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Passwords & Accounts · 5 guides

Passwords and lockouts

Reset, expire, change, and unlock a work account after a password problem.

How to reset my work password

Set a new password when you forgot the current one or it no longer works.

EasyAbout 5 minutes4 steps

You might notice

  • Sign-in says password is incorrect
  • You cannot remember the current password
  • IT asked you to reset after an incident
  1. 01

    Use the self-service reset page

    From the company sign-in screen, choose Forgot password. On a signed-in PC you can also use Ctrl+Alt+Del → Change a password if you still know the current one.

  2. 02

    Prove it is you

    Complete MFA with your authenticator app, phone, or security key. If you have no methods left, you cannot finish self-service reset.

  3. 03

    Create a password that meets policy

    Follow the length and complexity rules on the page. Do not reuse a recent password or a personal password.

  4. 04

    Update every device that still has the old password

    Reconnect Wi-Fi, VPN, Outlook, and your phone. Old saved passwords will lock the account if they keep retrying.

My account is locked

Windows or a website says the account is locked after too many failed sign-ins.

ModerateAbout 8 minutes4 steps

You might notice

  • Message says account is locked
  • You just changed your password
  • The phone or an old PC keeps asking for a password
  1. 01

    Stop the retries

    A lockout continues until every device stops using the old password. Update or sign out of your phone email app, home PC, tablet, and any mapped drives.

  2. 02

    Wait for the automatic unlock

    Many companies unlock after 15–30 minutes if the bad attempts stop. Do not keep guessing while you wait.

  3. 03

    Clear saved Windows passwords

    Open Credential Manager and remove old work entries. Forget the office Wi-Fi network if it was using the previous password.

  4. 04

    Sign in once on a known-good device

    Use Outlook on the web from a browser after the lockout window. Then update the laptop and VPN.

My password expired

Windows or a website will not let you in until you choose a new password.

EasyAbout 5 minutes3 steps

You might notice

  • Message says password expired
  • You can reach the sign-in page but not the desktop
  • VPN rejects a password that worked yesterday
  1. 01

    Change it at the prompt

    If Windows shows the expiry screen, set a new password there. If you only see it on a website, use the company password-change page.

  2. 02

    Unlock the laptop if you are already logged off

    On a domain laptop, connect to office network or VPN with another device if needed, then change the password. Some laptops cannot change an expired password while fully offline.

  3. 03

    Update saved passwords immediately

    Refresh Outlook, VPN, Wi-Fi, and your phone. Stale passwords will lock the new one.

How to change my password before it expires

Change a still-working password so you are not surprised on a deadline or travel day.

EasyAbout 4 minutes3 steps

You might notice

  • You received an expiry warning
  • You want a new password on your schedule
  • A manager asked the team to rotate passwords
  1. 01

    Change it from a signed-in Windows session

    Press Ctrl+Alt+Del → Change a password. Enter the current password and a new one that meets policy.

  2. 02

    Or use the web security page

    Open the company account portal → Password. This also works from a Mac or personal computer.

  3. 03

    Sign out of other sessions on purpose

    After changing, reopen VPN and mail so they store the new password. Restart the laptop once if Windows still uses the old cached logon.

I cannot sign in after changing my password

The new password works on the web but the laptop, VPN, or Outlook still fails.

ModerateAbout 10 minutes4 steps

You might notice

  • Web mail works, Windows does not
  • VPN keeps the old password
  • The account locks again after a successful reset
  1. 01

    Restart the laptop once

    Windows caches the last successful logon. A restart after a password change lets the new password take over, especially off-network.

  2. 02

    Connect to the company network

    If you changed the password from home, connect VPN from your phone hotspot if needed, then sign in to the laptop so it can refresh the cached logon.

  3. 03

    Update or delete saved passwords

    Clear old Outlook, Wi-Fi, and Credential Manager entries. Sign into the VPN client fresh instead of letting it auto-fill.

  4. 04

    Update the phone last

    Phone mail apps are the most common source of post-change lockouts. Remove the work account and add it again with the new password.