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How to Change Your Login Password on Windows 10

On Windows 10, using a strong password is one of the best ways to secure your account and protect your data from prying eyes and malicious individuals. Usually, once you set a password on your account, you don't have to change it periodically anymore, but you'll still need to update this information if you want to use a new secret phrase, it ever gets compromised, or you simply forget your current password.

Whatever the reason it might be, Windows 10 includes several easy methods to change your password, whether you're using a Microsoft account or a local account.

In this Windows 10 guide, we'll walk you through the different ways to change (or reset) the password of your computer account.

  • How to change account password on Windows 10
  • How to change local account password on Windows 10
  • How to change account PIN on Windows 10
  • How to change account picture password on Windows 10
  • How to reset password from Sign-in screen on Windows 10
  • How to reset local password from Sign-in screen on Windows 10
  • How to reset PIN from Sign-in screen on Windows 10

How to change account password on Windows 10

To change your Windows 10 account password, use these steps:

Important: Change the account password connected to a Microsoft account will also change the password of your Microsoft services, including Outlook.com, OneDrive, etc., associated with your account.

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Click on Accounts.
  3. Click on Sign-in options.
  4. Under the "Manage how you sign in to your device" section, select the Password option.
  5. Click the Change button.

    Windows 10 sign-in options change password option Source: Windows Central

  6. Confirm your current password.
  7. Create a new password.

    Windows 10 change Microsoft account password Source: Windows Central

    Quick note: As a security measure, once you change the password, you can no longer set the old password back into your account.

  8. Click the Next button.
  9. Click the Finish button.

Once you complete the steps, you can start using the password to sign in to your Windows 10 account.

How to change local account password on Windows 10

If you're using a local account, the Settings app allows you to change the password as well as the security answers.

Updating password

To change a local account password, use these steps:

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Click on Accounts.
  3. Click on Sign-in options.
  4. Under the "Manage how you sign in to your device" section, select the Password option.
  5. Click the Change button.

    Windows 10 change local account password option Source: Windows Central

  6. Confirm your current password.

    Confirm local account password step Source: Windows Central

  7. Click the Next button.
  8. Create a new password.

    Change local account password on Windows 10 Source: Windows Central

  9. Specify a password hint that won't make it easier for others to guess your secret phrase.
  10. Click the Next button.
  11. Click the Finish button.

After you complete the steps, the password will change in your local account.

Updating security questions

To update the security questions for a local account, use these steps:

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Click on Accounts.
  3. Click on Sign-in options.
  4. Under the "Manage how you sign in to your device" section, select the Password option.
  5. Click the Update your security questions option.

    Windows 10 Update Security Questions option Source: Windows Central

  6. Confirm your current password.
  7. Click the OK button.
  8. Select and answer each security question.

    Windows 10 change security questions option Source: Windows Central

  9. Click the Finish button.

Once you complete the steps, if you ever need to sign in and you forgot your password, you'll be able to answer the security questions to reset the password and sign in.

How to change account PIN on Windows 10

If you're using a PIN as your Windows 10 account password, you can also change it to something different.

To change a PIN on Windows 10, use these steps:

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Click on Accounts.
  3. Click on Sign-in options.
  4. Under the "Manage how you sign in to your device" section, select the Windows Hello PIN option.
  5. Click the Change button.

    Windows 10 change PIN option Source: Windows Central

  6. Confirm your current PIN.
  7. Ceate a new PIN.

    Windows 10 create new PIN Source: Windows Central

  8. (Optional) Check the Include letters and symbols option if you want a PIN similar to a password.
  9. Click the OK button.

After you complete the steps, you can start using the new PIN without affecting your Microsoft account password.

How to change account picture password on Windows 10

If you happen to be using a picture password (for example, in your tablet), you can change the picture and gestures using these steps:

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Click on Accounts.
  3. Click on Sign-in options.
  4. Under the "Manage how you sign in to your device" section, select the Picture Password option.
  5. Click the Change button.

    Windows 10 change picture password option Source: Windows Central

  6. Type your current account password.
  7. Click the OK button.
  8. Click the Choose new picture button.

    Windows 10 choose new image for password Source: Windows Central

    Quick tip: If you forgot the gestures, click the Replay button to remember.

  9. Select a new image.
  10. Click the Open button.
  11. Click the Use this picture button.

    Windows 10 change picture password option Source: Windows Central

  12. Create the new gestures that you want to use for password twice.

    Windows 10 create new picture password Source: Windows Central

  13. Click the Finish button.

Once you complete the steps, the picture password will reset, and you can now start using the gestures to sign in to Windows 10.

If you ever forget the gestures, you can't reset it from the Sign-in screen, but you can click the Sign-in options link to use a different method of authentication.

How to reset password from Sign-in screen on Windows 10

You can also change your account password using the reset option from the Sign-in screen.

To reset a password from the Sign-in screen, use these steps:

  1. In the Sign-in screen, click the I forgot my password option.

    Windows 10 sign-in screen reset password option Source: Windows Central

  2. Select the verification option depending on your previous configuration. For example, getting a code on an alternate email account.
  3. Confirm the hinted email address.

    Verify Microsoft account option Source: Windows Central

  4. Click the Get code butotn.
  5. Check your email account to copy the code.
  6. Confirm the code you received.

    Confirm email verify code to change password Source: Windows Central

  7. Click the Next button.
  8. Create a new password.

    Windows 10 sign-in screen create new password Source: Windows Central

  9. Click the Next button.

Once you complete the steps, you can now use the new password to access any device connected with the same Microsoft account.

How to reset local password from Sign-in screen on Windows 10

To change the password of a local account from the Sign-in screen, use these steps:

  1. In the Sign-in screen, type an incorrect password and press Enter.
  2. Click the OK button.
  3. Click the Reset password option.

    Windows 10 reset local password option Source: Windows Central

  4. Answer the three security questions and press Enter.

    Windows 10 security questions to change local password option Source: Windows Central

  5. Create a new password and press Enter.

    Windows 10 create new local account password from Sign-in screen Source: Windows Central

After you complete the steps, the account password will change, and you'll have access to your desktop again.

How to reset PIN from Sign-in screen on Windows 10

It's recommended to change your PIN using the Settings app, but if it's not working, you can also create a new one from the Sign-in screen.

To reset your PIN from the Sign-in screen, use these steps:

  1. In the Sign-in screen, click the I forgot my PIN option.

    Windows 10 forgot pin on sign-in screen option Source: Windows Central

  2. Confirm your Microsoft account password.

    Windows 10 sign-in screen confirm account password Source: Windows Central

  3. Click the Sign-in button.
  4. Select the verification option depending on your previous configuration. For example, getting a code on an alternate email account.
  5. Confirm the email address of the hinted account.

    Windows 10 verify email address Source: Windows Central

  6. Click the Send code button.
  7. Check your email account to copy the code.
  8. Confirm the code you received.
  9. Click the Verify button.

    Confirm code to verify email address to change PIN Source: Windows Central

  10. Read the warning and click the Continue button.

    Windows 10 change PIN warning Source: Windows Central

  11. Create new PIN.

    Windows 10 change account PIN from sign-in screen Source: Windows Central

  12. Click the OK button.

Once you complete the steps, you can start using the new PIN to access your computer. However, you may need to sign in again on certain apps as applicable.

More Windows 10 resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10, visit the following resources:

  • Windows 10 on Windows Central – All you need to know
  • Windows 10 help, tips, and tricks
  • Windows 10 forums on Windows Central
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How to Change Your Login Password on Windows 10

Source: https://www.windowscentral.com/how-change-your-account-password-windows-10