How to Change or Reset Your Microsoft Account Password.
Changing or resetting your Microsoft account password doesn’t have to be a traumatic experience. You can create a new password using the Microsoft password reset feature and get started quickly.
Whether you want to change your current password to make it more secure, or you need to reset your forgotten Microsoft account password, we’ll walk you through the steps.
Microsoft Account vs. Windows User Account
First, a note about the difference between a Microsoft account and a Windows user account. Your Microsoft account password may be different from your Windows password. Your Windows password is also called your user account password. When you created a user account on your Windows computer, you had the option to create a local account or create and/or sign in with a Microsoft account.
If you created a local Windows account, your account settings and personal files are stored locally on your computer’s hard drive. If you’re signed in with a Microsoft account, most of your account settings and personal files are stored in the cloud on Microsoft servers.
In other words, if you sign in to Windows 10 or Windows 11 with a local account password, you’ll still need to sign in to your Microsoft account when you want to use Microsoft services and apps like OneDrive, Outlook.com, or Xbox. Live account.
Also note that if you use a password manager like LastPass or KeePass and created your Microsoft account before 2009, your Microsoft account password may be listed as your Live.com password.
Next, we’ll look at how to change your Microsoft account password and then discuss how to reset your Microsoft account password if you’ve forgotten it.
How to Change Your Microsoft Account Password
These instructions are for when you know your current Microsoft password and want to change it. This is a good opportunity to create a stronger password to increase the security of your account.
In a web browser, go to account.microsoft.com. Sign in with your Microsoft account if you haven’t already.
Select Security from the navigation menu. (You may be prompted to enter your account password again.)
Select Change password.
At this point, you may be asked to verify your identity. Select your preferred authentication method and follow the verification instructions. In the example below, we have requested that a security code be sent via email.
You may also be asked if you want to download the Microsoft Authenticator app. If you wish, you can use the Microsoft Authenticator app to verify your identity in the future.
Then enter the current password and the new password. Optionally, you can check the box to prompt you to change your password every 72 days.
Click the Save button.
If for some reason you are unable to change your password by following the steps above, the first troubleshooting method you should try is to follow the steps below to reset your Microsoft account password.
How to Reset Your Microsoft Account Password
If you don’t know your Microsoft account password, Microsoft no longer uses password hints. However, you can try using the Forgot Password link to recover your password before resorting to resetting it.
Go to account.microsoft.com and select Sign In.Select the Forgot Password link.
Choose your preferred identity verification method. If you don’t see any confirmation options or can’t access the suggested options, you won’t be able to reset your password using this method. In this case, select I don’t have any of these and follow the instructions to begin the account recovery process.
After choosing how to receive the security code, you may be prompted to enter the hidden part of your account email address, alternative email address, or phone number. Then click the Get code button.
Enter the verification code.
You will then be prompted to enter a new password and click “Next” to complete the process.
Now that you’ve successfully reset your Microsoft account password, you should also take the time to review your security information and security questions.
Additional Security Tools from Microsoft
Microsoft provides account help and security tools that you can use to keep your account secure. All this can be done by visiting account.microsoft.com and selecting Security from the top navigation menu.
On this page, you can:
turn on 2-step verification.view your login activity.change your passwordtry the latest security settings.check recommended antivirus and security apps for your version of the Windows operating system.
The ability to try the latest security settings will allow you to manage the login and verification options for your account. You can sign out of your account on all devices (except Xbox) or add additional security, such as turning on the option for an account without a password.
Before you leave, please generate your personal recovery code. Microsoft recommends that you print out the recovery code and keep it in a safe place or take a photo of it. In any case, you can use it to access your account if you lose access to your login information.
Improve Security in Your Life
Since you’re thinking about security right now, why not take this opportunity to increase security in some other area of your life? We’ve got guides on how to make your home or office network more secure, ten of the best security extensions for Chrome, and a buying guide for the four best smart security cameras to keep you and your loved ones safe.
How to Change or Reset Your Microsoft Account Password
How to Change or Reset Your Microsoft Account Password