Everyday IT fixes
Reset or change your Windows password
Change a password you know, and what to do when you're locked out completely.
Last reviewed 20 August 2026
If you can still sign in
- 1Press Ctrl + Alt + Delete.
- 2Choose 'Change a password'.
- 3Enter your current password, then the new one twice.
- 4If you use a work laptop away from the office, connect to the VPN first so the new password syncs properly.
If you're locked out
- 1Check Caps Lock and your keyboard language — a surprising number of lockouts are a stray Caps Lock.
- 2Wait 15 minutes if you've had several failed attempts; accounts often unlock themselves.
- 3If you have self-service reset enabled, go to aka.ms/sspr from your phone and follow the prompts.
- 4Otherwise phone the helpdesk. We'll verify who you are before resetting anything.
Use a passphrase — three unrelated words plus a number and a symbol. It's far harder to crack and much easier to type than 'Summer2026!'.
We will never phone you and ask for your password. If someone does, it isn't us — hang up and report it.
Still stuck?
Log it with the helpdesk and a real engineer will pick it up — or book a call if you'd rather talk it through.