Password & Account Recovery

How to Reset a School or Work Microsoft 365 Password

Maira Mehtab Sep 20, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs to reset a forgotten password for a Microsoft 365 account provided by an educational institution or employer.

Product: Microsoft 365
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: The user forgot the password for their organizational Microsoft 365 account and is currently unable to sign in to access their work or school resources.
Observed behavior: Access to emails, documents, and other Microsoft 365 services is blocked due to an incorrect or forgotten password.

Before you start

Ensure you know your work or school email address and have access to any secondary authentication methods, such as a mobile phone or alternate email, if self-service reset is enabled.

Solution 1Recommended

Use the Self-Service Password Reset Tool

If your organization has enabled self-service password reset, you can recover your account directly from the Microsoft sign-in portal without contacting IT.

Many organizations allow users to reset their own passwords using verification methods set up previously.

Navigate to the Microsoft portal

Open a web browser and go to portal.office.com.

Access the account recovery page

On the sign-in screen, click on the 'Cannot access your account?' link.

Select account type

Choose the 'Work or school account' option when prompted.

Complete the reset process

Enter your organizational email address and the characters in the picture or audio CAPTCHA, then follow the on-screen prompts to verify your identity and create a new password.

Solution 2

Contact Your IT Administrator

If self-service password reset is disabled for your account, you must contact your organization's support team to regain access.

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Try WPS Office: A Free and Lightweight Alternative

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1. Download the software: Visit the official WPS Office website and click the free download button.
2. Install WPS Office: Run the installer and follow the simple on-screen instructions to set it up on your computer.
3. Open your files: Launch WPS Office and open your existing Word, Excel, or PowerPoint files directly from your hard drive.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Microsoft say I cannot reset my own password?

This message appears when your school or company's IT administrator has disabled the self-service password reset feature for your account. You must contact them directly to have your password reset.

Will resetting my Microsoft 365 password sign me out of my other devices?

Yes, changing your password will typically invalidate your current sessions. You will need to sign in again with your new password on your phone, tablet, and any desktop applications like Outlook or Teams.

How long does it take for a new Microsoft 365 password to start working?

In most cases, your new password takes effect immediately. However, it can sometimes take a few minutes for the change to sync across all Microsoft 365 services and connected devices.

Can I use a personal email to reset my school or work account?

You can only use a personal email for account recovery if you previously added it as an alternate authentication method in your account security settings before forgetting your password.

Login & Account Issues