“What is the password for this computer?” is a question almost everyone asks eventually — about an old laptop, a second-hand PC, or a machine a family member set up. The honest answer is that you usually cannot find a forgotten Windows or Mac login in plain text, but you can almost always reset it and get back in. Our GetMyPassword team breaks down where computer passwords live, what is realistically recoverable, and the safe ways to regain access.
Why you cannot simply “read” a login password
Operating systems never store your sign-in password as readable text. Windows and macOS keep only a one-way hash — a scrambled fingerprint that confirms the right password without holding the password itself. That is good security, and it is why every legitimate solution is about resetting the login rather than revealing it.
Reset a Windows password
- Microsoft account: go to account.live.com/password/reset on any device and reset online — the new password syncs to the PC.
- Local account (Windows 10/11): on the lock screen click your name, then Reset password, and answer the security questions you set.
- No security questions: a Windows installation USB lets an administrator reset the account, though this is more advanced.
Reset a Mac password
On macOS, enter your password wrong a few times and the login screen offers to reset it with your Apple Account. If that is not linked, restart into Recovery (hold Command + R on Intel Macs, or the power button on Apple Silicon), open Terminal, and run resetpassword to launch the reset assistant.
Find saved website passwords (a different thing)
If you actually want the passwords stored on the computer — for websites and apps — those you can view. In Chrome or Edge open Settings → Passwords; on Mac open the Passwords app or Keychain Access. Each reveals saved logins after you confirm the device login, which is a separate task from unlocking the machine itself.
Beware any tool promising to “show” your forgotten Windows or Mac login. Because the password is only stored as a hash, no honest program can display it — those tools either reset it or are simply unsafe.
Set a password you will not lose again
After you regain access, two habits prevent a repeat. First, link a Microsoft or Apple Account so an online reset is always available. Second, store the new login in a password manager instead of your memory. Need a strong one? Generate it with our password generator and keep it somewhere safe — a reset disk or a written note in a drawer beats being locked out.
Frequently asked questions
Can I find my computer password without resetting it?
No. Windows and macOS store the login only as a one-way hash, so it cannot be displayed in plain text. The supported route is to reset the password through your Microsoft account, Apple Account, or the built-in recovery tools.
How do I get into a second-hand computer that is still locked?
Ask the previous owner to remove their account, or reset to factory settings. On Macs, the device may also be tied to their Apple Account through Activation Lock, which only they can clear — confirm this before buying any used machine.
Where are saved website passwords on a computer?
In your browser’s settings (Chrome and Edge under Settings → Passwords) or in the macOS Passwords app and Keychain Access. You can view those after confirming your device login — it is separate from the password that unlocks the computer.