Change Account Password in Windows 10  

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    Change Account Password in Windows 10

    Change Account Password in Windows 10

    How to Change Password of Local Account or Microsoft Account in Windows 10
    Published by Category: User Accounts
    09 Oct 2022
    Designer Media Ltd

    How to Change Password of Local Account or Microsoft Account in Windows 10


    If you have a local account on the PC, then your Windows password is what you use to sign in to your user account in Windows on the PC.

    If you have a Microsoft account, then your password is what you use to sign in to online Microsoft services and Windows on PCs and devices that you use the same Microsoft account on.

    You can help keep your PC or device more secure by changing your password regularly and by using a strong password. If you forget or lose your password, there are several things you can try to change, reset, or remove it.

    See also:

    This tutorial will show you different ways to change or reset the password of your or any local account and Microsoft account in Windows 10 and online.

    If your PC is on a domain, your system administrator must reset your password.

    If you had set Windows to automatically sign in to a local account at startup that you just changed, reset, or remove the password of, then you will need to set Windows to automatically sign in to the local account at startup again to update it with the new password.

    A Microsoft account password can only contain up to 16 characters.

    Enabling passwordless sign-in will remove the password and picture password sign-in options for all Microsoft accounts on the sign-in screen and in Accounts > Sign-in options > Settings.


    For a Windows 11 version of this tutorial, see:

    Change Account Password in Windows 11



    Contents

    • Option One: To Change Password of your Local Account in Settings app
    • Option Two: To Change Password of your Local Account in CTRL+ALT+DEL secure screen
    • Option Three: To Change Password of any Local Account in Control Panel
    • Option Four: To Change Password of any Local Account in Local Users and Groups
    • Option Five: To Change Password of any Local Account in Command Prompt
    • Option Six: To Change Password of any Local Account in PowerShell
    • Option Seven: To Change Password of your Microsoft Account in Settings app
    • Option Eight: To Change Password of your Microsoft Account Online at Microsoft






    OPTION ONE

    To Change Password of your Local Account in Settings app


    1 Open Settings, and click/tap on the Accounts icon.

    2 Click/tap on Sign-in options on the left side, click/tap on Password on the right side, and click/tap on the Change button. (see screenshot below)

    Change Account Password in Windows 10-local_settings-1.png

    3 Type in your current password, and click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)

    Change Account Password in Windows 10-local_settings-2.png

    4 Type in a new password and password hint, and click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)

    Change Account Password in Windows 10-local_settings-3.png

    5 Click/tap on Finish. (see screenshot below)

    Change Account Password in Windows 10-local_settings-4.png

    6 You can now close Settings if you like.






    OPTION TWO

    To Change Password of your Local Account in CTRL+ALT+DEL secure screen


    1 While signed in to your local account, press the CTRL+ALT+DELETE keys to open the secure screen.

    2 Click/tap on Change a password. (see screenshot below)

    Change Account Password in Windows 10-ctrl-alt-del-1.png

    3 Type in your current old password, type in a new password, and press Enter or click/tap on the arrow. (see screenshots below)

    Change Account Password in Windows 10-ctrl-alt-del-2.png

    4 Click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)

    Change Account Password in Windows 10-ctrl-alt-del-3.png






    OPTION THREE

    To Change Password of any Local Account in Control Panel


    You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to do this option. If you don't have another administrator account, then you can enable the built-in Administrator account to sign in and use to reset the password of the other account.

    This option should only be used if the local user has forgotten his or her password, and does not have a password reset disk.

    For security reasons, Windows protects certain information by making it impossible to access if the user's password is reset. When an administrator changes the password of another user's local account on the PC, that local account will lose access to all EFS-encrypted files, personal certificates, and stored passwords for Web sites or network resources.


    1 Open the Control Panel (icons view), and click/tap on the User Accounts icon.

    2 Click/tap on the Manage another account link. (see screenshot below)

    Change Account Password in Windows 10-control_panel-1.png

    3 If prompted by UAC, click/tap on Yes.

    4 Click/tap on a local account (ex: Brink) that you want to change or remove the password of. (see screenshot below)

    Change Account Password in Windows 10-control_panel-2.png

    5 Click/tap on Change the password. (see screenshot below)

    Change Account Password in Windows 10-control_panel-3.png

    6 Type in a new password and password hint, and click/tap on Change password. (see screenshot below)

    Change Account Password in Windows 10-control_panel-4.png

    7 When finished, you can close the "Change an Account" Control Panel if you like.






    OPTION FOUR

    To Change Password of any Local Account in Local Users and Groups


    You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to do this option. If you don't have another administrator account, then you can enable the built-in Administrator account to sign in and use to reset the password of the other account.

    Local Users and Groups is only available in the Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.

    This option should only be used if the local user has forgotten his or her password, and does not have a password reset disk.

    For security reasons, Windows protects certain information by making it impossible to access if the user's password is reset. When an administrator changes the password of another user's local account on the PC, that local account will lose access to all EFS-encrypted files, personal certificates, and stored passwords for Web sites or network resources.


    1 Type lusrmgr.msc in the search box in the Start menu or on the taskbar, and press Enter.

    2 If prompted by UAC, click/tap on Yes.

    3 Click/tap on Users in the left pane, select a local account (ex: Brink_2) in the middle pane, and click/tap on More Actions and Set Password in the right pane. (see screenshot below)

    Change Account Password in Windows 10-lusrmgr-1.png

    4 Click/tap on Proceed to confirm. (see screenshot below)

    Change Account Password in Windows 10-lusrmgr-2.png

    5 Type in a new password, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)

    Change Account Password in Windows 10-lusrmgr-3.png

    6 Click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)

    Change Account Password in Windows 10-lusrmgr-4.png

    7 You can now close Local Users and Groups if you like.






    OPTION FIVE

    To Change Password of any Local Account in Command Prompt


    You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to do this option. If you don't have another administrator account, then you can enable the built-in Administrator account to sign in and use to reset the password of the other account.

    This option should only be used if the local user has forgotten his or her password, and does not have a password reset disk.

    When an administrator changes the password of another user's local account on the PC, that local account will lose access to all EFS-encrypted files, personal certificates, and stored passwords for Web sites or network resources.


    1 Open an elevated command prompt.

    2 Do step 3 or step 4 below for what command you would like to use.


     3. To Change or Remove Password of Local Account without Prompts

    A) Type the command below into the elevated command prompt, press Enter, and go to step 5 below. (see screenshot below)

    (To change password)
    net user "UserName" "NewPassword"

    Substitute UserName in the command above with the actual user name of the local account within quotes that you want to change the password of.

    Substitute NewPassword in the command above with the actual new password within quotes for the local account.


    Change Account Password in Windows 10-change_password_cmd_no_prompt.png


     4. To Change or Remove Password of Local Account with Prompts

    A) Type the command below into the elevated command prompt, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)

    net user "UserName" *

    Substitute UserName in the command above with the actual user name of the local account within quotes that you want to change the password of.


    B) When prompted, type a new password and press Enter, retype the new password to confirm and press Enter, and then go to step 5 below.

    You will not see the password as you are typing it.

    Change Account Password in Windows 10-change-remove_password_cmd_prompt.png


    5 When finished, you can close the elevated command prompt if you like.






    OPTION SIX

    To Change Password of any Local Account in PowerShell


    You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to do this option. If you don't have another administrator account, then you can enable the built-in Administrator account to sign in and use to reset the password of the other account.

    This option should only be used if the local user has forgotten his or her password, and does not have a password reset disk.

    When an administrator changes the password of another user's local account on the PC, that local account will lose access to all EFS-encrypted files, personal certificates, and stored passwords for Web sites or network resources.

    To see more usage details for the Set-LocalUser command, see: Set-LocalUser | Microsoft Docs


    1 Open an elevated PowerShell.

    2 Type the command below into the elevated PowerShell, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)

    Set-LocalUser -Name "<UserName>" -Password (ConvertTo-SecureString "<Password>" -AsPlainText -Force)

    Substitute <UserName> in the command above with the actual user name (ex: "Brink2") of the local account within quotes that you want to change the password of.

    Substitute <Password> in the command above with the actual new password within quotes for the local account.

    For example: Set-LocalUser -Name "Brink2" -Password (ConvertTo-SecureString "Test2" -AsPlainText -Force)


    3 When finished, you can close the elevated PowerShell if you like.

    Change Account Password in Windows 10-change_local_account_password_in_powershell.png






    OPTION SEVEN

    To Change Password of your Microsoft Account in Settings app


    Enabling passwordless sign-in will remove the password and picture password sign-in options for all Microsoft accounts on the sign-in screen and in Accounts > Sign-in options > Settings.


    1 Open Settings, and click/tap on the Accounts icon.

    2 Click/tap on Sign-in options on the left side, click/tap on Password under Manage how you sign in to your device on the right side, and click/tap on the Change button. (see screenshot below)

    Change Account Password in Windows 10-change_microsoft_account_password_in_settings-1.png

    3 If prompted to verify your identity, select how you want to verify. (see screenshot below)

    Change Account Password in Windows 10-change_microsoft_account_password_in_settings-2.png

    4 Type in your current old password, type in a new password, and click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)

    Passwords for a Microsoft account must have at least 8 characters and contain at least two of the following: uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.

    You must choose a password that you haven't used before. To help protect your account, you need to choose a new password every time you reset or change it.


    Change Account Password in Windows 10-change_microsoft_account_password_in_settings-3.png

    5 Click/tap on Finish. (see screenshot below)

    Change Account Password in Windows 10-change_microsoft_account_password_in_settings-4.png

    6 You can now close Settings if you like.






    OPTION EIGHT

    To Change Password of your Microsoft Account Online at Microsoft


    1 Do step 2 or step 3 below for how you would like to go online at Microsoft.

    2 Go the Change your password webpage for your Microsoft account at Microsoft, sign in to your account if you haven't already, and go to step 4 below.

    3 Open Settings, and click/tap on the Accounts icon.

    A) Click/tap on Your info on the left side, and click/tap on the Manage my Microsoft account link at the top on the right side. (see screenshot below)

    Change Account Password in Windows 10-change_microsoft_account_password_online-1.jpg

    B) Click/tap on the More actions link under your account picture, and click/tap on the Change password link in the drop menu, and go to step 4 below. (see screenshot below)

    Change Account Password in Windows 10-change_microsoft_account_password_online-2.png

    4. If prompted to verify, type in the current password of your Microsoft account, and click/tap on Sign-in. (see screenshot below)

    Change Account Password in Windows 10-change_microsoft_account_password_online-3.png

    5 Type in your current password, type in a new password, and click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)

    If you like, you can also check the Make me change my password every 72 days box.

    Passwords for a Microsoft account must have at least 8 characters and contain at least two of the following: uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.

    You must choose a password that you haven't used before. To help protect your account, you need to choose a new password every time you reset or change it.


    Change Account Password in Windows 10-change_microsoft_account_password_online-4.png

    6 Your Microsoft account password is now changed.


    That's it,
    Shawn Brink






  1. Posts : 248
    W10 Pro/W7 Pro 64-bit
       #1

    Trying Option Two or remove password on W10 Pro 64-bit. Tried repeatedly but sometimes I get the screen you posted where there it's just asking for my password then on to the screens I posted below. It won't allow removal.

    Change Account Password in Windows 10-password-1.jpgChange Account Password in Windows 10-password-2.jpg
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 68,543
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #2

    Hello wptski,

    A password is required for a Microsoft account, and cannot be removed.

    Option Two is for a local account instead.
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 248
    W10 Pro/W7 Pro 64-bit
       #3

    In Option three, Change Password isn't even available.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 68,543
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #4

    wptski,

    You will have to use OPTION 6 or 7 for a Microsoft account. The options for a local account will not work with a Microsoft account. :)
    Last edited by Brink; 09 Aug 2015 at 14:31. Reason: updated
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 248
    W10 Pro/W7 Pro 64-bit
       #5

    Hmm, I had read what the difference of the two was! W10 must be different than W7 as I have no problem adding/removing my password when needed to perform certain operations. Oh well, thanks!

    Scratch Option eight, same results.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 68,543
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #6

    Yes, there's a difference. In Windows 10, you can have a Microsoft account (email address) or a local account (like W7).

    From your screenshots, you have a Microsoft account, so you would just need to use the options in the tutorial for it instead. :)
      My Computers


  7. Posts : 248
    W10 Pro/W7 Pro 64-bit
       #7

    Well, scratch Option Eight, same results.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 68,543
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #8

    It won't matter because a password is required for a Microsoft account. You cannot remove the password of a Microsoft account.

    If you like, you can switch to a local account using the tutorial below, then be able to remove the password of your local account.

    https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/5...dows-10-a.html

    If you wanted to be able to use any Windows apps (aka: modern apps) in a local account, you would need to sign in to the Store with a Microsoft account though.

    https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/4...dows-10-a.html
      My Computers


  9. Posts : 35
    windows 8.1
       #9

    Assuming we can still log on to our computers, it's easy to change the password by following the options above. When we're completely locked out and couldn't login, then we might have to use a disk to reset the password. The disk could be a password reset disk, Windows setup DVD, or a Linux live CD.

    Reset Lost Windows 10 Password without Reset Disk or Third Party Software
    How to Change or Reset a Windows 10 Password
    Change Your Forgotten Windows Password with the Linux System Rescue CD

    Hope this information is also helpful.
      My Computer


 

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