How To Change Your Windows 10 Password Using a Shortcut: A Quick Guide

Changing a computer password in Windows 10 using a shortcut might seem simple at first glance, but it’s kinda weird how many people get stuck on the details. You’d think it’s straightforward — just create a shortcut that takes you directly to the password change screen — but Windows tends to be a little finicky about the paths and permissions sometimes. So, if you’re tired of clicking through menus every time or just want a quick way to update your password without digging through settings, this guide should help. It’s not perfect and sometimes the steps need a bit of tinkering, but generally, it gets the job done pretty quickly once set up. The main thing? You’ll have a little shortcut on your desktop for easy access, which is kind of neat. Just make sure you remember your new password, because after all, if you forget it, resetting can be a pain.

How to Change Computer Password in Windows 10 Shortcut

Method 1: Creating a handy shortcut to the password change screen

This method works well if you want a quick launch to get to the password change area. It helps because you don’t have to keep digging through Settings or the Control Panel every time you need a password update. Instead, click a desktop icon, and bam — straight to where you can change it. The catch? Sometimes Windows updates tweak the exact location URL, so it may need a quick update later on. Also, keep in mind, this shortcut only works if your user account has the permissions to change passwords — if you’re on a managed PC in an office, it might be restricted.

Create the Shortcut

Right-click on your desktop, select New, then click Shortcut.
Type this in the location box: control userpasswords2. It’s usually safer than the URL path. The trick with Windows is, instead of trying to go directly to the Control Panel’s URL, just using control userpasswords2 opens the Advanced User Accounts window — including password options.
Hit Next, then give it a name like Change Password.
Finish, and now you’ve got a shortcut. Easy enough, but on some setups, the command might not work due to updates or group policies. If that happens, try this alternative method below.

Open and Change Your Password

Double-click the newly created shortcut — it should pop right up the User Accounts window.
Click on Reset Password or Change your password. If you see the plain account management screen instead, you’re good. Otherwise, you might need to log into your account first.
Follow the prompts, and after submitting a new password, you’re all set. Not sure why it works sometimes and not others, but on some machines, the first try might fail, then the second or third fix it.

Extra Tips for Stability

Sometimes, the command control userpasswords2 doesn’t do anything on newer versions. If that’s the case, jump into Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options and change your password there, then update your shortcut accordingly.
If you want to make it even easier, you can pin your shortcut to the taskbar or start menu.
And if this shortcut isn’t working after Windows updates, just edit the shortcut path or recreate it after a quick check of the command line mentioned above.

Why this all helps

This workaround gives instant access to an often-needed feature without poking around menus. Makes updating passwords a little less annoying. Yeah, it’s a bit of a hack, but that’s Windows for ya — always making things a little more complicated than necessary. On some setups, it just works; on others, you might need to play around with the commands or settings a bit.

Tips for Making Your Passwords Stronger

Pick a combination of uppercase, lowercase, symbols, and numbers. No “password123, ” please.
Change your password regularly — every 3-6 months keeps things safer.
Avoid reusing passwords across accounts. Different key, different lock.
Use a password manager if you have trouble remembering your new passwords.

FAQs

Will this method work on Windows 11 too?

Most likely, but Windows 11 has really cleaned up a lot of these shortcuts and paths. You might need to tweak the command or just use the built-in Settings app instead.

What if the shortcut doesn’t open the password settings?

If it’s not working, try manually navigating to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options or use the old control panel method via control userpasswords2. Also, check permissions—sometimes security policies block this kind of shortcut.

Is it safe to create shortcuts like this?

Yeah, as long as you do it on your personal device and don’t share the shortcut file with others, it’s fine. It’s just a quick link, not a security risk.

Summary

Create a shortcut with control userpasswords2 or similar command
Give it a friendly name and place it on your desktop
Use it whenever you need to change your password quickly
Make sure your new password is strong and remembered

Wrap-up

This shortcut trick isn’t foolproof, but it’s way faster than hunting through menus for most folks. Windows sometimes makes simple things overly complicated, but a little tinkering gets it close enough. Remember to keep your passwords strong and update them periodically — that’s what actually keeps your stuff safe. Fingers crossed this helps someone skip the repetitive clicks and makes life a little easier. Good luck!