Password & Account Recovery

How to Recover a Forgotten Microsoft 365 Organization Username and Password

Aamir Naveed Akram Sep 29, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to regain access to their Microsoft 365 organizational account after forgetting the username or password.

How to Recover a Forgotten Microsoft 365 Organization Username and Password

Product: Microsoft 365
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: The user has lost or forgotten the login credentials for a work or school organizational Microsoft 365 account and cannot sign in.
Observed behavior: The user is unable to log into their Microsoft 365 organizational account and requires an administrator reset or Microsoft Support intervention.

Before you start

Determine if your organization has another active global administrator available, as they can quickly reset your credentials without you needing to contact Microsoft Support.

Solution 1Recommended

Ask Another Administrator to Reset Your Password

If your organization has multiple administrators, another admin can reset your password directly from the Microsoft 365 admin center.

This is the fastest method to regain access to a work or school account. It requires you to contact a colleague who holds administrator privileges in your Microsoft 365 tenant.

Log into Microsoft 365 Admin Center

Have the active administrator sign in to the Microsoft 365 admin center using their credentials.

Navigate to Active Users

In the left-hand navigation menu, select 'Users' and then click on 'Active users'.

Select the Locked Account

Find and check the box next to the name of the user who forgot their username and password.

Reset Password

Click on the 'Reset password' button at the top of the user list, follow the prompts to generate a new password, and securely share it with the locked-out user.

Ask Another Administrator to Reset Your Password

Alternative Sign-in Methods: Before requesting a reset, check if you have another sign-in method configured (like the Microsoft Authenticator app) and try using it on the login screen.

Solution 2

Reset Authentication Methods in Microsoft Entra Admin Center

If the issue involves multifactor authentication (MFA) rather than just a password, an administrator can force a re-registration of the user's MFA methods.

Solution 3

Contact Microsoft Support for Sole Administrators

Use this method if you are the only global administrator for your organization's Microsoft 365 tenant and are completely locked out.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can Microsoft community forum moderators help me reset my Microsoft 365 admin password?

No. Forum moderators and community agents do not have the authorization, tools, or backend access required to restore organizational account access or reset administrator passwords.

What should I do if I forgot the password to a personal Microsoft account instead of a work account?

For personal Microsoft accounts (such as @hotmail.com, @outlook.com, or @live.com), you cannot use the Microsoft 365 admin center. You must navigate to the Microsoft account recovery page (account.live.com/acsr) and fill out the recovery form.

Is there a way to log in to Microsoft 365 without my password?

If you previously configured alternative sign-in methods, such as the Microsoft Authenticator app, a security key, or SMS verification, you can select 'Other ways to sign in' on the login screen to bypass the password prompt.

Login & Account Issues