How To Change User Account Password in Windows 10

Learn how to change the password of your user account in Windows 10 in simple and easy steps.

While you might not need to do it often, there are times when changing the password of your Windows 10 system is required. For example, maybe your password got compromised & leaked, it is hard to remember/type, or easy to guess. If you are using your Microsoft account to log in, a leaked or compromised password can lead to even more damage, as it gives direct access to your Microsoft account.

Whatever your specific reason is, whether you are using an online (Microsoft) account or an offline (local) account, you can easily change the password in Windows 10 via the Settings app. This tutorial shows you how. Let’s get started.

Good to know: How to change the password in Windows 11

Before You Start

• You must know your current password to change it.
• You must be logged into your user account to follow this guide.
• If you cannot log in, you can reset a Microsoft account password online using any web browser. However, for a local account, you must use a previously created password reset disk.

Steps to Change Password in Windows 10 for Online (Microsoft) Account

1. Open the Settings app by pressing “Windows key + I”.
2. Click the “Accounts” option.
3. Go to the “Your info” tab on the sidebar.
4. Click the “Manage my Microsoft account” option on the right panel.
5. Log in to your MS account.
6. Go to the “Security” tab on the sidebar.
7. Click the “Change password” option.
8. Type your current password in the “Old password” field.
9. Type your new password in the two fields under the first field.
10. Click the “Save” button.
11. With that, you’ve changed your Windows 10 password via Microsoft.

Detailed Steps (With Screenshots)

As always, the first step is to open the Settings app. You can do it by pressing the “Windows key + I” shortcut or right-clicking the Windows icon on the taskbar and selecting the “Settings” option.

Once it opens, click the “Accounts” option and go to the “Your info” tab from the sidebar. Next, click the “Manage my Microsoft account” option on the right page.

The above action opens the Microsoft account page in your default web browser. If prompted, sign in to your Microsoft account to continue.

Note: If you forgot the password, click the “forgot password” option to reset your password.

After signing it, go to the “Security” tab on the left sidebar. Next, click “Change Password” on the right page.

Now, type the current password in the “Current Password” field, type the new password in the “New password” and “Reenter password” fields, and click the “Save” button.

That is it. With that, you’ve changed the password of your Microsoft account. From now on, you can use the new password to log into your online user account in Windows 10.

Steps to Change Password in Windows 10 for Local Account

1. Open Settings with the “Windows key + I” shortcut.
2. Click the “Accounts” option.
3. Go to the “Sign-in Options” tab on the sidebar.
4. Click the “Password” option.
5. Click the “Change” button.
6. Type the current password and click “Next“.
7. Type the new password in the first two fields. Click “Next“.
8. Enter a password hint in the third field.
9. Click “Next” and then “Finish“.
10. With that, you’ve changed the local account password in Windows 10.

Detailed Steps (With Screenshots)

To reset the local account password in Windows 10, we must use the Settings app. So, press the “Windows key + I” to open the Settings app. Once it opens, go to the “Accounts” > “Sign-in Options” page, click the “Password” option, and then click the “Change” button.

The above action prompts for your current password. Type it and click the “Next” button.

Now, type your new password in the “New Password” & “Confirm Password” fields and a password hint of your choice in the “Password Hint” field. Click “Next” to continue.

Click the “Finish” button.

With that, you’ve changed the password for your local user account in Windows 10. From now on, you can use the new password to log in.

Wrapping Up — Changing Windows 10 Password

As you can see, whether you are using an online account or a local account, changing the user account password in Windows 10 is easy and straightforward. Do keep in mind that your current password is required, and you should be logged in to change it. After changing the password, don’t forget to enable PIN protection or fingerprint in Windows 10. It makes it easy to log into your system without using the actual password.

If you have any questions or need help, comment below. I’ll be happy to assist.