Easy Ways to Update Your Windows Account Password

When creating your first user account or adding another account on a Windows device, you’ll be prompted to set a password. Not setting a password during this process won’t hinder the account creation.

Setting up a local Windows account during the initial setup has become more complex due to changes by Microsoft, although it is still feasible in most cases.

There are several reasons why you might need to change your password:

• Your password may have been compromised, and you want to bolster your PC’s security.
• You might have selected a weak password and wish to upgrade to a stronger one.
• You may prefer logging in without needing a password.

Note: Differentiating between the Windows password and the Windows PIN is important. Both can be used for logging in, but there are distinct differences, particularly between the PIN and Microsoft account passwords.

Steps to Update Your Windows Password

The steps outlined below are applicable to both local accounts and Microsoft accounts, enabling you to change the password of the account you’re currently signed in with on the system. If you’re using a Microsoft account, you can modify the password for that account. Similarly, if you’re signed in with a local account, you can change the password for that account.

1. Go to the Start menu and select Settings from the app list.
2. Proceed to Accounts > Sign-in options > Password.
3. Click on the down-arrow icon to expand the Password section.
4. Click on the Change button.
5. Enter your current user password (leave blank if no password is set).
6. Enter the new password twice.
7. Add a password hint.
8. Click on the Next button after completing the above steps.
9. Select Finish to confirm the changes.

The new password will take effect immediately. You’ll need to use it the next time you log into your Windows account on the device.

Special Case: If you don’t see the Password section as described above in Settings, follow these steps:

1. Scroll down on the Sign-in options page in the Settings app.
2. Turn off the setting “For improved security, only allow Windows Hello sign-in for Microsoft accounts on this device”.

You should now be able to view the password option on the page.

Additionally, you can also create a Windows Hello PIN for your account, which can be utilized for signing in once configured.

Tip: You can also change the Windows account name and user profile folder.

Final Thoughts

The method provided is applicable to both Windows 10 and Windows 11. For more advanced users, there are different tools available for changing or resetting passwords.

1. One such tool is netplwiz, which allows password resets.
2. The net user command is another option for setting user passwords using the format “net user “.

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