If you’ve forgotten your Windows 10 password, you can reset it using several methods. 1. If using a Microsoft account, go to the password reset page from another device, receive a security code via email or text, and set a new password. 2. For local accounts without admin rights, create a bootable USB with the Media Creation Tool, boot from it, use Command Prompt to replace utilman.exe with cmd.exe, then at login use the Ease of Access icon to run the command prompt and reset the password with the net user command. 3. If you created a password reset disk beforehand, insert it, click Reset password on the login screen, and follow the wizard to set a new password. 4. If another admin exists on the PC, they can log in, go to Settings > Accounts > Family & other users, change your account type to Standard then back to Administrator, and reset your password through the Change password option. These methods allow you to regain access without data loss, though some require prior preparation or technical steps.
If you've forgotten your Windows 10 password and can't log in, don’t panic — there are several ways to reset it depending on what tools or access you have available. Here’s how to get back into your system without losing your files.
Use a Microsoft Account to Reset Password
If your Windows 10 is linked to a Microsoft account (you used an email to sign in), resetting the password is straightforward.
- Go to the Microsoft password reset page from another device.
- Choose whether you want to receive a security code via email or text message.
- Enter the code and set a new password.
Once done, go back to your Windows 10 machine and log in with the new password. This method works instantly and doesn’t require any technical skills — just internet access and control over your recovery email or phone number.
Reset Password Using a Local Account Without Admin Rights
If you’re using a local account (not linked to Microsoft) and don’t have admin access, things get trickier. You’ll need physical access and a way to boot from a USB drive or DVD.
Here’s what to do:
- Grab a working computer and download the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool.
- Create a bootable USB drive using a blank USB stick (8GB or larger).
- Plug the USB into your locked PC and restart it.
- Press whatever key is needed to enter the boot menu (usually F2, F12, or Esc — look for a prompt during startup).
- Select the USB as the boot device.
- Once the Windows setup screen appears, press Shift F10 to open Command Prompt.
- Type the following commands one by one:
copy c:\windows\system32\utilman.exe c:\copy /y c:\windows\system32\cmd.exe c:\windows\system32\utilman.exe
- Remove the USB, reboot, and let it load Windows normally.
- At the login screen, click the Ease of Access icon (which now opens a command prompt).
- In the command prompt, type:
net user YourUsername NewPassword
Replace YourUsername with your actual username and NewPassword with your desired password. - Close the window and log in with your new password.
?? Note: After resetting the password, you may want to restore the original utilman.exe file if you're tech-savvy enough, or just leave it — it won’t cause any issues.
Use a Password Reset Disk (If You Made One)
If you were smart enough to create a password reset disk ahead of time, this is the easiest method.
- Insert the USB drive you used to create the reset disk.
- On the login screen, click “Reset password.”
- Follow the wizard and select the USB drive when prompted.
- Set a new password and log in.
This only works if you created the reset disk before forgetting your password, so consider doing this now while you still remember your current one.
Ask Another Admin on the Same PC to Reset It
If your PC has multiple user accounts and one of them has admin rights, that user can reset your password directly.
- Have the admin log in.
- Open Settings > Accounts > Family & other users.
- Click on your user account and choose Change account type.
- Make sure it's set to "Standard" first, then back to "Administrator" — this sometimes unlocks options.
- Then click Change password, and follow the prompts to reset your password.
This avoids all the technical steps and is the cleanest solution if you have someone who can help.
That’s basically it. Depending on your situation, some methods might not be possible — but chances are at least one will work. Just remember: once you regain access, maybe think about setting up a password hint or creating a reset disk. It’s easier than dealing with this again.
The above is the detailed content of how to reset forgotten Windows 10 password. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!
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