Forum Discussion
Forgot local administrator password Windows 10 without disk, How to reset?
Hello everyone, I recently encountered a super headache and came to the forum for help.
I have an old Windows 10 desktop computer at home. I installed the system for my family a few years ago. As a result, no one can remember the password of the local administrator account... I tried various common passwords and none of them worked. I didn't set a password reminder. I couldn't click anything on the login interface and could only enter the password. š
I tried safe mode and command prompt but couldn't enter. The system was not bound to a Microsoft account, and I didn't create a password reset disk. Now I am completely stuck on the login interface.
Has anyone encountered a similar situation? Is there any way to reset or enter the system if I forget Windows 10 local administrator password? It would be best if there is no need to reinstall or lose data. It's really urgent and there is important information in it!
Thank you very much! š
6 Replies
- ElliotRobinsonIron Contributor
For local admin account, this is a simple way to reset Windows 10 password without disk in 3 steps:
https://www.pctipdaily.com/forgot-local-admin-password-windows-10
You'd need to prepare for a password reset disk in advance!
- BeckettPhoenixIron Contributor
I have actually encountered this situation once before. At that time, I helped my family repair their old computer, but I found that I couldnāt remember the administrator password and couldnāt log in. Later, I used the method of "safe mode + command line" to successfully reset local admin password on Windows 10/11. The process was simpler than I thought.
I did it like this:
- I held down Shift and clicked "Restart" to enter the advanced startup menu;
- Then I selected "Troubleshooting" > "Advanced Options" > "Startup Settings" and clicked "Restart";
- After the system restarted, I selected 4 to enter safe mode;
- After entering, I directly opened the command prompt and entered:
net user admin 123456
5. Changed a new password.Then I restarted back to normal mode and logged in directly. It was super smooth! So I personally feel that this method is really suitable for situations where you donāt want to use third-party tools and can enter the system. If you also encounter the situation of forgetting your password, you might as well try it~
- QuinnBaileyIron Contributor
If you forget Windows 10 local administrator password, it can feel pretty frustrating, especially if the computer is your main workhorse. Hereās the deal: while having a backup administrator account can save your bacon, there can be some serious downsides if you don't.
Disadvantages of Forgetting Windows 10 Local Admin Password:
- Without admin access, you can't install new software, update programs, or change system settings. This can be annoying, especially if you're trying to get work done or need to refresh your system.
- If you canāt access your account, thereās a chance you might miss out on important updates, file backups, or syncing with cloud services. And if you're not careful, you could end up losing data in the shuffle.
- When you're trying to reset your password or gain access, thereās always the risk of messing things up further, especially if youāre not tech-savvy. This could lead to even more headaches and complications.
- BrantleyAshIron Contributor
If you forget the login password of Windows 10 local account, there are 3 simple ways available!
Method 1: Use a Windows 10 password reset disk
- On the login interface, when you enter the wrong password, you will see a prompt to "Reset password".
- Click "Reset password" and the system will guide you to insert the password reset disk you created before.
- Follow the wizard to set a new password.
Method 2: Use a Microsoft account
On the login interface, click the "I forgot my password" link (if you are logged in with a Microsoft account).
Follow the instructions on the screen to reset your Microsoft account password on the web page. Then use the new password to log in to Windows 10 (it will be synchronized automatically).
Method 3: Use Windows 10 password reset tool
- Use a bootable Live CD/USB to start the computer. You need to make it on a bootable device (such as a USB drive), which can be made by downloading related tools from the official website.
- After booting to the program interface, it will automatically detect the locked Windows system.
- Select the local account you want to unlock, and then click the "Reset Password" button to reset the password.
- Restart the computer and log in to Windows 10 using the newly set password.
I am sure one of the three methods should work for you if you forgot Windows 10 local administrator password. Please give a try now
- GaemlikenIron Contributor
In fact, it is the simplest. If you just forgot Windows 10 local administrator password, but there is another administrator account in the computer, then you are so lucky! You can directly use another account to help you reset local admin password Windows 10 /11, without installing software or restarting, just a few stepsš
ā Operation steps:
Log in to another account with administrator privileges (not the ordinary user, you must have privileges).Press Win + X, click "Command Prompt (Administrator)" or "Windows PowerShell (Administrator)".
Enter the following command (replace your username with the account you forgot the password):
bash net user your username new password
For example:bash net user jack 123456
If the system prompts "Command completed successfully", it means that the change has been made. You can now log in to the original administrator account with the new password!This method is very useful for forgetting Windows 10 local administrator password, and it is suitable for home computers with multiple accounts. If you only have one account, you can only consider other ways. I hope you are the "lucky one" who has a spare administrator accountš¤£
- PatrickRossIron Contributor
If you've forgotten Windows 10 local administrator password and cannot access the system, there are a few methods you can try to regain access without losing your data. Here are some options you can explore:
1. Use Safe Mode with Command Prompt
- Restart your computer and press F8, Shift + F8, or continuously tap the F8 key until you see the Advanced Boot Options menu. (Note: This may not work on some UEFI systems).
- Select "Safe Mode with Command Prompt."
- When the command prompt appears, you may be able to create a new user account or reset the password for your existing account. If you are able to access the command prompt, you can use the following commands: net user YourUsername NewPassword
This allows you to reset the password for the existing account if forget Windows 10 local administrator password.
2. Using Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE)
- You can try booting from the Windows 10 installation media (USB/DVD). If you donāt have one, you may need to create it using another computer.
- Boot from the installation media and select your language preferences, then click "Next."
- Click on "Repair your computer" instead of "Install now."
- Go to "Troubleshoot" > "Advanced options" > "Command Prompt."
- In Command Prompt, run the following commands to replace the Sticky Keys executable with the Command Prompt:
copy c:\windows\system32\sethc.exe c:\
copy /y c:\windows\system32\cmd.exe c:\windows\system32\sethc.exe - Restart your PC normally and when you get to the login screen, press the Shift key five times. This will launch Command Prompt with administrative privileges.
- You can now reset your admin account password using the command: net user YourUsername NewPassword
- Donāt forget to restore the original sethc.exe file after you're done: copy /y c:\sethc.exe c:\windows\system32\sethc.exe