Forgot Outlook Password? How To Reset Outlook Password

Oh No! I Can’t Log In To Outlook!

With all the accounts we each log into on a daily basis, it can be hard to remember every single password. Sometimes, we just forget a password (or lock ourselves out of an account by trying the password too many times). Other times, someone else may try to hack our account and change the password to something we don’t know. Both are frustrating situations, and they leave you without the ability to log into Outlook.

Thankfully, you can reset Outlook passwords. So, whether you forgot Outlook password or got locked out another way, there are several things you can do to recover your Outlook account, and we will explore each one in-depth.

Reset Your Outlook Password

If you forgot your Outlook password, that’s okay. Microsoft offers an easy-to-complete password reset process. All you need is your username (Outlook email address) and your verification method handy.

Here’s how to reset Outlook password:

1. Go to https://login.live.com/.
2. Enter your username, then press Next.
3. On the Enter Password screen, choose Forgot Password? below the password box.
4. From here, you will be asked to verify your identity. The options here will vary based on the security settings you previously established, but you will be given at least one of the following options:
   • You will be prompted to enter the code generated by your authenticator app.
   • You will have the option to select your secondary email address or cell phone number to receive a verification code.

1. Once you select the best verification option, you may have to press Get Code before moving to the next step.
2. Paste or type the code you received.
3. Select Next.
4. Now, you will reset your password. Type a new password, then click Next.

If You Couldn't Reset Your Outlook Password

Sometimes, even if you try to walk through the password reset tool, you don’t have any luck resetting your password. This can be frustrating, especially if you aren’t sure why you can’t get into your account.

Before going further, Microsoft recommends you do the following:

• Ensure Caps Lock is not on
• Verify that you have entered your email address (username) correctly
• Ensure you added any additional endings to the domain (i.e., @outlook.com.uk vs just @outlook.com)
• Double-check that you are looking at the right verification method
• Verify that you entered any verification code provided correctly

If you have done all of these things and still have issues, you can try using Microsoft’s Sign-In Helper tool to troubleshoot the issue further. This tool essentially has you click options until it provides an answer based on your specific criteria. It can help you perform an Outlook password reset or troubleshoot many other sign-on issues.

Microsoft Account Recovery: A Last Resort

Unfortunately, no Outlook password reset method is foolproof. If all else fails, Microsoft offers an option to recover your account even if you can’t reset your password or gain access to your account in another way.

Here’s how to fill out the Microsoft Account Recovery form to regain access to Outlook:

1. Go to https://account.live.com/acsr.
2. Enter the Outlook email address you’d like to regain access to.
3. Next, provide another valid email address Microsoft can use to contact you.
4. Finally, you will fill out the security feature to ensure you aren’t a bot.

Once you complete these steps, you will get a verification code sent to the email address you provided. In some cases, Microsoft may ask you for additional information, such as email subject lines in your inbox, contacts you have saved, or other defining characteristics of your inbox.

Additionally, Microsoft recommends you complete the form at a location where you commonly connect to the internet (like your home or work) and use a device you previously used to sign into your account. This helps determine if you are legitimate versus someone trying to hack an account.