How to Change Your Password on Windows 11

To change your password on Windows 11, press Ctrl + Alt + Delete, select Change a password, type your old password, then type the new one twice. You can also go to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options > Password > Change. If you sign in with a Microsoft account (an email address), change the password at account.microsoft.com instead, and Windows will use the new one.

These steps apply to Windows 11 Home and Pro as of October 2026. Work or school PCs often follow company password rules, so if an option is grayed out or missing on one of those, your IT department controls it.

Check Which Kind of Account You Have

Windows 11 has two kinds of personal accounts, and the method depends on which one you use.

• Local account: the password is stored only on this PC. You change it on the PC.
• Microsoft account: you sign in with an email address, and the same password works for Outlook.com, OneDrive, Xbox and other Microsoft services. You change it online, and the new password applies everywhere.

To check, open Settings > Accounts > Your info. If you see an email address under your name, it’s a Microsoft account. If you see Local account, it’s a local one. Our guide to finding your Windows 11 username and account type explains that page in more detail.

Method 1: Change Your Password With Ctrl + Alt + Delete

This is the fastest route when you know your current password.

1. Press Ctrl + Alt + Delete on your keyboard. A blue screen opens with options such as Lock, Switch user and Sign out.
2. Select Change a password. A form appears with your account name at the top.

3. Type your current password in the Old password box.
4. Type your new password in the New password box, then type it again in Confirm password.
5. Press Enter or click the arrow button. Windows shows a message that your password has been changed.
6. Click OK to return to the desktop.

For a Microsoft account, stay connected to the internet while you do this so the change reaches your online account.

Method 2: Change a Local Account Password in Settings

1. Press Windows key + I to open Settings.
2. Click Accounts in the left pane, then click Sign-in options.
3. Click Password to expand it, then click Change. Windows asks you to confirm your current password.

4. Enter your current password and click Next.
5. Type the new password, type it again, and add a Password hint that reminds you without giving it away. Click Next.
6. Click Finish. The new password takes effect immediately.

Microsoft lists these same steps on its local account password page.

If the Password section shows Add instead of Change, your local account doesn’t have a password yet. Click Add, enter the new password twice with a hint, then click Next and Finish.

Method 3: Change a Microsoft Account Password Online

If you sign in to Windows with an email address, this is the method to use. You can do it from any browser, on your PC or your phone.

1. Go to account.microsoft.com and sign in.
2. Click Security at the top of the page.
3. Click Change password. You may need to confirm a code sent to your email or phone.

4. Enter your current password, then the new password twice.
5. Click Save.

The next time your PC connects to the internet, Windows accepts the new password at the sign-in screen. If you sign in with a Windows Hello PIN, face or fingerprint, those keep working and don’t change. Microsoft’s Microsoft account password guide covers the online steps.

If you’d rather manage the password only on this PC, you can switch to a local account.

Change Another User’s Password (Administrators Only)

An administrator can set a new password for another local account on the same PC without knowing the old one. This doesn’t work for Microsoft accounts; those users have to change their password online.

Warning: setting a new password this way can make that user’s saved website passwords, stored credentials and any EFS-encrypted files unreadable. Use it when the person is locked out, and ask them first.

1. Right-click the Start button and select Terminal (Admin). Click Yes on the User Account Control prompt.
2. Type the command below, replacing Jane with the account name, and press Enter. Keep the quotation marks if the name has a space.

net user "Jane" *

3. Type the new password when asked and press Enter. The characters won’t appear as you type.
4. Type it again to confirm. You’ll see The command completed successfully.

On Windows 11 Pro you can also open Computer Management, go to Local Users and Groups > Users, right-click the account, and select Set Password. Microsoft’s net user reference has the full command syntax.

If You Forgot Your Current Password

You can’t use the methods above without your current password, so reset it instead.

• Microsoft account: on the sign-in screen, select I forgot my password and verify your identity with a code. You can also reset it from another device at account.live.com/password/reset. Keep the PC online when you try the new password.
• Local account: type any password and press Enter, select OK, then select Reset password and answer your security questions. If you made a password reset disk, choose that option instead. Another administrator on the PC can also set a new password with the steps in the previous section.

Microsoft explains the Microsoft account routes on its reset your password in Windows page.

Password Not Working or Option Missing

• Windows says the password doesn’t meet requirements. Work and school PCs often require a minimum length, a mix of character types, or a password you haven’t used before. Try a longer password.
• The Password section is missing from Sign-in options. On a Microsoft account, the setting For improved security, only allow Windows Hello sign-in for Microsoft accounts on this device hides it. Change your password online instead (Method 3), or turn that setting off under Sign-in options > Additional settings.
• The new password is rejected at sign-in. Check Caps Lock and the keyboard language shown at the bottom right of the sign-in screen. For a Microsoft account, make sure the PC is connected to the internet, or the old password may still work until it is.
• Windows asks for a PIN, not a password. A PIN is separate from your password. Click Sign-in options below the box and choose the key icon to type your password, or see our guide on how to change your PIN on Windows 11.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does changing my password change my PIN?

No. Your Windows Hello PIN only works on this PC and is stored separately. It stays the same after a password change. Change it under Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options > PIN (Windows Hello) > Change PIN.

How do I make a strong Windows password?

Use at least 12 characters. A phrase made of several unrelated words is long and easy to remember. Don’t reuse a password from another site.

Can I remove my password instead of changing it?

For a local account, yes. In Method 2, leave the new password boxes blank. Anyone who picks up the PC can then sign in, so read how to remove the password from Windows 11 for the trade-offs first.

Will I be signed out of my apps after changing a Microsoft account password?

You may need to sign in again on other devices and in apps like Outlook or OneDrive. Your Windows sign-in on this PC switches to the new password once it’s online.