Steps to Changing Passwords | NorthWest Arkansas Community College
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Information Technology

Resetting your Microsoft password

Log into Microsoft.

Step 1: Type in your NWACC email address and fill-in the captcha field.

Step 1: On the page that reads at the top, 'Get back into your account', beneath 'Email or Username:', type in your NWACC email address into that input text field and input the correct captcha info into the captcha field. Then, access the 'Next' button near the bottom of the page.

Step 1

Step 2: Select your previously set up method of contact.

Step 2: Beneath where the text displays, 'Please choose the contact method we should use for verification: ', select from the list of choices, the option, 'Email my alternate email' (Your alternate email must have been previously set up for this option to be available on the list of choices). Then, access the 'Next' button near the bottom of the page. If 'Email my alternate email' is not an option, follow the steps on this web page.

Step 2

Step 3: In this example, we will use an alternate email address. Note: This email address must have been previously setup as a recovery email account.

Step 3: On the page that reads at the top, 'Get back into your account', beneath where the text displays, 'Please choose the contact method we should use for verification: ', select from the list of options in the dropdown box, 'Email my alternate email'. Beneath the next question that displays, 'What email would you like to use for verification?', enter a personal email address into the input text field (for example, in the screenshot, a gmail.com email address has been entered into the input text field). A message will then be displayed 'You will receive an email containing a verification code at your alternate email address, (the email address that you just previously input).' Then, near the bottom of the page, access the button, 'Next'.

Step 3

Step 4: Check your personal email to retrieve the 6-digit verification code, then enter the code into the screen to verify and press Next. (Be sure to check your Spam/Junk folder for email.)

Step 4: A message will then be displayed, 'We've sent an email message containing a verification code to your inbox.' Retrieve that verification code from the email sent to your email address that you just specified/entered, and then enter that verification code into the input text field beneath the message that just displayed. Then, near the bottom of the page, access the button, 'Next'.

Step 4

Step 5: This satisfies one alternate method. Next, from the pull down, choose the second method for verification. Select 'Text my Mobile phone'.

Step 5: One alternate method for verification has now been completed. On the page that reads at the top, 'Get back into your account', beneath where the text displays, "Please choose the second contact method we should use for verification: ', from the drop down box list of options, select 'Text my mobile phone'.

Step 5

Step 6: Access the Next button and check your phone for the 6-digit verification code. Enter the code into the screen verify and press Next

Step 6: A message will then display beneath your selection, 'What phone number would you like to use for verification?' Select from the drop down list of options the item that displays a series of asterisks (*) with two numbers at the end of that string which represents your mobile phone number. Beneath that item that was just selected, a message will display, 'In order to protect your account, we need you to enter your complete mobile phone number (***********<the second to last digit of the mobile phone number><the last digit of the mobile phone number>) below. You will then receive a text message with a verification code which can be used to reset your password.' Enter into the text input field the verification code that was just texted to the mobile phone number that was just selected from the previous dropdown list of options whereby that item was selected. Then, near the bottom of the page, access the button, 'Next'.

Step 6

Step 7:

  • Now that you’ve verified yourself with two alternate methods, you will be able to set your password.
  • Your password needs to be a minimum of 8 characters and include 3 out of 4;
  • Lowercase characters, Uppercase characters, Numbers (0-9), Spaces
  • or Symbols (@ # $ % ^ & * - ! + = [ ] { } | \ : ' , . ? / ` ~ " ( ) ; < >) *
  • Note: The password you set will be checked against a database of known easily guessed, bad, and banned passwords.

Step 7: On the page that reads at the top, 'Get back into your account', beneath where the text displays, 'Create new password' and then a second message below that, 'Enter new password', enter the new password into the password field that is located beneath the 'Enter new password' message. The next line just beneath the input text field where the new password was just input, displays, 'Confirm new password.' In the input text field beneath the 'Confirm new password' message, input the same password that was firstly entered into the previoys input text field in order to confirm the new password that is being set. After entering the same password for both fields, if a message displays, 'Unfortunately, your password contains a word, phrase, or pattern that makes... Please try again with a different password.' Repeat the process with a different password that will satisfy the criteria. Access the Next button.

Step 7

Step 8: You may now sign back into your NWACC Microsoft Account!

Step 8: On the page that reads at the top, 'Get back into your account', once the password has been successfully reset, a message will display, 'Your password has been reset. We've reset your password successfully, but you'll have to wait a few minutes before the changes are committed to the cloud. After these changes are committed, you'll be able to use your new password wherever you sign in with a work or school account.' Access the button beneath that message near the bottom of the page, 'Finish', to complete the process.

Step 8