I forgot my Microsoft account password and the reset page says they can't verify my identity. I use this account for everything including Windows login.
Microsoft account recovery is similar to Google — go to account.live.com/password/reset and select I Forgot My Password. If the automated verification options do not work, select I Don't Have Any of These and fill out the account recovery form. Include as much detail as possible: previous passwords, recent email subjects from your inbox, email addresses in your contacts, your Xbox gamertag if applicable, Skype name, and any Microsoft product keys linked to the account. Microsoft reviews these within 24 hours. In the meantime, to access your Windows computer without the Microsoft account password, you can sign in with a PIN if you set one up. If you cannot sign in at all, you can reset the PC from the login screen: hold Shift while clicking the Power icon, select Restart, then go to Troubleshoot, Reset This PC, Keep My Files. This reinstalls Windows while preserving your personal files but removes installed apps. Alternatively, you can create a local Windows account to use the computer while waiting for Microsoft's recovery response. Boot from a Windows USB drive, open Command Prompt, and use the net user command to create a new local admin account.
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