How to change the Windows password: step-by-step guide
The following steps are valid for local accounts and Microsoft accounts. They enable you to change the password of the account you sign-in with on the system. If you use a Microsoft account, you change the password of that account. Similarly, you may change a local account password if you sign-in with a local account.
- Open Start and select Settings from the list of apps.
- Go to Accounts > Sign-in options > Password.
- Expand the Password section with a click on the down-arrow icon.
- Activate the button Change.
- Type the current user password (leave blank if you have not set a password).
- Type the new password twice.
- Add the password hint.
- Click on the Next button once you have done so.
- Select Finish to complete the process.
The new password is active immediately. You need to type it when you sign-in to the Windows account the next time on the device.
Special case: there is no Password section. If you do not see a password section in Settings (as described below), then you need to do the following:
- Scroll down all the way on the Sign-in options page of the Settings app.
- Toggle For improved security, only allow Windows Hello sign-in for Microsoft accounts on this device (Recommended to Off.
You should now see the password option on the page. Note that you may also set a Windows Hello PIN for the account. This may then be used to sign-in to the account once set up.
Tip: you may also change the Windows account name and user profile folder.
Closing Words
The above method works under Windows 10 and Windows 11. Advanced users may use different tools to change passwords or reset them.
- There is netplwiz, which you may use to reset passwords.
- The net user command may also be used to set user passwords using “net user “.
What about you? Have you set a password for your Windows account, or do you prefer no password or another sign-in option?
