While Microsoft has dropped its password-expiration policies that required users to change the computer password every 60 days (for Windows 10 v1903), you might still consider modifying it if you think it is compromised. Or if you just got bored of the old password, whatever may be the reason, this guide will teach you how to change the login password on Windows 10.
Listed here are several ways to change the user password on Windows 10. You will also learn how to create a PIN and Picture Password on Windows 10; in case you want to try out new ways to log in.
Moreover, you’ll also learn to change the login password on Windows 10 even if you’ve forgotten it.
Option 1. Change Login Password on Windows 10 with Administrator Account
You can change the login password on Windows 10 by following methods if you know the existing administrator password. Use one that is most convenient to you:
1.1. Change Windows 10 Password from Settings
While there are several ways to change user password on Windows 10, the simplest, recommended, and the right way to do it is by accessing PC settings.
Follow these simple steps to learn how to change computer password on Windows 10 via PC settings:
Step 1: Hover to the Start menu and click on the Setting (gear icon).
Alternatively, you can press “Windows logo+I” to open PC settings.
Step 2: On the Settings window, select the Account menu.
Step 3: Under the Account section, select Sign-in options on the left menu.
Step 4: After selecting, select Password on the right menu and then click on Change.
Step 5: On the new window, enter the current password.
After entering, click on Next.
Step 6: On the next window, enter the new password twice. If you haven’t selected a security question before, assign one and note down the answer to it and keep it safe.
And, also include a password hint.
Step 7: After entering the password twice and hint, click on Next at the bottom.
After clicking Next, the login password on Windows 10 will change successfully.
1.2. Change Windows 10 Password from Control Panel
Control Panel comes in handy when there are one or more users, and you want to change the password of other local users from the Admin account. Although, you can also use it to change the login password of the administrator account.
Here’s how to change login password on Windows 10 via Control Panel:
Step 1: From the Windows Search bar, type and enter Control Panel.
Step 2: Select Change account type under the User Accounts option.
Quick Note: If the view, by default, is set to large or small icons, you’ll not see this option. So, change it to “View by: Category.”
Step 3: Choose the user you would like to change:
Here we are changing the login password of the administrator account.
Step 4: Under the Make Change to [username] account list, select Change the password.
Step 5: You will see four boxes:
- In the first box, enter the current password.
- In the second box, type the new password and confirm it in the third box.
- Also, type a password hint.
Step 6: After entering, click on Change Password.
That’s it; you’ve successfully changed the login password on Windows 10 from the Control Panel.
1.3. Change Windows 10 Password from Local Users and Groups
Local Users and Groups features are accessible only on Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions of Windows 10. Unfortunately, if you’re using Home or IoT editions, you cannot change the user password on Windows 10 via this method.
With that said, let’s see how to change Windows 10 password from Local Users and Groups:
Step 1: Press the “Window logo+R” keys together; this will open the RUN box.
Type lusrmgr.msc and click OK.
If you see a notification from User Account Control, click on Yes.
Step 2: On the window, do the following:
- In the left plane, select Users.
- In the middle section, choose the desired local account.
- And in the right plane, choose More Actions, and from the drop-down option, select Set Password.
Alternatively, you can right-click on the selected local account and choose Set Password.
Step 3: Click on Proceed in the pop-up box.
Step 4: Enter the new password in the two boxes and then click on OK.
Step 5: After clicking, you’ll see a message saying, “The password has been set.”
Click on OK.
Close Local Users and Groups; you’ve successfully changed the login password of the desired local user.
1.4. Change Windows 10 Password Using Netplwiz
Another way to change Windows 10 password is via Netplwiz; this is a simple method and doesn’t involve any complicated steps.
Follow these simple steps to learn how to change login password on Windows 10:
Step 1: In the search box, type “netplwiz” and tap Enter.
Step 2: Under the “Users for this computer” options, select the desired user account by highlighting it, then click on Reset Password.
Step 3: Type the new password twice and select OK.
Voila! You’ve successfully changed Windows 10 password using netplwiz.
1.5. Change Windows 10 Password from Command Prompt
You can also use the net user command to change the user password on Windows 10.
Follow these simple steps to learn how to change computer password on Windows 10 using Command Prompt:
Step 1: From the search bar, type Command Prompt and open it with administrator privileges, i.e., right-click on it and select Run as administrator.
Read More: How to Open Command Prompt as Administrator in Windows 10
Windows will display a message asking if you want to allow the application to make changes to your account; click Yes.
Step 2: After opening, type net user
and press Enter.
Step 3: After you see the message: “The command completed successfully,”
Type net user {username} {new password}
; i.e, your username and new password of your choice without “{}”.
And then press Enter.
After you see the message: “The command completed successfully,” you can exit the command prompt and use the new password from now on.
1.6. Change Windows 10 Password to a PIN
If you wish to login via PIN instead of a password, all you’ve to do is set the PIN under sign-in options, and it will automatically become active.
Note: You do not have to remove your password to log in via PIN.
Follow these simple steps to change Windows 10 password to a PIN:
Step 1: From the Start menu, open Settings (gear icon).
Step 2: Under Settings, choose Accounts and then select the Sign-in option on the left menu.
Step 3: On the right bar, select the Windows Hello PIN (just PIN in older versions) option and click on Add.
Step 4: Windows will ask for your password; type in the current password and select OK.
Step 5: In the next tab, enter a four-digit (numeric) PIN of your choice and enter it again to confirm.
After re-entering the password, select OK.
From now on, when you log in to Windows 10, it will automatically ask for your PIN instead of the password.
1.7. Change Windows 10 Password to a Picture Password
One refreshing way to log in to Windows 10 is by drawing a pattern or tapping at particular points on a pre-chosen picture. It is best suited for touchscreen devices; nonetheless, you can also use this feature on desktops or laptops.
Note: You do not have to remove your Windows 10 password to log in via picture password.
Let’s learn how to change Windows 10 passwords to a picture password:
Step 1: From the Start menu, open Settings (gear icon).
Step 2: Under Settings, choose Accounts, then select the Sign-in option on the left menu.
Step 3: On the right bar, select the Picture Password option, and click on Add.
Step 4: Windows will ask for your password, type in the existing password, and select OK.
Step 5: After verifying your password,
On the left-bar, click Choose Picture and select the image you want to use for your Password.
Step 6: After choosing the image, on the left-side select Use this picture. Or Choose new picture if you want to reconsider the selected image.
Step 7: After selecting the picture, you’ll have to create three gestures, a simple tap, a shape of your choice, or anything you prefer. As you continue to draw, Windows will confirm each by number 1 2 3.
Here, I’ve used three circles as my gestures (marked in red).
Step 8: After drawing the gesture for the first time, you’ll also have to confirm the gestures and repeat the same movements as before; because if you change the gestures while confirming, it will ask you to start again.
Step 9: Once you successfully confirm the gestures, you can click on the Finish button to close the screen.
When you log in to Windows next time, it will automatically ask you to draw the three gestures to enter the local user.
Option 2. Change Login Password on Windows 10 without Knowing the Password
As you’ve seen, it is quite straightforward to change the login password on Windows 10 with access to the Administration account.
But it is not a simple task to bypass Windows 10 password if you’ve forgotten it. However, it doesn’t mean that you couldn’t access the computer eternally; there are some ways to bypass the password on Windows 10 even if you’ve forgotten it. But the most comfortable and simplest way to access the administrator account is by using the best Windows password recovery tool, i.e., PassFab 4WinKey.
Note: You will need a bootable USB (flash drive or pen drive) for changing the password of Windows 10 with PassFab 4Winkey.
Follow these step-by-step instructions to change the login password on Windows 10 even if you have forgotten it:
Step 1: Visit the PassFab 4WinKey official page from another computer and subscribe to a plan that best suits your needs.
Download and Install the application on the other computer. On the main interface, choose the inserted USB drive.
Step 2: After selecting the USB drive, click on Next. PassFab will take a few minutes to complete the burning process. Once completed, eject the USB drive and insert it into the locked computer.
Step 3: After inserting, restart the locked computer and press the F12 key (at the restart) quickly and repeatedly to open the Boot Menu options.
- Choose the inserted USB drive as the first priority (to boot the computer via the inserted USB drive).
- Once selected, Save and Exit the changes and then Exit the BIOS menu.
- Now, restart the computer using the power button.
Step 4: Once restarted, you’ll see the PassFab interface instead of your lock screen.
- Choose the Windows version, i.e., Windows 10 (installed edition).
- And then, click Next.
Step 5: After clicking Next,
- Select Reset Account Password.
- Then, choose your User Account and type the new password of your choice.
- After entering the password, click on Reset. And then, click on Next.
Step 6: After the password is reset, click on Reboot.
- Once selected, Windows will restart, and you’ll see the lock screen.
- Enter the new set password to log in.
You’ve successfully changed the login password on Windows 10 without Knowing the Password using the best Windows password recovery tool.
Conclusion
Be it any method; You’ll need the current password to change the login password on Windows 10. Even to change user password via Command Prompt, Local Users and Groups, or the netplwiz method necessitates administrator privileges.
Nonetheless, if you do not have access to the admin account or have forgotten the password, follow the instructions of Option 2, PassFab 4WinKey, to change the login password on Windows 10.