How to Reset a Forgotten Password

Difficulty: Easy

Time needed: 5-10 minutes

What you'll need: Access to your email or phone number

Step 1: Use the "Forgot Password" option

Almost every service has a password reset feature. On the login page, look for a link that says "Forgot password?", "Reset password", or "Can't sign in?". Click it and follow the prompts.

Step 2: Reset common account passwords

Gmail/Google: Go to accounts.google.com, click Forgot password, and verify with your phone or recovery email
Microsoft/Outlook: Go to account.live.com, click Can't access your account?, and follow the steps
Apple ID: Go to iforgot.apple.com and verify your identity
Facebook: Click Forgotten password? on the login page and use email or phone to reset
Instagram: Tap Forgot password? and use email, phone, or Facebook to recover

Step 3: Reset Windows login password

Windows 10/11 with Microsoft account: On the login screen, click I forgot my PIN or Reset password. Follow the online verification steps
Windows with local account: You'll need your password reset disk, or you may need to use a recovery tool. As a last resort, you can reset Windows (which erases data)

Step 4: Reset Mac login password

Restart your Mac and hold Command + R to enter Recovery Mode
Open Terminal from the Utilities menu
Type resetpassword and press Enter
Follow the on-screen instructions to reset your account password

Step 5: Set a strong new password

When creating your new password:

Use at least 12 characters
Mix uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols
Don't reuse passwords from other accounts
Consider using a password manager like 1Password, Bitwarden, or the built-in one on your phone

If that didn't work

If you can't access your recovery email or phone, most services offer an identity verification process where you answer security questions or provide ID. Look for "I can't access these" or "Try another method" options on the reset page.

Pro tip

Set up a password manager now to avoid this problem in the future. Both iPhones (iCloud Keychain) and Android phones (Google Password Manager) have free built-in options that auto-fill your passwords securely.