Changing and Setting a Password

WINV-1.6

If you don’t have a password associated with your user account, anyone can access your files. A password controls who has access to your files. When you create a password, enter one that is easy for you to remember, yet difficult for others to guess. Good passwords are typically at least seven characters and include letters (uppercase and lowercase), numbers, and symbols. Once you create a password, you can always change it.

Change or Create a Password

Click the Start button, and then click Control Panel.

Double-click the User Accounts icon in Classic view.

If you want to change another account, click Manage another account, and then click the user’s account name.

Click Change your password, Change the password, or Create a password.

Type a password, and then type it again.

Type a hint that reminds you of the password.

Click Change password or Create password.

Click the Close button.

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Did You Know? You can change a password. In User Accounts, click the account you want to change, click Change My Password, type your current password, if necessary, type a new password, type it again, type a hint, and then click Change password.

Change an Administrator Password on a Domain Network

Click the Start button, and then click Control Panel.

Double-click the User Accounts icon in Classic view, and then click Manage User Accounts.

Click the Users tab.

Click the administrator account.

Click Reset Password.

Type the new password, and then type it again.

Click OK.

Click OK.

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Security Alert: Working Smarter as the Administrator If you are an administrator, it’s recommended that you log out and use another account for general work to avoid harmful damage to your computer by a virus or malicious user. For example, if a hacker received access to your computer with administrator privileges, the attacker could reformat your hard drive, delete files, or create a new administrator account.