into my Windows computer. I think there's something I'm not understanding here.
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 11Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-8700 CPU @ 3.20GHz16 GB
OS
Windows 11
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Manufacturer/Model
Dell XPS
CPU
Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-8700 CPU @ 3.20GHz
Memory
16 GB
I can't understand a word on either of those videos. I Googled it and apparently I have a Microsoft account. Bur I know I never used the password I have for my Microsoft account to sign into my Windows computer. I think there's something I'm not understanding here.

Have you ever logged into the email of that Microsoft account? -- They all have email, ya know...

Like when you first set up an account (*****@outlook.com).
 

My Computers My Computers

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Pro 25H2 build: (26200.7623)32GB
    OS
    Windows 11 Pro 25H2 build: (26200.7623)
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Microsoft Surface Pro
    Memory
    32GB
  • At a glance

    Microsoft 25H2 ProIntel Core Ultra 764GBIntel Integrated Graphics
    Operating System
    Microsoft 25H2 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Pro 14 - PC14250
    CPU
    Intel Core Ultra 7
    Memory
    64GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel Integrated Graphics
    Hard Drives
    Micron 1TB SSD
You can try this:

How to Reset Your Windows Password​


*I used it on my friends laptop when he wanted to open-it while his son was away in the Coast Guard.
It worked for me but I think it was Win 8.1?
 

Attachments

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My Computers My Computers

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Proi7-12900K @ 3.2 GHz2/16 GB Critical DDR5GeForce RTX 3060 Ti
    OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Self made in 2023
    CPU
    i7-12900K @ 3.2 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 APEX
    Memory
    2/16 GB Critical DDR5
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce RTX 3060 Ti
    Sound Card
    On board sound
    Monitor(s) Displays
    27 inch LED
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Samsung SSD w/ 3 partitions
    250 GB Samsung SSD for WSE 2016 BU OS
    1 TB Samsung SSD (Storage)
    PSU
    RM850x SHIFT 80 PLUS Gold Fully Modular
    Case
    Fractal Design Define 7 Compact - Mid Tower
    Browser
    EDGE
  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Pro x2Core i5-1135G716GB M.2 2280 NVMe SSDIntegrated - Intel Iris Xe Graphics
    Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro x2
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    LG gram 15, 15.6" Laptop
    CPU
    Core i5-1135G7
    Motherboard
    LG
    Memory
    16GB M.2 2280 NVMe SSD
    Graphics card(s)
    Integrated - Intel Iris Xe Graphics
    Sound Card
    Onboard sound
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.6" IPS Display
    Screen Resolution
    Full HD 1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    512 GB
    Browser
    EDGE
Between Googling and the information gained here I finally figured it out. I do have a Microsoft account and when I log in there is an option that says "Forgot Password." Thanks, everyone!
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 11Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-8700 CPU @ 3.20GHz16 GB
OS
Windows 11
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Manufacturer/Model
Dell XPS
CPU
Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-8700 CPU @ 3.20GHz
Memory
16 GB

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