How to change account password from Lock screen on Windows 11

If you forgot your Windows 11 account password, in this guide, you'll learn the steps to regain access whether you have a local or Microsoft account.

Windows 11 reset password
Windows 11 reset password
  • To change a Microsoft account password on Windows 11, click on “Sign-in options,” “Microsoft account password,” and “I forgot my password,” verify your account via email code or authenticator app, and change the account password.
  • To change a local account password on Windows 11, click on “Reset password,” confirm the three security questions, and update the account password.

On Windows 11, if you forget your account password, you don’t have to worry like in the old days since the system offers a straightforward option to reset the password, no matter the account type, including a local or a Microsoft account.

In this guide, you will learn the steps to change the password of your Windows 11 account, whether you are using a Microsoft account or a traditional local account without a reset disk. The instructions also work to change the password for a standard or administrator account.

Change Microsoft account password from Lock screen

To change the password of a Microsoft account on Windows 11, use these steps:

  1. Open Sign-in screen on Windows 11.

  2. Click on “Sign-in options” (if applicable).

  3. Click the “Microsoft account password” button.

  4. Click the “I forgot my password” option.

    Microsoft account forgot password

  5. Choose the verification option, including secondary email or authenticator app.

  6. Click the Get code button (if you selected the email option).

    Verify your identity

  7. Confirm the code you received in your recovery email account.

    Confirm Microsoft account reset code

  8. Click the Next button.

  9. Change the Microsoft account password on Windows 11.

    Windows 11 reset MSA

  10. Click the Next button.

  11. Click the Finish button.

Once you complete the steps, you will regain access to your account, but changing your password will also change the password you use to check your emails online with the same Microsoft account.

Alternatively, you can reset your password online using the Microsoft account recovery process.

Change local account password from Lock screen

Windows 11 inherits a recovery mechanism from Windows 10 that lets you reset your local account password without having to resource to workarounds, and it works very similarly to the Microsoft account recovery process.

If you still have access to your account, you should update your local account with security questions, which makes it possible to regain access to your account after you’re locked out.

If you’re already locked out of your account and didn’t add security questions, you can use this advanced workaround to reset your password.

To change the local account password on Windows 11, use these steps:

  1. Open Sign-in screen.

  2. Click on “Sign-in options” (if applicable).

  3. Type the wrong password once in the Sign-in screen and click the OK button.

  4. Click the “Reset password” option.

    Windows 11 local account password reset

  5. Confirm the three security questions.

    Reset password for local account

  6. Change your local Windows 11 account password from the Lock screen and press Enter to complete the process.

Once you complete the steps, the password will be updated, the account will open, and moving forward, you will need to use the new password to access your account.

About the author

Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 15 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 21 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].