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Cormac's avatar
Cormac
Iron Contributor
Jun 11, 2025

How to unlock laptop when forgot password for Windows 10?

Hi all,

My mom has an old HP laptop that is currently running Windows 10 as she told me. Unfortunately, she forgot the laptop password and unable to login in. She needs to pull of deleted photos from the computer backup.

Is there any safe way on how to unlock laptop when forgot password for Windows? I hope the tool or trick will keep the data untouched. Is this possible?

Thanks

6 Replies

  • Castiellm's avatar
    Castiellm
    Iron Contributor

    You're thinking about the method where you use another admin account to unlock laptop when forgot password — yeah, it's handy if you have that setup. But honestly, If the PC only has one account, or if you’ve forgotten the admin credentials, this method’s out the window. You can't do much if you don’t have access to another admin account already.

    Messing around with account types or passwords can sometimes mess up user permissions or cause weird login issues later on. It’s not super common, but it’s happened, especially if the system's a bit glitchy or if there’s some misconfiguration. If you’re not careful, changing account types or passwords on a shared or public computer can accidentally give someone else access or cause security loopholes. It’s not a huge deal if it’s your home PC, but still something to keep in mind. In some cases, if you’re not cautious, changing account types or passwords might lead to some data or custom settings being inaccessible or lost, especially if the account was part of a family or organizational setup.


    To unlock laptop when forgot password. This method is pretty straightforward and good if you have the right setup, but it’s not a universal fix. If you’re worried about losing access, it’s better to have a backup plan — like creating a bootable USB with data recovery tools beforehand, just in case.

  • Kodyon's avatar
    Kodyon
    Iron Contributor

    If you’re going to unlock laptop when forgot password and can’t remember the password, try the official “Reset Password” feature first. On Windows, that might mean using your Microsoft account or a password reset disk. On Mac, you can use your Apple ID or recovery mode.

    There are tons of third-party tools out there claiming to unlock your laptop, but many are malware traps or can mess up your system. Stick to official methods or reputable software. I’ve seen folks yank out drives or do hardware resets without proper knowledge, which can make things worse. Stay calm, and follow safe, documented steps. Some people try to reset BIOS settings or remove CMOS batteries, but that can cause hardware issues if you’re not familiar with it. It’s better to stick to OS-level solutions unless you know what you’re doing.

    Honestly, If you want to know how to unlock laptop when forgot password and if you’re just resetting the password from another admin account (which seems to be your plan), it’s pretty safe — as long as you’re sure about what you’re doing and don’t mess with other settings or install weird stuff. It’s a common, built-in feature of Windows, so it’s not like you’re hacking or doing anything super shad.

  • You can unlock laptop with Windows 11 or Windows 10 in safe mode, which is the best place for Windows troubleshooting.

    Part 1: Force Windows to Boot into Safe Mode

    Force-restart your PC 3 times during boot to trigger Automatic Repair.

    Go to Advanced Options > Troubleshoot > Startup Settings > Restart.

    Press F6 or 6 for Safe Mode with Command Prompt.

    Part 2: Reset the Password via Command Prompt

    Once in Command Prompt, follow these steps.

    Check available user accounts. This lists all accounts on the PC.

    net user

    Reset the password for your locked account:

    net user [YourUsername] [NewPassword]

    (Replace [YourUsername] with your account name and [NewPassword] with your desired password.)

    If successful, you’ll see: "The command completed successfully."

    Restart your PC and log in with the new password:

    shutdown /r /t 0

    As you can see, unlocking a windows laptop when you forgot password is very easy in Safe mode.

  • Thatcherw's avatar
    Thatcherw
    Iron Contributor

    How to unlock laptop when forgot password. I understand the urgency to recover your mom’s photos without losing data. When it comes to unlocking a Windows 10 laptop without the password, there are a few options, but caution is essential to avoid data loss or security issues.

    Important: Before attempting any recovery or unlocking methods, ensure you have a backup of any important data if possible.

    How to unlock laptop when forgot password:

    1. Boot into Safe Mode with Command Prompt
    This method can sometimes allow access or enable password reset tools, but it may require advanced steps and might not always work if the account is password protected.

    2. Use Windows Built-in Recovery Options
    * Reset via Advanced Startup Options:
    * Turn off the laptop.
    * Turn it on and force shutdown during the Windows logo to trigger recovery mode.
    * Navigate to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Command Prompt.
    * Use commands to enable the built-in Administrator account or reset passwords.

    Avoid using tools or methods that require installing or running on the encrypted Windows drive unless you are sure they won't overwrite data. Using a bootable recovery tool is the safest way to retrieve the photos without risking data loss.

  • Catherinem's avatar
    Catherinem
    Iron Contributor

    If you’ve forgotten the password to your Windows 10 account but have access to another administrator account on the same PC, you can use it to reset your password without external tools. This method is quick, built-in, and doesn’t require a password reset disk or Microsoft account recovery.

    How to unlock laptop when forgot login password:

    1. Restart your computer (or log out of the locked account).
    2. On the login screen, select the other administrator account (if it’s not visible, click "Other user" and enter its username).
    3. Enter the password for this account to log in.
    4. Press Windows + I to open Settings.
    5. Go to Accounts > Family & other users (or Other users in older versions).
    6. Under Other users, select the locked account and click "Change account type".
    7. Ensure it’s set to Administrator (if not, change it temporarily).
    8. Click "Change password" (if available) and enter a new password.
    9. Sign out of the admin account. Select your previously locked account on the login screen. Enter the new password you just set.

     

    Important Notes & Troubleshooting

    ⚠ Password Hint? Before unlocking Windows 11/10 laptop without password, check if the locked account has a password hint on the login screen.

    ⚠ Data Encryption? If you used BitLocker, resetting the password won’t affect encrypted files.

    ⚠ Microsoft Account? If the locked account is a Microsoft account, changing the password here will only work offline. To sync, reset via Microsoft’s website.

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