Forgetting or losing a password can be a frustrating experience, especially when it comes to accessing your Windows 10 computer. Fortunately, there are several methods available to reset Windows 10 password and regain access to your system. In this article, we will explore various techniques and tools to help you reset Windows 11 password efficiently and securely. If the Windows account is connected to a Microsoft account, the password can be reset online by visiting https://account.live.com/password/reset. Well if you forget local user account passwords can be recovered using Password Reset Disk, Answer security questions or Using the Lock Screen Workaround.
Note: The following steps are applicable for both Windows 10 and Windows 11 user accounts.
How to Reset your Windows 10 password
- Local Account Password: This is the password associated with a local user account on your computer. As the name implies, a local account is created and managed locally. It is used to log in to Windows without an internet connection.
- Microsoft Account Password: A Microsoft account password is associated with an email address from Microsoft (e.g., Outlook.com, Hotmail.com). It allows you to sync settings across multiple devices and access Microsoft services such as OneDrive and Office 365.
Microsoft Account Password Reset
If you use a Microsoft account to log in to Windows 10 and forget your password, you can reset it using Microsoft’s password reset tool at https://account.live.com/password/reset
- First, visit this Microsoft password reset page on another PC or your mobile.
- Type the email address of your Microsoft account and click on Next,
- Next, select Alternative email address or mobile number through which you can reset your password. Click the button to Get code.
- An email message containing a security code will be sent to your alternative email address immediately. If you choose to receive a security code via phone, you should receive a text message.
- Enter the code sent to your alternative email address / Mobile. Once your identity is verified, you’ll be able to reset your password. Choose a new password and confirm it.
After resetting your Microsoft account password, use the new password to log in to Windows 10 on your computer.
If you are using a local account to login to Windows 10, and forget your password, these windows 11 password reset tips.
Using Password Reset Disk or Security Questions
If you haven’t linked your Windows 10 account to a Microsoft account, you can reset your password using built-in options like a password reset disk or security questions. The only downside of this procedure is that you need to have the password reset disk created beforehand.
Note: The password reset disk created on one Windows system will not work on another system.
- If you previously created a password reset disk, insert it into your computer.
- On the login screen, click “Reset password.”
- Follow the on-screen instructions to reset your password using the password reset disk.
If you set up security questions when creating your account, you can use them to reset your password.
- On the login screen, click “I forgot my password.”
- Answer the security questions that you set up during the account creation process.
- Follow the prompts to reset your password and regain access to your account.
If you have no reset disk tool, then Try the second solution below.
Reset Windows 10 Password with Command Prompt
If you didn’t create a password reset disk and don’t remember your security questions, you can still change the password using the command prompt.
- First, hold the Shift key on the keyboard, click on the power icon then select the restart option, (Click on restart anyway).
- This will open the Windows recovery page, and select Troubleshoot.
- Go to Advanced options then select the command prompt.
When the command prompt opens run diskpart command to check Windows is installed on which drive.
Note Down the Volume Number and drive ltr and type exit to leave the disk part. Now Type the Drive letter move to the installed directory for ex my drive letter is C: and press enter.
Run the following commands to access the Windows System 32 folder.
cd windows
cd system 32
Now run the following commands to backup utilman.exe and rename cmd as utilman so when you click utilman on the desktop screen it will open the command prompt form where you can reset the password for Windows 11 PC.
ren utilman.exe utilman1.exe
ren cmd.exe utilman.exe
exit
That’s it now close the command prompt and continue to Windows 10/11
On the login window Click the Utility Manager icon thumb. As soon as click on the utility icon command prompt will open.
Here on the command prompt type control userpasswords2 and press enter.
This will open the user accounts window, and select the user account to which you want to reset the password and select the Reset password option. Put the new password or leave it blank to long your PC without any password.
Reset Windows 10 Password with Third-Party Tools
If you’re unable to reset your Windows 10 password using built-in options or command prompt, you can turn to third-party Windows 10 password reset tools. These tools are designed to help you regain access to your computer quickly and efficiently.
- Ophcrack is a free open-source tool that uses rainbow tables to recover Windows passwords. It works by analyzing the LM and NTLM hashes of Windows passwords and attempting to crack them.
- Offline NT Password & Registry Editor is a free tool that allows you to reset Windows passwords by modifying the registry offline. It works by booting from a CD or USB drive and editing the SAM registry file.
- PCUnlocker is a premium tool that enables you to reset lost or forgotten Windows passwords quickly and easily. It supports resetting local account passwords, Microsoft account passwords, and domain passwords.
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