Locked out because the password will not work
I forgot my computer password and cannot sign in. What are my options?
Written by The CommonFixes team · fact checked by CommonFixes review desk
Last updated
Short answer
Either the password is genuinely wrong, or the sign-in method has broken after an update and needs resetting through your online account. The quickest thing to try first: check the obvious first — Look for Caps Lock, check that Num Lock is on if your password contains numbers typed on the side keypad, and check the keyboard language shown near the clock. Most people are done in about 20 minutes.
Full walkthrough below: 5 steps for Windows and Mac, rated medium.
Sounds like this
- •Password rejected
- •Cannot reach the desktop
- •PIN suddenly not accepted
Why it happens
Either the password is genuinely wrong, or the sign-in method has broken after an update and needs resetting through your online account.
Work through these in order
0% done- 1
Check the obvious first
Look for Caps Lock, check that Num Lock is on if your password contains numbers typed on the side keypad, and check the keyboard language shown near the clock.
- 2
Reset a Microsoft account password from your phone
On another device open account.live.com/password/reset and change the password. Connect the locked computer to Wi-Fi at the sign-in screen and use the new password straight away.
- 3
Use I forgot my PIN
On the sign-in screen click I forgot my PIN under the box. Signing in with your account password lets you set a fresh PIN.
- 4
Answer the security questions on a local account
Type any wrong password once. A Reset password link appears under the box for local accounts that have security questions set.
- 5
Reset a Mac with your Apple Account
Enter a wrong password three times. The Mac offers to reset it using your Apple Account, or with a recovery key if FileVault is switched on.
If none of that worked
Avoid password cracking tools from search results. They frequently carry malware. A repair shop can copy your files off the drive instead.
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Who wrote this and how we checked it
The CommonFixes team
Writer and researcher
We are a small group of people who spend our days repairing laptops and desktops for family, friends and small offices. Every guide here starts with a problem someone actually brought to us, and we only write down the steps that put the machine right.
- Everyday repairs
- Windows and Mac
- Plain language
CommonFixes review desk
Technical editor
Before a guide goes live, a second person walks through it on a real machine and checks each instruction against the maker's own support pages. Anything we cannot confirm is removed rather than guessed at.
- Fact checking
- Safety warnings
- Source links
This guide was last updated on 10 August 2026. If a step no longer matches what you see on screen, tell us on the contact page and we will test it again.
A gentle reminder: back up anything you cannot afford to lose before major repairs. If a step ever feels risky, stop and ask a technician. There is no shame in that.