How to Reset Windows Password in Windows 10 & 11 (Without Losing Files)

Forgot your Windows password and can’t log in? Learn how to reset Windows password safely in Windows 10 & 11 using Microsoft account, CMD, and recovery methods without losing files.

If you’ve forgotten your Windows password and can’t log in, don’t panic. You can reset your Windows password safely in most cases—without losing your files.

Whether you’re using a Microsoft account or a local account, we walk you through all working methods step by step, starting with the easiest and safest options.

Note: We recommend you follow this guide in order, as most users regain access long before needing the advanced command line steps.

Essential Checks Before You Reset Windows Password

Before you try a reset method, confirm these basics. This avoids unnecessary steps and ensures you pick the right solution.

Account Type: Are you using a Microsoft account (email-based login) or a Local account (username stored only on the PC)?
Windows Version: The steps below work for both Windows 10 and Windows 11.
Access Level: Do you have access to another admin account on the PC?

Important: Most password reset methods do not delete your personal files. Only the final “Reset this PC” option affects your installed apps.

Furthermore, it is crucial to understand the security architecture of your device before proceeding. If your drive uses BitLocker encryption, simply resetting a password might not grant access to the data immediately.

You may also need your BitLocker recovery key, which is often stored in your Microsoft account. Checking these details upfront saves significant time and prevents potential data inaccessibility.

BitLocker is a full-volume encryption feature included with Windows Pro and Enterprise editions, designed to protect data by providing encryption for entire volumes. By default, it uses the Trusted Platform Module (TPM) in your computer.

Warning: If you attempt the advanced Command Prompt methods below on a BitLocker-encrypted drive, the system will prompt you for the 48-digit recovery key before allowing you to view or modify system files.

You can verify if BitLocker is active by entering the BIOS/UEFI or checking your Microsoft account online under “Devices” to see if a key is backed up there.

What To Do If You Forgot Your Windows Password

Reset Microsoft Account Password for Windows 10/11 (Recommended Method)

If you sign in to Windows using an email address, this is the fastest method. It works because your password lives in the cloud, not just on your computer.

Step-by-Step Guide to Reset Windows Password Online

On another device (phone or computer), open a browser.
Go to the Microsoft account password recovery page.
Click “I forgot my password.”
Enter the email address you use to sign in to Windows.
Choose how you want to receive the verification code (Email, SMS, or Authenticator app).
Enter the code you receive and create a new password.
Restart your locked PC and sign in using the new password.

Why this works best: The new password syncs automatically once your PC connects to the internet.

In addition to simplicity, this method leverages the interconnected nature of the Microsoft ecosystem. Since your Microsoft account acts as a single sign-on (SSO) identity for services like Outlook, Xbox Live, OneDrive, and Office 365, resetting it here updates your credentials across all these platforms simultaneously.

Consequently, this restores access not just to your desktop, but to your email and cloud storage as well.

Troubleshooting Network & Offline Password Reset Issues

Sometimes, even after resetting your password online, your PC might still reject the new password if it hasn’t connected to the internet to “see” the change. In this scenario, ensure your PC is connected via an Ethernet cable or that the Wi-Fi icon on the lock screen shows a strong signal.

If the PC remains offline, it will only recognize the last known password (the one you forgot). In such rare cases, you may need to use your phone as a mobile hotspot to give the laptop immediate connectivity, forcing a sync with Microsoft servers to accept the new credentials.

How to Reset Local Admin Password on Windows 10 & 11

If you don’t use an email to log in, you are using a local account. Try these methods first.

Option A: Recover Account Using Windows Security Questions

This works only if you set up security questions when you created the account.

On the login screen, enter any incorrect password to reveal the “Reset password” link.
Click Reset password.
Answer the security questions you chose earlier.
Create a new password and log in immediately.

A Note on Case Sensitivity: When answering security questions, remember that Windows can be particular about exact phrasing. If your answer was “Paris” with a capital P, entering “paris” might be rejected depending on the specific Windows update version you are running.

This method is the least intrusive way to recover a local account, as it uses the built-in “backdoor” you created yourself.

Option B: Reset Password via Another Administrator Account

If someone else (like a family member or IT admin) has an admin account on the same PC, they can reset your password for you.

Sign in using the other admin account.
Open Settings > Accounts > Family & other users.
Select your locked account name.
Click Change password.
Set a new password, sign out, and then log in to your account.

This approach proves particularly useful in small business environments or shared family computers where a designated “Super Admin” exists. By leveraging the User Account Control (UAC) privileges of the secondary account, you bypass the need for external tools or complex command lines.

Moreover, this method maintains the integrity of the user profile, ensuring that desktop backgrounds, browser bookmarks, and document paths remain exactly where you left them.

Reset Windows Password Without Disk Using Command Prompt (CMD)

If you are locked out of a local account and have no reset disk, you can use the Command Prompt.

Warning: This method involves modifying system files. Please type the commands exactly as shown.

The “Utilman” CMD Trick to Bypass Windows Login

This technique relies on exploiting the Ease of Access button (Utilman.exe), which functions even when no user is logged in. By swapping this executable with the Command Prompt (cmd.exe), you gain System-level privileges right at the lock screen.

Boot to Advanced Startup: Restart your PC. As soon as the Windows logo appears, hold the power button to force a shutdown. Repeat this 2-3 times until Windows boots into “Automatic Repair.” Alternatively, if you have a Windows Installation Media USB, boot from that and press Shift + F10 to open the command prompt directly.
Select Advanced options > Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Command Prompt.
Identify Your Drive: Sometimes the Windows drive isn’t C: in recovery mode. Type c: and press Enter, then dir to see if the “Windows” folder is there. If not, try d: or e:.
Replace the Utility Manager: In the command window, type the following commands exactly, pressing Enter after each line:DOSmove c:\windows\system32\utilman.exe c:\ copy c:\windows\system32\cmd.exe c:\windows\system32\utilman.exe Note: If the system says “The system cannot find the file specified,” your Windows installation might be on D: or E:. Adjust the drive letter accordingly.
Restart: Type wpeutil reboot and press Enter to restart your computer normally.
Open CMD at Login: At the login screen, click the Ease of Access icon (the wheelchair icon usually at the bottom right). Because of the step above, this will now open a Command Prompt window instead of the utility menu.
Reset the Password: Type the following command to set your new password:DOSnet user [your_username] [new_password] (Example: net user Arpit NewPass123)Tip: If your username has a space (e.g., Arpit Singh), wrap it in quotes: net user "Arpit Singh" NewPass123.
Login: Close the command prompt and log in with your new password.

Cleanup: Once you are back in, reverse the process by copying the original utilman.exe back to the System32 folder to restore normal function. You can do this by booting back into the recovery command prompt and running: copy c:\utilman.exe c:\windows\system32\utilman.exe.

Alternative Method: Sticky Keys Password Reset Trick

If for some reason utilman.exe is blocked or unavailable, you can use the same method with Sticky Keys. Instead of replacing utilman.exe, replace sethc.exe.

Command: copy c:\windows\system32\cmd.exe c:\windows\system32\sethc.exe
To trigger it at the login screen, press the Shift key 5 times rapidly. This will launch the Command Prompt.

How to Bypass BitLocker Encryption During Password Reset

If you see an error saying “Access is denied” or “The drive is locked” when trying to move files, your drive is encrypted with BitLocker. You must unlock it first.

Find your 48-digit Recovery Key (check your Microsoft Account on a phone).
In the recovery Command Prompt, type: manage-bde -unlock C: -RecoveryPassword YOUR-48-DIGIT-KEY-HERE.
Once unlocked, proceed with the Utilman commands above.

Top Third-Party Windows Password Recovery Tools (Bootable USB)

If the manual Command Prompt method feels too technical or isn’t working, several trusted third-party tools can automate the process. These tools usually run from a bootable USB drive (which you must create on a working computer).

Using Hiren’s BootCD PE for Password Recovery

Hiren’s BootCD PE is a legendary tool in the IT world. The modern “PE” version is based on Windows 10/11 and supports UEFI booting, making it safe for modern laptops.

How it works: It boots your computer into a temporary Windows environment from a USB stick. It includes a tool called NT Password Edit.
The Process: You launch NT Password Edit, open the SAM file (Security Account Manager) located at C:\Windows\System32\config\SAM, select your user from the list, and click “Unlock” or “Change Password.”
Pros: Completely free and very powerful. It bypasses Windows permissions entirely.

Resetting Passwords with Lazesoft Recovery Suite

Lazesoft Recovery Suite offers a more user-friendly, graphical interface compared to Hiren’s.

Features: It has a specific “Password Recovery” module that can reset local admin passwords with a simple “Reset” button.
Compatibility: Excellent for older Windows 7/8 machines as well as modern Windows 10/11 systems. The “Home Edition” is free for personal use and is often enough to clear a forgotten password.

Advanced Recovery with Offline NT Password & Registry Editor (Chntpw)

Often referred to simply as “Chntpw”, this is a Linux-based utility that is extremely fast but uses a text-based interface.

Warning: It is less intuitive than the options above. You have to type numbers to select partitions and editing modes (e.g., “1” to Edit User Data and Passwords, “1” to Clear (blank) user password).

Why use it: It is incredibly small (can fit on tiny drives) and works on systems where Windows-based PE environments might fail to boot.

Disclaimer: Using third-party tools requires disabling “Secure Boot” in your BIOS/UEFI settings temporarily to allow the USB to boot. Always remember to re-enable Secure Boot after you are done to keep your system secure against rootkits.

Recover Access Using a Pre-Created Password Reset USB

This is the official offline method, but it only works if you created the USB drive before you forgot the password.

Insert your Password Reset USB drive.
On the login screen, enter any password and click Reset password.
Follow the Password Reset Wizard.
Select your USB drive from the list.
Type your new password and hint.

Thinking ahead is the key to this solution. Windows allows you to create a “digital key” that lives on a USB drive, acting similarly to a physical house key. Once created via the User Accounts control panel, this drive remains valid even if you change your password multiple times afterward. The file created is named userkey.psw.

Important Fact: Many users believe they need to create a new reset disk every time they change their password. This is false.

The userkey.psw file contains a token that links to the account, not the specific password hash. This means a disk created three years ago will still unlock your computer today, even if you’ve changed your password ten times since then.

Last Resort: Factory Reset Windows Without Password

If all recovery options fail, Windows provides a “Nuclear Option” that saves your data but reinstalls the OS.

How to “Reset This PC” and Keep Your Files

From the login screen, click the Power icon.
Hold the Shift key on your keyboard and click Restart.
Select Troubleshoot > Reset this PC.
Choose Keep my files.

What happens:

Kept: Your personal documents, photos, videos, and files stored in the “Users” folder.
Removed: Desktop applications (Chrome, Steam, Office, etc.), drivers, and custom settings.
Reinstalled: A fresh version of Windows.

Cloud Download vs. Local Reinstall: Which is Better?

During this process, you may see an option for “Cloud Download” versus “Local Reinstall.” We recommend selecting “Cloud Download” if you have a stable internet connection.

This option fetches the latest, corruption-free system files directly from Microsoft servers, ensuring a smoother recovery experience than relying on potentially damaged local files on your hard drive.

Recovering Data from the “Windows.old” Folder

After a reset, you might find a folder on your C: drive named Windows.old. This folder contains data from the previous installation. If you realize that some files were moved or misplaced during the reset, you can often dig into this folder to retrieve them before deleting it to free up space.

How to Secure Your PC and Prevent Future Password Lockouts

Once you regain access, secure your account so this never happens again. Prevention is far less stressful than recovery.

Switch to a Microsoft Account: As mentioned earlier, the ability to reset via a phone or web browser makes this the superior option for general users.
Create a Reset USB Immediately: Search for “Create a password reset disk” in the Start menu and follow the prompts. It takes less than 30 seconds and a 1GB USB drive.
Enable Windows Hello: Use a PIN, fingerprint, or FaceID. These are easier to remember than complex passwords. A 4-digit or 6-digit PIN is tied to the specific hardware (TPM chip) of your device, making it secure yet convenient. Learn more about setting up Windows Hello.
Use a Password Manager: Store your complex passwords in a secure app like Bitwarden, 1Password, or LastPass. These tools allow you to generate distinct, high-entropy passwords for every account while only needing to memorize a single master key.
Dynamic Lock: Windows has a feature called “Dynamic Lock” that pairs with your smartphone via Bluetooth. When you walk away from your PC with your phone, Windows automatically locks the screen. While this doesn’t help you remember the password, it improves security without requiring constant manual locking.

FAQ: Common Windows Password Recovery Questions

How do I reset my Windows password if I can’t get in?

If you are locked out, use the “I forgot my password” link for Microsoft accounts. For local accounts, use the Command Prompt method (Utilman trick) or a bootable tool like Hiren’s BootCD PE.

Can I reset a Windows password without a disk?

Yes. You can use the Microsoft online reset tool, security questions, or the Command Prompt (CMD) method outlined above. The “Password Reset Disk” is only one of many ways to recover an account.

Will I lose my files if I reset my Windows password?

No, standard password reset methods (Microsoft account, CMD, Security Questions, Third-party tools) do not touch your personal files. Only the “Reset this PC” option removes installed applications, but even then, your documents and photos are preserved if you choose “Keep my files.”

My laptop has BitLocker enabled. Can I still reset the password?

Yes, but you will need your BitLocker Recovery Key to access the drive via Command Prompt or third-party tools. Without this key, the data on the drive is unreadable, and your only option might be a full factory reset (which deletes all data).

Is the “Utilman” method safe?

It is safe for your data, but it leaves a temporary security hole (a backdoor) until you reverse the changes. Always remember to copy the original utilman.exe back to its place after you have successfully reset your password to maintain your system’s security.

Why can’t I boot from my USB drive to use Hiren’s or Lazesoft?

Modern computers use a feature called Secure Boot to prevent unauthorized operating systems from loading. You may need to enter your BIOS/UEFI settings (usually by pressing F2, F12, or Del during startup) and temporarily disable Secure Boot to allow the USB tool to launch.

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