How to Change an Account Password in Windows 11
Despite Microsoft’s attempt to push more users towards adopting the Windows Hello-based sign-in options, the old password-based login is still part of Windows 11. And for a good reason.
Even if you prefer a PIN over the conventional password sign-in, you can set an account password as a backup option. It is a handy way to sign in if you forget your PIN or encounter an error. But what if you have forgotten your account password? Let’s explore the many ways to change your account password in Windows 11.
What If You Have Forgotten Your Windows Administrator Password?
Most Windows computers have more than one sign-in option. So, if yourWindows user account PIN isn’t working, you can use the account password to sign in and vice versa.
To be able to change your account password, you must either remember your current password or be able to log in to your PC with an alternate sign-in option. If you are locked out of your account without no option to sign in, follow our guide toreset a forgotten Windows administrator passwordinstead.
1. Change the Account Password Using Ctrl + Alt + Delete
Ctrl + Alt + Delete combo is often used if an app causes the PC to become unresponsive and if you want to perform a restart or access Task Manager. However, the combo offers access to other useful tools, including a password change option.
Follow these steps to quickly change your account password from the Ctrl + Alt + Delete user menu:
2. Change Your Account Password via the Settings App
You can easily change your local account password from the Settings app. However, to do this, you must know your current account password. If not, skip to the password reset method below.
To change the account password:
3. Reset Windows User Account Password Using User Accounts (If You Have Forgotten Your Password)
If you don’t know your current password but can log in using an alternate option, you can reset the password using the User Accounts utility. It allows you to add or remove a user account and reset the password without needing the current password.
Note that you could only reset the password for a different user account, not your currently logged-in account. Make sure to log in with a different administrator account. If you don’t have another account with administrator privilege, you canenable the built-in administrator account in Windows 11and reset the user account password.
To reset the user account password:
4. Reset Account Password Using Command Prompt
An easy way to change your account password is via Command Prompt. Again, useful if you want to change your password without knowing the old password.
To reset the password, you can use thenet usercommand followed by the user name and your new password. Follow these steps to change your account password using Command Prompt:
5. Change the Account Password Using the Control Panel
The classic Control Panel still has most of its system setting functions intact. You can use it in Windows 11 to change your user account password and more.
To change the Windows account password using Control Panel:
6. Change Account Password Using Local Users and Groups
Local Users and Groups snap-in lets you make advanced changes to your user account. you’re able to use it toset password expiration for Windows user accounts, add account expiry and restrict users from changing account passwords.
Additionally, it also allows you to reset your user account password. Follow these steps to change the user account password using lusrmgr.
How to Change Microsoft Account Password
If you sign in with a Microsoft account, you can reset the password for the Microsoft account online. Here’s how to do it.
You can use the new password to sign in to your computer using a Microsoft account.
Change Windows Account Password in Windows 11
You can easily change your Windows account password if you remember the current password or have an alternate login option. If you are locked out of your PC, these methods will not work.
That said, you can still reset your forgotten admin account password using a Command Prompt hack and the Windows Recovery Environment.
Forgetting your password is scary, but you still have options to get back in. Here are three ways to reset your admin password in Windows.
My foolproof plan is to use Windows 10 until 2030, with the latest security updates.
Not Linux, not Windows. Something better.
Don’t let someone else take over your phone number.
You can’t call this offline, Notion.
Your iPhone forgets what you copy, but this shortcut makes it remember everything.
