Forgot Your Laptop Password or PIN? How to Get Back In

Locked out of your own laptop? How you get back in depends on what kind of account you use. This guide covers the legitimate ways to reset a forgotten Windows password or PIN, and a Mac password, without losing your files where possible.

Note: these steps are for your own laptop. School and work laptops are managed by an IT department. Contact them instead, as they can reset your password remotely.

Step 1: Which account do you sign in with?

• A Microsoft account (the sign-in screen shows an email address): the easiest to reset, online.
• A PIN: Windows Hello PINs are tied to your account password. Reset the PIN using the password, or reset the password first.
• A local account (just a name, no email): reset with security questions, or via another admin account.

Forgot your PIN (Windows 11)

1. On the sign-in screen, select I forgot my PIN under the PIN box.
2. Sign in with your Microsoft account password (and verification code).
3. Set a new PIN.

Tip: click Sign-in options on the lock screen to switch to your password instead of the PIN.

Forgot a Microsoft account password

1. On the sign-in screen, select I forgot my password. Or, from your phone or another computer, go to account.live.com/password/reset.
2. Verify your identity with a code sent to your recovery email or phone number.
3. Create a new password, then sign in to the laptop with it. The laptop needs an internet connection to accept the new password.

Forgot a local account password

• Security questions: type a wrong password once, then select Reset password and answer the questions you set when you created the account.
• Another administrator account: if someone else in your household has an admin account on the laptop, they can sign in and reset yours in Settings → Accounts → Other users, or via Control Panel → User Accounts.
• Password reset disk: if you created one earlier, choose “Use a password reset disk” on the sign-in screen.

Last resort: factory reset from the sign-in screen

If none of the above works, you can reset Windows without signing in. This erases your files unless they’re backed up to OneDrive or elsewhere.

1. On the sign-in screen, click the power icon, hold Shift, and click Restart.
2. Choose Troubleshoot → Reset this PC → Remove everything.
3. If the drive is encrypted, you’ll be asked for the BitLocker recovery key. See where to find your BitLocker key.

Full walkthrough: how to factory reset a Windows laptop.

Forgot your Mac password

• After a few wrong attempts, macOS may offer to reset it using your Apple Account. Follow the prompts.
• Otherwise, start in macOS Recovery (on Apple silicon: shut down, hold the power button until startup options appear, choose Options) and use the Reset Password assistant from the Utilities menu, or follow Apple’s on-screen steps.
• If FileVault is on, you’ll need your Apple Account or FileVault recovery key.

Avoid getting locked out again

• Use a Microsoft account with an up-to-date recovery phone and email. It’s far easier to recover than a local account.
• Store your passwords in a password manager (Bitwarden, 1Password, or the one in your browser).
• Save your BitLocker recovery key: it’s in your Microsoft account at account.microsoft.com/devices/recoverykey.
• Set up Windows Hello fingerprint or face sign-in if your laptop supports it.

FAQ

Can I reset my laptop password without losing data?

Yes, with a Microsoft account reset, security questions or another admin account. Only the factory-reset route erases files.

Is it safe to use “password bypass” tools from the internet?

We don’t recommend them. Many are malware, they can corrupt Windows, and they don’t work on encrypted drives. Use the official methods above.