I've forgotten my Windows Live password. How can I reset it?

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• Thursday, August 06, 2009 6:45 PMAndrew L.MSFT, Moderator

   
  

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  There are a few ways you can reset your password if you are no longer able to sign in.
  
  1) By requesting a password reset e-mail, if you entered an alternate e-mail address for your Windows Live ID.
  
  2)By providing location information and the secret answer for the question you selected.
  
  3) By sending submitting an account validation request through our secure account validation e-form (do not provide your personal information in the forum).

  
  To reset your password by requesting a password reset e-mail, follow these steps:

  1. On any Windows Live ID site or service sign-in page, click Forgot your password?.  You may need to click your user tile to see this link.

  2. Verify your Windows Live ID, type the characters you see in the Picture box, and then click Continue.

  3. Select Send password reset instructions to me in e-mail.

  4. Select the e-mail address where you want the password reset e-mail to be sent, and then click Continue.

  5. On the confirmation page, click OK.

  6. When you receive the password reset e-mail, click the link in the e-mail to reset your password, and then follow the online instructions.

  Notes

  • If you've selected Remember me on this computer and Remember my password on the sign-in screen, you may be able to sign in to your e-mail and receive the password reset message.

  • If you're using an an e-mail program, such as Outlook or Windows Live Mail, and you have set it to remember your Windows Live ID and password you may be able to send the password reset message to your account, sign in to your e-mail through the program,  and get your password.

  • If you're using Windows Live Messenger and it is set to automatically sign you in, you may be able to sign in to Messenger and click Open your e-mail inbox to access your e-mail.

  To reset your password by entering your secret answer, follow these steps:

  1. On any Windows Live ID site or service sign-in page, click Forgot your password?.

  2. Verify your Windows Live ID, type the characters you see in the Picture box, and then click Continue.

  3. Click Use my location information and secret answer to verify my identity.

  4. In the Country/Region list, select your country or region, select your state, and then type your ZIP code if you're prompted to do so.
     If you've moved since signing up for your Windows Live ID, use the location information you last provided. If you've provided both a home and work location, enter your home location.

  5. In the Question area in the Secret Answer box, type your answer to the question.

  6. Click Continue.

  7. Enter and confirm a new password, and then click Continue.

  8. If prompted, enter an alternate e-mail address and click Continue, or click Skip to bypass this step.

  9. On the You've changed your password page, click Sign in to Windows Live.

  
  To reset your password using the secure account validation page, read this information:

   

  The Windows Live ID Validation Page was created to ask questions about your account that only you would be able to provide to us.  Please Provide as much detail as possible on every question.  The more information you provide to us, the more likely it will be that our Support Agents can validate your identity. We will not provide you any verification to what answers you have answered correctly or which answers you provided that were incorrect. This is for everyone's security and privacy. We appreciate your understanding in this very sensitive matter. The full URL to the Validation Page is: https://support.live.com/eform.aspx?productKey=wlidvalidation 
  
  Here are some key items that will prevent us from assisting in resetting a password would be:

  1.   You did not provide accurate information upon creation.

  2.   You did not provide any information upon creation. 

  3.   You are unable to remember any detail on your account. 

  4.   The information on the account does not match what you have provided. 

  5.   You did not provide enough information to validate ownership. 

  a.    Before completing the validation page, you should try to provide as much information before submitting. 

  b.    Name and email address is never enough for validation purposes.

  Please allow up to 24 hours for a response from our support team.
  
  For additional support for Windows Live ID and sign in issues please visit http://support.live.com and click "Windows Live ID".
  
  Best,
  Andrew

  ---

  Andrew L. Supportability Program Manager Microsoft

  • Marked As Answer byAntonia B - Windows Live teamMSFT, ModeratorFriday, August 07, 2009 7:03 PM
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