Forgot your password to login to your Windows 10 system? Don’t worry, it’s happened to all of us, and we’ve all spent a lot of time trying to remember and break that magical combination of letters, numbers, and symbols, but to no avail. Then we reach the “forgot password” button to replace the forgotten login information with a new one. This is really old functionality, but missing in Windows 10 until the release of Fall Creators Update. The Redmond giant has now made it super simple to reset your password or PIN directly from the lock screen if you use a Microsoft account. So, let’s take a look at how we can reset our login credentials in Windows 10.
note: I tried this on my Lenovo laptop running Windows 10 Pro Fall Creators Update and it worked just fine.
Reset Password from Lock Screen
If you forget your Microsoft account password, you don’t have to worry anymore, just follow the steps below to reset your password:
1. On the lock screen, Click on “I forgot my password” To start the process of resetting your Microsoft account password.
2. Now you will see most “Recover Your Account” screenwhere you need to confirm the Microsoft account whose login password you changed. Enter the captcha and click “Next”.
3. Now you will need to choose one of your recovery optionsmobile, alternate email ID, or Microsoft Authenticator app to verify your identity. Enter the received code and click “Next” once again.
4. This is the last step you need to do. Enter the new password you want to use to log into your Microsoft account.
5. Once passed, return to the login screen and try to login with the new password. If you can access your Windows 10 desktop on the first try, well and good but you may need to reboot the system to apply the change.
Reset PIN from Lock Screen
If you don’t have access to your Windows 10 system except in case you have trouble remembering the PIN you set last night, follow the below-mentioned step to reset the PIN from the lock screen:
1. On the lock screen, Click the “I forgot my PIN” link It’s below the login text box where you usually enter your PIN.
2. Click on the link and you will be greeted with a new screen that requires you. with Enter your Microsoft account password to verify your identity. click “Next” once you are done.
3. Now you will need to choose one of your recovery optionsas above and Enter the received code. CClick “Next” to continue the process.
4. If the entered code is correct, you will be asked to confirm whether you really want to update the PIN. Click Continue do the same.
5. On the screen below, enter the new PIN and click “OK” to save the change. You can now return to the login screen and enter the new PIN to unlock your Windows 10 system.
If you forgot your login credentials and the option to reset password or PIN is not available on your Windows 10 lock screen, there could be two reasons. Either you have not updated your system to the latest Fall Creators Update or you are using the system using a local account. You have not signed in using a Microsoft account, which is required for it to work.
SEE ALSO: Keyboard Remap in Windows 10 (Guide)
Password Reset Simplified with Windows 10 FCU
By building Windows 10 as a service, Microsoft is constantly collecting feedback to make their operating system more user-friendly and accessible to the masses. They are working to address the shortcomings of Windows 10 by engaging more with the user community. Login credentials are an essential tool for our privacy and security, so forgetting passwords to access our accounts can be disastrous. So a simple little addition to the lock screen goes a long way. What do you think about this new feature of Windows 10 Fall Creators Update? Let us know in the comments below.
