It can be frustrating when you typed your Windows 10 password and returned incorrect password. You won’t be able to access your Windows with a wrong admin password except you are able to bypass this wrong password limitation. However, there is a way around this that you can use to reset your Windows 10 password if you are unable to logging in; so in this article, we will consider how to reset Windows 10 password without logging in.
You have different options on a modern computer such as using your fingerprint to unlock your Windows computer or face ID. But with old laptops or desktops that lack these modern features you need the admin password or code to unlock your computer so that you can easily change or reset your Windows password.
The surest way to reset your Windows 10 password without logging in is to simply reinstall the Windows OS. This doesn’t implies that there are no other ways that you can try. You should consider the following approaches and see whether you are able to regain access to your computer again. But if it doesn’t work as expected then you should turn to reinstalling the operating system from scratch.
How to Reset Windows 10 Password without Logging in
You must be sure that you can’t remember your Windows 10 password before you proceed to reset it. If you can remember it you can just opt to change the password from what it’s to the new one.
You may want to check everywhere possible to see whether the password is hidden somewhere. If you are using a password manager you should check it if you would see the saved password on it.
Also, if you are typing the correct password with wrong keys combination it can be funny at times that you won’t be able to gain access. If the password is set to Caps lock and you are using lower case or number you won’t be able to regain access. You can to ensure that you have checked and confirmed that the only solution you have left is to reset it because you are unable to logging in.
How to Reset Password on Windows 10 without Logging in
This calls for Microsoft approach. If you have a Microsoft account linked to your Windows you can use it to reset your computer password to regain access. This is refer to as account recovery on Microsoft page.
- Go to the Microsoft account recovery page here.
- Type your “Microsoft Account” information such as email, phone number, or skype name.
- Choose your means of verification. You will be prompted to choose how to get your Microsoft verification code. Choose the bet option for you and hit the next button.
- Type the last 4 digit of your phone number and choose “Get Code” at the bottom right to verify that it’s your phone number.
- Check you are not a robot and wait for the verification code sent to your phone number.
- Type the verification code sent to your phone number and hit the next button.
- Reset your “Microsoft Password” and repeat the password and then hit the next button.
Once you have successfully reset the password on your Microsoft account you can then use the new password to sign in to your Windows 10 computer whose password you cannot remember.
Use Local Account Password Reset
If you already setup your Windows 10 password recovery question before the incident happened you can easily reset the password to your computer. This approach is simply refer to as local method.
To know whether you already set a security question to reset forgot password on your Windows 10 you will see a link to reset forgot password. With the link to reset forgot password you can simply follow through to reset your password by answering relevant questions that will confirm that you are the owner of the Windows computer you are trying to reset its password.
Hidden Administrator Account for Windows 7 or Older
This only works if you are using Windows 7 or XP. You won’t be able to use this approach on your Windows 10. But for older computer you can reset your password with hidden administrator account.
The hidden administrator must not be disabled otherwise this won’t work for you. This is because it’s disabled on most Windows 7 by default.
- Start up (or re-start) your computer and press F8 repeatedly [assuming you are unable to log in]
- Select “Safe Mode” when the menu appears.
- Type “Administrator” in Username as the default settings (note the capital A), and don’t type any password in the password blank.
- You will be able to log into the computer safe mode without password.
- Navigate to the Windows “Control Panel” and select “User Accounts.”
- Choose your “Administrator” account from the lists of accounts.
- Choose “Change the Password” and follow the instruction to reset the Windows password in safe mode.
Exit the safe mode once you are done and sign into your Windows computer with the new password you choose.
How to Reset Windows 10 Password without Logging in without Disk
Another easy way to reset your Windows 10 password without a disk is if you can still log into your Windows 10 with either PIN, picture, password or using another administrative account set on your computer. You will be able to access you computer and reset the password.
- Press the “Windows Logo” + “X” on your Windows keyboard.
- Select “Command Prompt (Admin).
- Type the following command (Replace account_name and reset_password” and hit the enter button.
Note: You must replace “account_name” and “new_password” with your account name and password respectively.
Reset Windows 10 Password to Local Account
Following these procedures to reset your Windows 10 password will remove all your settings, installed programs, and restore your Windows to default. So, always make sure you have a backup before you do this so that all your software and documents will not be removed with it all in the name of recovery your password.
- Start your PC pressing the power button. You can see this at the bottom of the locked screen
- Press and hold Shift + Restart on your computer’s keyboard
- Your PC boot options will appear which you need to troubleshoot your PC for a new password.
- Go to Troubleshoot > Reset this PC > Remove everything.
- Wait for a couple of seconds your PC will auto-restart and the password will be removed and other settings.
Please if you do not want to remove everything you have added to your PC including the password you want to change, software that you have installed, and settings do not use this approach.
Reset Windows 10 Password a Disk
Another approach is to reset your password with a disk if you have created a password reset disk before the incident happens. If you don’t have a password reset disk before you forgot your Windows 10 password this procedure is not for you. You should try the next approach. But, if you have created the reset password disk earlier on here is what to do to reset your password.
- On the lock screen where the password you entered was said to be incorrect just click on the reset password option.
- You will be taken away from the Microsoft home screen. Tap on the next option
- Go to the password reset disk location you created before you forgot your password. It looks like this “ userkey.psw” and selects it from the disk location.
- From the new password interface, type the new password and re-type the password again. Also, create password recovery hint so that when you forget the new password again you can easily use the password recovery hint to remember your password.
- If the new password was created successfully you will receive a popup notification that the password was successful. Now, click on finish to log into your Windows 10 computer with the newly created password.
Reset Windows 10 Password Online
This approach is handy and its let users reset their Windows 8 and Windows 10 password online without disk and without losing everything on their PC using the troubleshoot procedure shared above.
This is very easy to achieve compared to reset Windows 10 to a local password. For this, here is how to reset Windows 10 password online using Microsoft login.
- Get a device with an internet connection and visit Windows live reset page and sign into your account and choose I forgot my password
- Enter the email or phone number you provided when you signed up for Microsoft email or Skype username, enter the captcha correctly, and click on next.
- Pick account verification from the new interface. You can choose a call or text message. However, for a quick response, pick call for Microsoft to call you for verification and account validation and enter the last 4 digits of your phone number, and then click on next.
- Microsoft will call to dictate your verification code to you. Make sure your phone number is accessible at this time and enter the code and click on next.
- Next, you’ll be asked to reset your password. Create a new password different from the old password and click on next again.
- If successful you will see a message saying that your password was changed. You can now go ahead to log into your Windows 10 with this password which has overridden the old password.
Now, log into your Windows 10 PC with the new password via Microsoft and change your password if you wish again. However, if this procedure doesn’t work for you or Microsoft couldn’t verify your details then, you need to try the next procedure.
Windows 10 Password Reset Using PCUnlocker
Another way you want to try to do a Windows 10 password reset is using a PCUnlocker. The simple bootable tool can be written on CD or flash drive and used to recover lost password on Windows computer.
- Download PCUnlocker bootable image on a disk or on a USB stick
- Now, connect either the USB or CD to your PC and select one of the accounts on your phone if you have more than one account. And if you have just one administrator account select it and click on reset password.
- Grab a cup of coffee and lets PCUnlocker do the job for you.
Never forget your Windows 10 password again so that you won’t have to pass through this entire stress to fix it. These methods should help you to reset your Windows 10 password always.