This article shows you how to change the login password on a Windows or Mac computer if you have forgotten it. There are several ways to make this change, read on to find out what they are.
Steps
Method 1 of 7: Change the Password of a Microsoft Online Account
Step 1. Find out when it is useful to use this method
If you have a computer with Windows 10 that you sign in with a Microsoft account, you can change its login password directly online.
To perform the procedure described in this section of the article, you will need to use a different computer than the one you cannot log in to
Step 2. Open the Microsoft support web page dedicated to resetting the password on a system running Windows 10
This is the point on the Microsoft website where updated links are published to trace the tools that allow you to change the security password of a Microsoft user account.
Step 3. Select the Reset password link
It is visible within the first step of the section to reset the "Online" password.
Step 4. Select the "I forgot my password" checkbox
It is positioned at the top of the form that appeared.
Step 5. Press the Next button
It is blue in color and is positioned at the bottom of the page.
Step 6. Enter the email address associated with your Microsoft account
Type in the e-mail address of the user profile whose login password you want to change.
Step 7. Enter the captcha code displayed on the screen
It is the set of letters visible within a small box, you simply have to insert it identical in the appropriate text field.
Remember that captcha codes are case-sensitive, meaning they differentiate between uppercase and lowercase letters, so be very careful
Step 8. Press the Next button
It is located at the bottom of the page.
Step 9. Select one of the password reset options
You can choose whether to receive an SMS or an e-mail message.
Depending on the recovery option you've set up on your Microsoft account, you may only have one of the listed items available
Step 10. Provide the phone number or email address associated with your user profile
If you've opted to receive an SMS, you'll need to verify your identity by entering the last four digits of the phone number you've associated with your Microsoft account. If you have chosen to use an email, you will need to enter the full email address which is shown partially obscured within the page.
Step 11. Press the Send Code button
It is located at the bottom of the page.
Step 12. Retrieve the security code you received and enter it on the page that appeared
Based on the options you have chosen, follow these instructions:
- SMS - start the "Messages" app on your smartphone, read the content of the SMS you received from Microsoft, locate the security code in the text message and enter it in the appropriate field displayed on the web page in the browser Of computer.
- Email - access the mailbox linked to the account whose security password you want to change, open the email you received from Microsoft, locate the security code and enter it in the appropriate field displayed on the web page at browser on your computer.
Step 13. Press the Next button
It is located at the bottom of the page.
Step 14. Enter the new account login password
Type the new security word you want to use using both text fields on the page that appears.
The password must be at least 8 characters long
Step 15. Press the Next button
It is located at the bottom of the page. If the two passwords you entered are identical, you should be able to log back into your Windows 10 account using the new password.
Method 2 of 7: Change the Password of a Microsoft Account Directly on the Computer
Step 1. Find out when it is useful to use this method
If you have a computer with Windows 10 that you log into with a Microsoft account, you can change its login password directly from the Windows login screen by choosing "I forgot my password".
If you don't have the ability to physically access your computer, you can also perform this change online
Step 2. Start your computer
If you are not in front of the Windows 10 login screen because the computer is off, turn it on by pressing the "Power" button marked with the symbol
Step 3. Displays the Windows login screen
Click anywhere on the screen or press the spacebar on your keyboard to bring up the password entry field.
Step 4. Select the I forgot my password link
It should appear at the bottom of the screen.
If you see a numeric keypad icon next to the text field, you will need to choose the entry first Access options to be able to select the horizontal bar icon that will appear.
Step 5. Enter the captcha code displayed on the screen
It is the set of letters visible within a small box, you simply have to insert it identical in the appropriate text field.
Remember that captcha codes are case-sensitive, meaning they differentiate between uppercase and lowercase letters, so be very careful
Step 6. Press the Next button
It is located at the bottom of the page.
Step 7. Select one of the password reset options
You can choose whether to receive an SMS or an e-mail message.
Depending on the recovery option you've set up on your Microsoft account, you may only have one of the listed items available
Step 8. Provide the phone number or email address associated with your user profile
If you've opted to receive an SMS, you'll need to verify your identity by entering the last four digits of the phone number you've associated with your Microsoft account. If you have chosen to use an email, you will need to enter the full email address which is shown partially obscured within the page.
Step 9. Press the Send Code button
It is located at the bottom of the page.
Step 10. Retrieve the security code you received and enter it on the page that appeared
Based on the options you have chosen, follow these instructions:
- SMS - start the "Messages" app on your smartphone, read the content of the SMS you received from Microsoft, locate the security code in the text message and enter it in the appropriate field displayed on your computer screen.
- Email - access the mailbox linked to the account whose security password you want to change, open the email you received from Microsoft, locate the security code and enter it in the appropriate field displayed on your computer screen.
Step 11. Press the Next button
It is located at the bottom of the page.
Step 12. Enter the new account login password
Type the new security word you want to use using both text fields on your computer screen.
The password must be at least 8 characters long
Step 13. Press the Next button
It is located at the bottom of the page. The login password of your Windows 10 user account will be reset to the one you just entered.
Step 14. Press the Next button again to return to the Windows 10 login screen
At this point you should be able to log in using the new password you just entered.
Method 3 of 7: Change the Password of a Windows 10 Account Using the Command Prompt
Step 1. Find out when it is useful to use this method
If you normally use a local user account to log into the computer whose password you have forgotten, you can use the "Command Prompt" to create a new system administrator account that you will use to change the login password of your original user profile.
- Unfortunately, this method cannot be used to change the login password of a Microsoft user account.
- If you have access to the computer using a Windows 10 system administrator account and need to change the password of a standard local user profile, you can refer to this article method.
Step 2. Create a Windows 10 installation USB drive
In order to have access to the Windows 10 setup screen, you will need to go through the initial step of installing the operating system manufactured by Microsoft. To do this, you need to create an installation USB memory drive by following these instructions:
- Access the web page "https://microsoft.com/software-download/windows10" using the browser of a computer you have access to;
- Push the button Download the tool now;
- Connect a USB stick with a storage capacity of at least 8 GB to your computer;
- Double-click the file you just downloaded from the Microsoft website;
- Follow the on-screen instructions making sure you select the USB stick you connected to your computer as the installation drive.
Step 3. Enter your computer's BIOS
Reboot the system by clicking the icon Stop
from the "Start" menu and choose the item Reboot system, then press the function key that allows you to enter your computer's BIOS interface as soon as the screen goes black.
- The BIOS entry key changes depending on the make and model of your computer, so you'll need to search online using this information. Normally it is necessary to press one of the "Function" keys on the keyboard (for example F12) or the Esc or Del key.
- If the Windows 10 lock screen still appears after the reboot is complete, you will need to repeat the process using a different key.
Step 4. Change your computer startup sequence by following these instructions:
- Locate the BIOS "Boot Order" or "Advanced" tab;
- Select the name of the USB drive connected to the computer (or the "USB" option) using the arrow keys on the keyboard;
- Move the USB drive option to the top of the boot sequence by pressing the + key.
Step 5. Then save your changes and exit the BIOS
Select the "Save and Exit" option by pressing the corresponding button. It is indicated within the legend visible at the bottom of the screen or along the right side.
You may need to confirm that you want to change the BIOS settings to continue
Step 6. Launch the Windows "Command Prompt"
As soon as the Windows 10 setup procedure setup screen appears, press the key combination ⇧ Shift + F10 (or ⇧ Shift + Fn + F10 if you are using a laptop) to access the "Command Prompt" window ".
-
If the Windows logon screen appears instead of the initial phase of the installation procedure, click the icon Stop
Windowspower choose the option Restart and wait for the indicated screen to appear.
- You may need to press any key on the keyboard to view the setup page for the installation procedure. In this case, the message "Press any key to continue …" is generally displayed on the screen.
Step 7. Replace the "Accessibility" program link with the "Command Prompt" link
As soon as the "Command Prompt" window appears follow these instructions:
- Type the command move c: / windows / system32 / utilman.exe c: / windows / system32 / utilman.exe.bak in the "Command Prompt" window;
- Press the Enter key;
- Type the command copy c: / windows / system32 / cmd.exe c: / windows / system32 / utilman.exe;
- Press the Enter key again.
Step 8. Remove the USB stick from your computer and reboot the system
Press and hold the "Power" button on the computer until it shuts down completely, remove the USB stick, then press the "Power" button again.
Step 9. Access the "Command Prompt" from the Windows 10 lock screen
At the end of the system boot phase, the Windows lock screen will be displayed. At this point, click the "Accessibility" icon in the lower left corner of the screen that looks like the dial of old home phones. The "Command Prompt" window will appear.
Step 10. Create a new system administrator account
Follow these instructions using the Windows "Command Prompt":
- Type the command net user [name] / add replacing the parameter "[name]" with the name you want to assign to the new user profile;
- Press the Enter key;
- Type the command net localgroup administrators [name] / add. Again, replace the "[name]" parameter with the same username you used previously;
- Press the Enter key.
Step 11. Restart your computer
Click the icon Stop
then choose the option Restart.
Step 12. Log into the system using the new administrator account you just created
Select the name of the profile in question at the bottom left of the screen.
Windows 10 will take a few minutes to complete the setup of the new chosen user account
Step 13. Change the password of your original user account using the new system administrator profile
At this point you should be able to change the login passwords of all accounts stored on your computer simply by using the Windows "Control Panel".
Method 4 of 7: Change the Password of a Windows 10 Account Using a System Administrator Profile
Step 1. Find out when it is useful to use this method
If you have access to a user account that is also the administrator of your computer and you have forgotten the login password of a local user profile (therefore not a Microsoft account), you can log in to the system as an administrator and change the security password of any account stored on your computer using the Windows "Control Panel".
Step 2. Access the "Start" menu by clicking the icon
It features the Windows logo and is located in the lower left corner of the desktop.
Step 3. Open the "Control Panel"
Type in the control panel keywords, then select the icon Control Panel from the list of results that appeared.
Step 4. Select the User Accounts option
It should be located in the upper left of the "Control Panel" window. The "User Accounts" screen will appear.
If selecting the link User account a new page appears where the first option is still "User Accounts", select the latter as well.
Step 5. Choose the Manage another account option
It is one of the links displayed in the center of the page that appeared below your profile picture. You will see a list of all local accounts stored on the computer where the one to which you want to change the password should also be present.
Step 6. Select the user profile to modify by clicking on its name with the mouse
Step 7. Choose the Change password option
It is located to the left of the currently selected user profile.
Step 8. Enter the new password
Type "New password" and "Confirm new password" in the text fields.
You can also add a hint to your new password by using the "Enter password hint" text field to get help if you forget it in the future
Step 9. Press the Change Password button
It is located at the bottom right of the page. In this way the login password of the user account in question will be replaced with the one just entered. You should now be able to log into Windows using the current user profile and the new password.
Method 5 of 7: Change a Mac Password Online
Step 1. Try to log in at least three times
After making a mistake in entering the login password three times in a row, you will see a message appearing that proposes to restore it using your Apple ID. If the indicated message does not appear, it means that your account has not been configured to change the security password directly online.
Step 2. Click the arrow icon
A small arrow pointing to the right will appear next to the option linked to the Apple ID, clicking on it will display the login page.
Step 3. Sign in with your Apple ID
Enter the corresponding email address and security password, then press the Enter key.
Step 4. Follow the instructions that appear on the screen
Depending on your Apple ID configuration settings, you may need to verify your identity using two-factor authentication, so you'll need to answer a few security questions.
Step 5. Enter the new password twice
When prompted, type your new password into both text fields and press the Enter key.
Step 6. Choose the Restart option when prompted
This will restart your Mac and you will be redirected to the login screen. You should now be able to select your account and log in with the new password.
This way you will no longer be able to access your old login keychain, as the password has been changed, but you can decide whether to create a new one
Method 6 of 7: Change a Mac Password Using Recovery Mode
Step 1. Restart your Mac
Choose the option Restart located at the bottom of the login screen. The computer will restart.
If your Mac's "FileVault" feature is turned on and you don't know the password to turn it off, you won't be able to use this method
Step 2. Enter the recovery mode menu
Press the key combination ⌘ Command + R as soon as you've selected the option Restart and do not release the indicated keys until the Apple logo appears on the screen.
Step 3. Press the → button
It is located at the bottom of the login screen.
Step 4. Choose the Utility option
It is one of the items displayed at the top of the menu that appears. A drop-down menu will be shown.
Step 5. Select the Terminal entry
It's one of the drop-down menu items that appeared in the previous step. This will open a "Terminal" window that will allow you to execute some commands.
Step 6. Enter the command to change the password
Type in the resetpassword keyword and press the Enter key, then wait for the reset password screen to appear.
As soon as the page to change the password appears, you can close the "Terminal" window
Step 7. Select your user account
Click the corresponding name to highlight it, then press the button Come on.
Step 8. Create a new password
Type the password you have chosen in the "New password" and "Verify password" fields.
Step 9. Press the Next button
It is located at the bottom of the screen.
Step 10. Choose the Restart option
It is displayed at the bottom of the Mac screen. Your computer will restart and you will be redirected to the login page from which you can log into your account using the new password you just created.
Method 7 of 7: Change a Mac Password Using a Computer Administrator Account
Step 1. Log in with a computer administrator account
Select the Mac administrator account and log in using the corresponding security password.
Step 2. Enter the "Apple" menu by clicking the icon
It features the Apple logo and is located in the upper left corner of the screen. A drop-down menu will appear.
Step 3. Choose the System Preferences… item
It is one of the options present in the drop-down menu that appeared. The "System Preferences" dialog box will appear.
Step 4. Select the Users and Groups icon
It is one of the options listed within the "System Preferences" dialog. A new window will appear.
Step 5. Click the lock icon
It is located in the lower left corner of the "Users and Groups" window.
If the indicated icon is an open lock, you can skip this step and the next
Step 6. Enter the password for the computer administrator account
Write it in the text field that appears and press the Enter key.
Step 7. Select the user profile whose login password you want to change
Step 8. Press the Reset Password… button
It is placed at the top of the window.
Step 9. Enter the new login password
Type "New password" and "Verify" in the text fields.
Step 10. Finally press the Change password button
It is located in the lower right part of the window with which you reset the password. This will allow you to log in to the Mac using the current user account and the password you just entered.
Advice
- To manage access to your computer, Windows 10 uses a four-digit PIN by default. If you no longer remember your password, but you know the access PIN, select the item Access options on the Windows login screen, click the numeric keypad icon and enter the security PIN to log in with your user account.
- If you are struggling with an exceptionally dated computer running the Windows XP operating system, you may be able to recover the computer password by following the instructions in this article.
