How to reset windows 10 password without losing data?

I got locked out of my Windows 10 admin account after forgetting my password (those constant changes got me!). I had tons of important files on my D drive, so losing data wasn’t an option.

I tried iSeePasword Windows Password Recovery Pro—set up a bootable USB, plugged it in, and followed a few simple steps. It worked perfectly, and all my files were safe! 

I followed the steps, and it actually did the trick!

https://www.recodie.com/reset-forgotten-windows-password

Barneymmc 

Forgetting your Windows 10 password is a real headache, especially when you're worried about losing your data. But don't worry, there are ways to safely reset your password in many cases without affecting the files or apps on your C drive.

Reset your password using "password hint questions" If you have set a password hint question, follow these steps:

1. After entering the wrong password several times on the login screen, you will be prompted to reset your password. Click the "Reset Password" button.
2. You need to answer the password hint question you set before. If you answer correctly, you can reset your new password.
3. After entering your new password, log in again.

However, many people may not take the password hint question seriously when setting it up, so this method does not work for everyone.

Enabling the hidden administrator account can be a security risk when you reset Windows 10 password, as it creates an additional vulnerability that could be exploited by hackers. Think of it like leaving a spare key under your doormat - it's convenient, but also makes it easier for someone to get in without permission. When you enable the hidden administrator account, you're essentially creating a new account with the same privileges as the original admin account. This means that any changes made to the system configuration or files during the password reset process might not be saved or could be overwritten. So, if you're not careful, you might lose important data or settings.

Safe mode or command prompt can be finicky, and enabling the hidden administrator account might cause system instability or even crashes. If your system is already struggling with performance issues, this could make things worse.

Resetting Windows 10 password using a password reset disk is a straightforward process that helps you regain access to your account without losing any data. Here’s how to do it:

1. Begin by inserting the USB flash drive or other removable media that you created as a password reset disk into your computer.

2. Restart your computer and navigate to the Windows login screen. When prompted to enter your password, input any incorrect password to trigger the “Reset password” link.

3. Click on the “Reset password” link. The Password Reset Wizard will open, guiding you through the process. Select your password reset disk from the available options and click “Next.”

4. Enter a new password and, if desired, a password hint. Ensure the new password is secure but memorable. Once you’ve filled in the required fields, click “Next” and then “Finish” to complete the process.

You can do this with a password reset disk. A Windows 10 password reset disk is a valuable tool that allows users to regain access to their accounts when they forget their password. This disk can be created in advance using a USB drive or other removable media, providing a straightforward method for resetting the password without needing to access the operating system. It works by storing the necessary information to facilitate a password reset, making it particularly useful for local accounts.

When a user encounters a password issue, they can insert the reset disk during the login process and follow the on-screen instructions to reset Windows 10 password without losing data by creating a new password. This process helps avoid the frustration of data loss or the need for complex recovery methods. By preparing a password reset disk ahead of time, users can ensure smoother access to their system.

If you're using a Microsoft account (like an email address) to log in, don't forget your password for that account! If you don't recall it, you'll be stuck in a loop trying to reset Windows 10 password without access to your Microsoft account.

• Go to the Microsoft account recovery page.
• Choose "I forgot my password" and follow the steps to receive a security code via your recovery email or phone.
• Once verified, you can set a new password.

Barneymmc 

I have helped a friend with this method of resetting the password using the built-in administrator account before, and it worked very well. In fact, there is a hidden "Administrator" account in Windows 10, which is disabled by default, but we can activate it through safe mode or command prompt and use it to reset windows 10 password .

1. Press and hold the Shift key on the login screen and click Restart.

2. Go to Troubleshooting > Advanced Options > Command Prompt.

3. Enter the following command to enable the built-in administrator account:

net user administrator /active:yes

4. Restart the computer and select the "Administrator" account to log in.
5. After successful login, go to Control Panel > User Accounts, select your original account and change the password.

6. After resetting windows 10 password password, remember to disable the administrator account again:

net user administrator /active:no

This method solves the problem by enabling the hidden administrator account without affecting the data.

 If your computer has multiple accounts and you still remember the passwords of other administrator accounts, you can reset the passwords through other accounts:

1. Log in to other administrator accounts.
2. Press Win + X and select "Computer Management".
3. In "Local Users and Groups" on the left, click "Users".
4. Find your user name, right-click it, and select "Set Password".
5. Enter the new password, confirm it, and then log in to your administrator account with the new password.

I hope these three methods will help you, and the data on your C drive will not be affected when resetting Windows 10 password without losing data. Wish you good luck!

If you're locked out of your Windows 10 admin account and want to reset the password without losing data, you can try the following method using the Windows 10 installation disk or USB:

Note: This method requires you to have administrative privileges or access to another administrative account on the computer.

1: Create a bootable USB or DVD using the Windows 10 ISO file. You can download the ISO file from the official Microsoft website.

2: Insert the bootable USB or DVD into your computer and restart it.

3: During the boot process, enter the BIOS settings by pressing the key indicated on the startup screen (typically F2, F10, or Del). Inside the BIOS, set your computer to boot from the USB or DVD.

4: Save the changes and exit the BIOS. Your computer will now boot from the Windows 10 installation media.

5: On the Windows Setup screen, select your language preferences and click "Next."

6: Click on "Repair your computer" at the bottom left of the screen.

7: On the next screen, select "Troubleshoot," then "Advanced options," and finally "Command Prompt."

8: In the Command Prompt, you will need to identify the drive letter of your Windows installation. Type the following command and press Enter:

diskpart
list volume

Identify the volume with the "Size" matching your C drive.

9: Exit Diskpart by typing "exit" and pressing Enter.

10: In the Command Prompt, type the following command to navigate to the System32 directory:

cd /d VOLUME:\Windows\System32

Replace "VOLUME" with the drive letter of your Windows installation.

11: Next, create a backup of the original Utilman.exe file by typing the following command:

ren Utilman.exe Utilman.exe.bak

12: Now, make a copy of the Command Prompt executable (cmd.exe) and rename it as Utilman.exe using this command:

copy cmd.exe Utilman.exe

13: Close the Command Prompt and restart your computer.

14: When you reach the Windows 10 login screen, click on the "Ease of Access" icon at the bottom left. This will open Command Prompt.

15: In Command Prompt, type the following command to reset your password:

net user YOUR_USERNAME NEW_PASSWORD

Replace "YOUR_USERNAME" with the username of your locked admin account, and "NEW_PASSWORD" with the new password you want to set.

16: Close Command Prompt and log in to your admin account using the new password.

17: Once you have successfully logged in, open File Explorer and navigate to your user profile folder (C:\Users\YOUR_USERNAME). You should be able to access all your files and applications.

18: After gaining access to your files, you can restore the original Utilman.exe file. Restart your computer and log in as usual.

It's important to note that while this method doesn't involve direct data loss, it's always recommended to have backups of your important files and data.