How do I reset forgotten administrator password in windows 10?

There are loads of third-party tools out there that claim to help reset passwords. While some are legit, others can be virus-ridden nightmares. Always do your research and stick to well-reviewed and reputable software. If you’re looking for something from Microsoft, consider using the built-in password reset options or creating a recovery USB if you have access to another computer.

If you encounter an error message while trying to reset forgotten Administrator password in Windows 10, don’t just click “OK” and hope it resolves itself. Take a moment to read the error. It might offer clues about what went wrong, and ignoring it could mean having to redo everything later. If you go the command prompt route (which can be really handy), make sure you’re typing everything exactly as it should be. One tiny typo can lead to frustration. I’ve totally been there—had to redo steps because I missed a space or got the capitalization wrong. So, copy-paste if you can, or double-check everything before hitting Enter.

When creating a bootable USB with Windows installation media to reset forgotten Administrator password in Windows 10, it's easy to overlook options like file format (make sure it’s FAT32, not NTFS). Using the wrong format can lead to issues booting from it later. I once made that mistake, and it was a pain to troubleshoot. If you’re being prompted for a Microsoft account email and you can’t access that email, you’re in trouble. Make sure that if you’re using a Microsoft account, you have the recovery email or phone handy. If you can, before you reset, check the account associated with the profile to see if you have recovery options available.

If you've forgotten Administrator password for Windows 10 and do not have a password reset disk or the ability to answer security questions, there are still a few methods you can try to reset forgotten Administrator password in Windows 10 without data loss. Here are some of the options:

1. Create Windows Installation Media:
You'll need another computer to download the Windows 10 ISO file from the Microsoft website and create a bootable USB drive using tools like Rufus or the Media Creation Tool.

2. Boot from the Installation Media:
Insert the bootable USB into your locked PC and restart it. You may need to change the boot order in the BIOS/UEFI settings to boot from the USB.

3. Access Repair Options:
When the Windows Setup screen appears, select your language preferences and click Next. Then click on Repair your computer in the bottom left corner.

4. Open Command Prompt:
Navigate to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Command Prompt.

5. Replace Utilman.exe with cmd.exe:
In the Command Prompt, type the following commands one by one and press Enter after each: diskpart
list volume
exit

Identify the drive letter of your Windows installation (typically C: or D:), and then use:
C: (or your actual Windows drive letter)
cd Windows\System32
ren utilman.exe utilman.bak
copy cmd.exe utilman.exe
exit

6. Reboot into Windows:
Remove the USB drive and restart your computer normally. At the login screen, click the Ease of Access icon in the bottom right corner. This will open the Command Prompt.

7. Reset Password:
In the Command Prompt, use the following command to reset forgotten Administrator password in Windows 10: net user YourUsername NewPassword. Replace YourUsername with your actual username and NewPassword with your new password.

8. Revert Changes:
Repeat the first steps to access Command Prompt using the installation media and restore the original utilman.exe by reversing the rename: ren utilman.bak utilman.exe

If you have a second account with administrative privileges, you might be able to use that to reset forgotten Administrator password in Windows 10 computer:

1. Log in to the alternate admin account.
2. Open the Control Panel and then go to "User Accounts."
3. Select the account you need to reset and click "Change the password."

Bonus Tips:
Always keep a backup of important files! Use OneDrive or an external drive.
Consider using password management tools in the future; they can save your hide!