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Lawrencepp's avatar
Lawrencepp
Copper Contributor
May 12, 2026

Reset password on lenovo laptop windows 11 without losing data

I changed the login password on my Lenovo laptop a few days ago, but now I can't sign in anymore. I’m using Windows 11, and I’m worried about losing my files if I try the wrong reset method. Is ther...
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Hairold's avatar
Hairold
Copper Contributor
May 13, 2026

What should you do if forgot Lenovo laptop password? The Novo Button is a small physical button or pinhole found on many Lenovo IdeaPad and Lenovo laptop models. It's typically located near the power port or on the side of the laptop, and it's marked with a backwards arrow icon that looks like an upside-down "U" .

This button is connected to Lenovo's OneKey Recovery software, which is pre-installed on your laptop . When you press it, the laptop boots into a special recovery menu that exists completely outside of Windows. Because it runs before Windows even starts, it does not require your Windows password at all.

How to Reset Your Lenovo Laptop Using the Novo Button

Step 1: Prepare Your Laptop

  • Make sure your Lenovo laptop is completely powered off. Not in Sleep mode—fully shut down. Then plug in the AC adapter, as the recovery process can take a while and you don't want the battery dying mid-way.

Step 2: Locate and Press the Novo Button

  • Find the Novo Button on your laptop. It's usually a small pinhole or physical button marked with a curved arrow. Look near the power port, on the left or right side of the laptop, or sometimes next to the power button itself.
  • Take your paperclip or eject tool, gently press it into the Novo Button pinhole (or press the button if it's a physical one), and release. Your laptop should turn on and boot directly into the Novo Button Menu.

Step 3: Navigate the Novo Button Menu

  • Once the Novo Button Menu appears on your screen, use the arrow keys on your keyboard to navigate. Select "System Recovery" and press Enter.
  • This will launch either Lenovo's OneKey Recovery interface or the standard Windows Recovery Environment, depending on your specific model and software version.

Step 4: Access Reset Options

  • From the recovery menu:
  • Navigate to Troubleshoot
  • Select Reset this PC

Step 5: Choose Your Reset Option

Step 6: Complete the Reset

Follow the remaining on-screen prompts. The reset process typically takes 45 minutes to 2 hours to complete . During this time:

  • Keep your laptop plugged into the charger
  • Do not force shut down or interrupt the process
  • The laptop will restart several times automatically

Step 7: Set Up Your Laptop Anew

  • Once the reset finishes, your Lenovo laptop will restart and present the Windows initial setup screen, just like when it was brand new. You can now create a new user account with a new password.

 

Most reports indicate that when you forgot Lenovo laptop password, selecting "Remove everything" allows you to complete the reset without any password prompts. As one detailed guide notes, "if you choose 'Keep my files,' after resetting you will still need to enter the Windows administrator password" .