Can't access old email

Ronnie Barnes 0 Reputation points
2026-11-03T15:45:24.4066667+00:00

Unable to access old email and forgot password. My laptop is asking for that to sign in. It didn't ask before yesterday. I normally sign in with a pin.

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Windows Hello, lock screen and sign-in
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  1. GsN5034 - IA 79,390 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-11-03T16:34:18.0566667+00:00

    Hello,

    You initially set up Windows using your old email address, which is the administrator account on your device.

    If you’ve made changes to your device, such as installing Windows updates, your PIN may stop working, and you may be asked to reset it. During the reset process, you’ll need to verify your identity using the administrator account. Or, if you only have the password sign-in option now and you forgot it, try resetting it from the Windows sign-in screen by selecting the 'I forgot my password' option, as shown in the screenshot here.

    User's image

    alternatively,

    Since you forgot the password for the old Microsoft account, have you tried resetting it using another device?

    If this is a personal account, please use the following link to reset the password:

    https://account.live.com/ResetPassword.aspx

    Use your updated password to sign in to your device. Make sure it’s connected to the internet so the new password can sync.

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  2. Ronnie Barnes 0 Reputation points
    2026-11-03T15:49:34.33+00:00

    I don't have access to my old email and forgot old password so I'm unable to log in.

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  3. AI answer

    2026-11-03T15:45:39.23+00:00

    Since the laptop normally uses a PIN, the fastest path is to reset the Microsoft account password first, then use that password to sign in and recreate the PIN.

    1. On the Windows sign-in screen, select Sign-in options.
    2. Choose Password instead of PIN.
    3. If the password is forgotten, select I forgot my password. If available, Web sign-in can also be used, then select Forgot my password.
    4. From another device or browser, the Microsoft account password can also be reset at Reset password.
    5. After the password is reset, return to the laptop and sign in with the new password.
    6. Once signed in, go to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options.
    7. Select PIN (Windows Hello):
      • Choose I forgot my PIN to reset it, or
      • Choose Change PIN if the old PIN is still known.

    Important details:

    • The Windows Hello PIN is different from the Microsoft account password.
    • If I forgot my PIN is not shown on the sign-in screen, sign in with the password first and then reset the PIN from Settings.
    • If the old email account username is not recognized anymore, try another email alias or phone number on the account if one exists.
    • If the Microsoft account still cannot be recovered, use the Microsoft account sign-in helper tool or contact Microsoft Support. Support agents cannot send password reset links or change account details.
    • Restarting the device can also help clear temporary sign-in issues before trying again.

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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