Guide to Changing Windows Passwords for Local and Microsoft Accounts

Changing your Windows password is a straightforward process that can be accomplished in just a few steps. Whether you are using a local account or a Microsoft account, the procedure remains largely the same. This guide will walk you through the necessary steps to ensure your account remains secure.

Step-by-Step Guide to Changing Your Windows Password

To begin, open the Start menu and select Settings from the list of apps. From there, navigate to Accounts > Sign-in options > Password. You will need to expand the Password section by clicking on the down-arrow icon.

Activate the Change button.
Type your current user password (leave this blank if you have not set a password).
Enter your new password twice to confirm it.
Add a password hint to help you remember your new password.
Click on the Next button once you have completed these steps.
Select Finish to complete the process.

Your new password will be active immediately, and you will need to use it the next time you sign in to your Windows account on your device.

Troubleshooting: No Password Section

If you do not see a password section in Settings, follow these additional steps:

Scroll down to the bottom of the Sign-in options page in 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. Additionally, you may set up a Windows Hello PIN for your account, which can also be used for sign-in once configured.

Additional Tips

You may also change your Windows account name and user profile folder if needed. For advanced users, there are other tools available to change or reset passwords:

netplwiz: This tool allows you to reset passwords easily.
net user command: Use this command to set user passwords via command line using net user "username" "password".

The methods described above are applicable for both Windows 10 and Windows 11. Advanced users may prefer using different tools or commands, but the outlined steps should suffice for most users looking to change their Windows password efficiently.

What about you? Have you set a password for your Windows account, or do you prefer no password or another sign-in option?

How to change remote desktop password in Windows 11?

To change the remote desktop password in Windows 11, follow these steps: 1. Press Ctrl + Alt + End on the remote desktop session. 2. Select "Change a password" from the options. 3. Enter your old password, followed by your new password twice, and press Enter. If you are on the local machine, you can also change the password from Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options > Password and follow the prompts.

How to change password on Windows 11?

To change your password on Windows 11, follow these steps: 1. Open Settings by pressing Win + I. 2. Go to Accounts > Sign-in options. 3. Under Password, click the 'Change' button. 4. Enter your current password, then enter your new password twice for confirmation. 5. Click 'Next' and then 'Finish' to complete the process. You can also use Ctrl + Alt + Delete and select 'Change a password' for a quicker method.