Password Hint Does Not Help? Fix It
A password hint that makes no sense is worse than no hint, because it wastes guesses and risks locking the account. Stop guessing, use a recovery option, and then set a hint that jogs memory without giving the password away.
TL;DR / Quick Fix
Quick fix: after two failed attempts, stop guessing and use the forgot password or recovery option on the sign-in screen. Once you are back in, change the hint to a clue only you understand, such as a place or a memory, never the password itself.
Follow these steps
- Stop guessing after two tries. After two failed attempts, stop and use a recovery option. More guesses risk a lockout, and a bad hint will not suddenly make sense on the fifth try.
- Use the forgot password option. On the sign-in screen, choose the forgot password or recovery option. Follow it with a recovery email or phone you set up earlier.
- Check for another sign-in option. Look for Sign-in options on the sign-in screen. A PIN, fingerprint, or another account on the same computer may still get you in.
- Set a better hint once you are in. Open Settings, then Accounts, then Sign-in options, and update the hint. Pick a clue that reminds you of the password, without containing it.
- Write the password in a password manager. Store the real password in a password manager, not in the hint and not on paper near the computer. The manager is the safe place for the exact text.
- Test the hint on yourself later. A week later, read the hint and see if it jogs the password. If it does not, rewrite it while you still remember the password.
What NOT to do
- Do not put the password itself in the hint. Anyone who sees the hint would then know the password, which defeats its purpose.
- Do not share the hint with someone else to guess for you. A hint is personal, and sharing it gives away a clue to your password.
- Do not reset the whole computer for a forgotten password. Recovery options and a second sign-in method fix this without losing files.
- Do not use the same hint for every account. A hint that works for one account can expose the pattern for all of them.
Frequently asked questions
What makes a good password hint?
A clue only you understand, such as a memory or a place tied to the password, that does not contain the password itself.
I have no recovery email set up. What now?
Check for another sign-in option on the same computer, such as a PIN or fingerprint, or another administrator account that can help.
Should I just remove the hint?
A bad hint is worse than none, so remove it until you can write a good one. A password manager is a better memory aid than a hint.