Select the Account settings command

ntOf course, this will only work smoothly if you have set up the Security information for your Microsoft account. While most folks with a Microsoft account will have Security information settings already configured, I have encountered older Microsoft accounts that do not. (If you set up a Microsoft account recently, you would have had to set up Security information settings in order to create your account.)

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ntIn this edition of the Windows Desktop Report, I’ll show you how to reset your Windows 8 password. I’ll also show you how to set up Security information settings for your Microsoft account.

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ntThis blog post is also available as a TechRepublic Screenshot Gallery.

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ntCheck your Microsoft account’s Security info

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ntIf you are using an older Microsoft account to sign into Windows 8, you should check to make sure that your Security info is set up so that you can easily reset your password should you forget it. The easiest way to do so is to log into your Microsoft account at Outlook.com. Once you are logged on, click the picture icon in the upper right corner of the window and when the menu appears, select Account settings, as shown in Figure B.

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ntCredit: Images by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic

If the security info section is blank, then you need to set up your security information

ntWhen you see the Microsoft account screen, look at the Password and security info section. If the security info section shows either a phone number or an email address, then you are OK. However, if the security info section is blank, as shown in Figure C, then you need to set up your security information.

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ntCredit: Images by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic

Select Security info from the menu bar

ntSetting up the security info is easy. From the Microsoft account screen, select Security info from the menu bar, as shown in Figure D.

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ntCredit: Images by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic

Enter you alternate email address and click Next

ntIn a moment, you’ll see the Help us protect your account page and can choose how you want to be able to reset your password – you can use your mobile phone or you can use an alternate email address. For my example, I am going to use an alternate email address, as shown in Figure E. Once you enter your alternate email address, just click Next.

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ntCredit: Images by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic

When you receive the code via your alternate email address, just enter it

ntAs soon as you do, an email message containing a special code will be sent to your alternate email address and you’ll see a screen prompting you to enter that code. Once you receive the email message, take note of the code and enter it. This process is illustrated in Figure F. Bear in mind that the code is only valid for a short period of time (somewhere between 5 and 10 minutes) before it expires. So go ahead and enter it as soon as possible. If it expires, you can simply request another code.

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ntCredit: Images by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic

Alternate email address in the Password and security info section

ntWhen you complete the procedure, you’ll see your alternate email address in the Password and security info section, as shown in Figure G.

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ntCredit: Images by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic

Click the Can't access your account? link

ntPerforming a password reset

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ntOf course, if you can’t log on to your Windows 8 system because of a forgotten password, you’ll need to perform the password reset operation on another system. To do so, you can either go to Outlook.com or to https://account.live.com. When you arrive at the page, click the “Can’t access your account?” link, as shown in Figure H.

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ntCredit: Images by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic

enter your Microsoft account email address and the Capcha characters

ntYou’ll then see the Reset your password page, as shown in Figure I and will need to enter your Microsoft account email address and then carefully type in the Capcha characters.

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ntCredit: Images by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic

You'll be prompted to select the method that you want to use to reset your password

ntWhen you click Next, you’ll be prompted to select the method that you want to use to reset your password. As you can see in Figure J, I selected the Email me a reset link option.

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ntCredit: Images by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic

The email message will contain a link you will use to reset your password

ntAs soon as you click Next, an email message containing a special link will be sent to your alternate email address, as shown in Figure K. Keep in mind that the link is only valid for a short period of time (somewhere between 5 and 10 minutes) before it expires.

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ntCredit: Images by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic

When you get to this page, just enter your new password

ntWhen, you click the link, you’ll see the Reset your password page again and be prompted to enter your new password, as shown in Figure L. Keep in mind that your new password must be at least eight characters long and contain upper and lowercase letters or numbers or symbols.

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ntAs soon as you click Next, your new password will be available and you can again log into Windows 8.

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ntWhat’s your take?

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ntHave you been wondering about resetting your Microsoft account password so that you can log into Windows 8? As always, if you have comments or information to share about this topic, please take a moment to drop by the TechRepublic Community Forums and let us hear from you.

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ntAlso read:

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• nttQuick tip: Tell your Windows 8 PC that you trust it

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• nttThe first 10 things you should do to a new Windows 8 desktop installation

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• nttRefresh your Windows 8 system from a Recovery Drive

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ntCredit: Images by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic