How To: Change and reset your Microsoft password

1. General

2. Reset Methods

2.1 Reset your password using an email address

2.2 Reset your password using a text message

2.3 Reset your password using a phone number

2.4 Reset your password using security questions

2.5 Reset your password using a notification from your authenticator app

2.6 Reset your password using a code from your authenticator app

3. How to change your password

3.1 To change your password using the Office 365 portal

3.2 To change your password from the My Apps portal

3.3 To change your password at Windows sign-in

1. General

If you forgot your password, never got a password from your organization, or have been locked out of your account, you can use your security info and your mobile device to reset your password.

If you know your password and you want to change it, see the "How to change your password" sections of this article.

2. Reset methods

2.1 Reset your password using an email address

Sends an email to the email address you previously set up in two-step verification or security info.

Select Email my alternate email, and then select Email.
Type the verification code from the email into the box, and then select Next.
Type and confirm your new password, and then select Finish.

2.2 Reset your password using a text message

Sends a text message to the phone number you previously set up in security info.

Select Text my mobile phone, type your phone number, and then select Text.
Type the verification code from the text message into the box, and then select Next.
Type and confirm your new password, and then select Finish.

2.3 Reset your password using a phone number

Places an automated voice call to the phone number you previously set up in security info.

Select Call my mobile phone, type your phone number, and then select Call.
Answer the phone call and follow the instructions to verify your identity, and then select Next.
Type and confirm your new password, and then select Finish.

2.4 Reset your password using security questions

Shows you the list of security questions you set up in security info.

Select Answer my security questions, answer the questions, and then select Next.
Type and confirm your new password, and then select Finish.

2.5 Reset your password using a notification from your authenticator app

Sends an approval notification to the authenticator app.

Select Approve a notification on my authenticator app, and then select Send Notification.
Approve the sign-in from your authenticator app.
Type and confirm your new password, and then select Finish.

2.6 Reset your password using a code from your authenticator app

Accepts a random code provided by your authentication app.

Select Enter a code from my authenticator app, and then select Send Notification.
Open your authenticator app, type the verification code for your account into the box, and then select Next.
Type and confirm your new password, and then select Finish.
After you get the message saying that your password has been reset, you can sign in to your account using your new password.

If you still can't access your account, you should contact your organization's administrator for more help.

After resetting your password, you might get a confirmation email that comes from an account like, "Microsoft on behalf of your_organization." If you get a similar email, but you didn't recently reset your password, you must contact your organization's administrator immediately.

3. How to change your password

If you just want to change your password, you can do it through the Office 365 portal, the My Apps portal, or the Windows 10 sign-in page.

3.1 To change your password using the Office 365 portal

Use this method if you typically access your apps through the Office portal (https://www.office.com/):
Sign in to your Office 365 account, using your existing password.
Select your profile on the upper-right side, and then select View account.
Select Security & privacy > Password.
Type your old password, create and confirm your new password, and then select Submit.

3.2 To change your password from the My Apps portal

Use this method if you typically access your apps from the My Apps portal (https://myapplications.microsoft.com/):

Sign in to the My Apps portal, using your existing password.
Select your profile on the upper-right side, and then select Profile.
Select Change password.
Type your old password, create and confirm your new password, and then select Submit.

3.3 To change your password at Windows sign-in

There is a link to Reset password on your Windows sign-in screen.

Select the Reset password link to start the password reset process without having to use the normal web-based experience.
Confirm your user ID and select Next.
Select and confirm a contact method for verification. If necessary, choose a second verification option that's different from your previous one, filling in the necessary info.
On the Create a new password page, type and confirm your new password, and then select Next. Strong passwords typically have 8 to 16 characters, including upper and lowercase characters, at least one number, and at least one special character.
After you get the message saying that your password has been reset, you can select Finish. If you still can't access your account, you should contact your organization's administrator for more help.