How do I reset my Win10 password to something it previously was

I changed my password to something simpler while my friend borrowed my laptop. I just got it back and I can't change the password back to the original because it does not allow me to set a new password that is the same as a previous password.

How do I get around this?


SOLVED: Only the last 5 passwords are stored in Win10. Reset your password 5 times to something other than your original, then on the 6th time you can set it to your original password.

I am not sure about this, it's just something I think I've heard a long time ago:

For security reasons, you cannot change a Windows 10 local account password to something you have already used. However, I seem to remember that only 10 old passwords are saved. What it means is that if you really want your old password back, you could try to change it ten times, then the 11th time would let you change it back to your preferred one because it would be removed from the buffer.

Please notice that this is not something I know for sure, it's just something I remember reading a few years ago.

Kari

Kari said:

I am not sure about this, it's just something I think I've heard a long time ago:

For security reasons, you cannot change a Windows 10 local account password to something you have already used. However, I seem to remember that only 10 old passwords are saved...

Yes, I vaguely remember something along those lines...

But I have just tried it on one of my local accounts (Windows 10 Home) changing the password once, then back to the original - there were no objections.

Perhaps the OP is using a Microsoft Account and the rules are different?

Or perhaps I turned off 'password history' years ago and had forgotten :)
For Home, only Option Two can be used (the command prompt one).

Enter the command below into the elevated command prompt, press Enter, and make note of the current length (number) of password history maintained (remembered)...

net accounts

Enforce Password History for Local Accounts in Windows 10


EDIT: reading further down Brink's tutorial it says....

The default setting is 0 passwords remembered to not enforce password history for local accounts.

...so perhaps we are talking about a Microsoft Account after all.

canislobo19 said:

SOLVED: Only the last 5 passwords are stored in Win10. Reset your password 5 times to something other than your original, then on the 6th time you can set it to your original password.

Ah @canislobo19, I see you've fixed it. If you wish, you can make it so that no passwords are remembered. See the tutorial link in my previous post.