Forum Discussion
Qandon
Feb 18, 2025Iron Contributor
I forgot my laptop password windows 10 without disk, what to do?
Hello, today I encountered a super embarrassing situation, that is, I forgot my laptop’s Windows 10 password. The key is that I didn’t create a password reset disk before, and now I can’t log into the system at all. There are still many important files in the computer, and I really don’t want to reinstall the system, so I want to ask everyone, is there a way to unlock it without a reset disk or third-party tools?
Some methods I have tried myself:
1. Try common passwords:
I tried several common passwords first, including old passwords I had set before, and even my birthday and email password, but all the results were wrong...
2. Safe mode + administrator account (failed):
It is said on the Internet that you can enter safe mode, log in with a hidden Administrator account, and then change the password. I tried holding down Shift + restart and entering "Troubleshooting" → "Startup Settings" → entering safe mode, but found that the Administrator account was disabled, so it didn't work...
2. Change password using command prompt (failed):
I originally wanted to enter recovery mode, open command prompt (Shift+F10), and then use net user command to change password. But I found that by default, the password of the main account cannot be changed directly, so I was stuck.
I still haven't found a good way. If anyone knows a way to reset forgotten laptop password without resetting the disk, please help!
- DakotaWolfIron Contributor
It's definitely frustrating to forgot my laptop password windows 10, especially with important files on your laptop. Since you don't have a password reset disk, and the Administrator account is disabled, you can try a few more advanced methods. These methods involve creating a bootable USB drive and using it to reset the password. Please note that these methods carry some risk.
- VirginiaCavalierIron Contributor
Make sure you are targeting the correct user account. If you try to reset the password for the wrong user, you will not gain access to the system. Some users may not be able to create a user account directly because of this setting (UAC) will cause issue. When your laptop boots up, all the drivers must be installed, so make sure the necessary drivers and services must be enabled, or your account could not be logged in. Using a third-party password reset tool or software from unknown sources can be risky. It could corrupt your system or introduce malware. Stick to trusted methods whenever possible.
Be extra careful if you're considering a full system reset or reinstall. Make sure you've backed up your data before you start this process. Otherwise, everything on your hard drive will be lost.
Using a Password Reset Disk to reset forgotten laptop password:
This is the best non-Microsoft account method if you set one up before you forgot your password. This is a lifesaver! A password reset disk stores information that lets you bypass the regular password requirement.
Steps:
- Insert the password reset disk.
- On the login screen, when it asks for the password, try entering an incorrect password. You should see a "Reset password" link appear.
- Click "Reset password".
- Follow the on-screen prompts, and it will guide you through using the reset disk. It will ask you to insert the disk, and then walk you through setting a new password.
Important Note: You must have created this disk BEFORE you forgot your password.
- FrederickkIron Contributor
If you have forgotten laptop password Windows 10 and do not have a password reset disk or a Microsoft account to reset your password, you can try to enable the built-in administrator account to restore access. This is a hidden account that comes with the Windows system, usually without a password, and has the highest permissions, allowing you to manage the system and reset the password. Here are the detailed steps:
- Enter Recovery Mode: Hold down the Shift key at startup, click Restart, go to **"Troubleshoot"** → "Advanced Options" → "Startup Settings" → select **"Enable Safe Mode"**.
- Enable the built-in Administrator account: In Safe Mode, if the built-in Administrator account has not been disabled, you can enable it by entering the following command through the Command Prompt (Shift + F10):
net user administrator /active: yes
You can then restart the computer and log in with the Administrator account.
- DassinkunIron Contributor
Okay, this is the big one when resetting forgotten laptop password. If something goes wrong during the password reset, you could end up with a corrupted operating system. In a worse scenario, the drive where your data is stored could be damaged. That means all your files, documents, photos, everything, could be gone. This is why the instructions emphasize backing up your data. Without a backup, you're playing with fire. The Safe Mode method with the Command Prompt can be a little... technical. You need to type the commands exactly right, and sometimes even figuring out how to get into Safe Mode can be a challenge (pressing the right keys at the right time during startup is a bit of a timing game). One wrong character, and you're stuck.
There's no 100% guarantee the Safe Mode method will work. Sometimes, the underlying problem preventing you from logging in isn't just a forgotten password; it could be a corrupted system file, a driver issue, or even malware. In these cases, Safe Mode might not be enough.
- YarisyoyoIron Contributor
Safe Mode is a diagnostic mode in Windows that starts the operating system with only the essential drivers and services. It is primarily used for troubleshooting issues, such as malware removal or fixing system errors. In Safe Mode, you can access tools like the Command Prompt to perform administrative tasks, including resetting a password.
How to reset forgotten laptop password on Windows 10:
Step 1: Restart your laptop and press F8 or Shift + F8 during boot to access the Advanced Startup Options.
Step 2: Select Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Command Prompt.
Step 3:In the Command Prompt, type the following commands to create a new user account:
net user [username] [password] /add net localgroup administrators [username] /add
Replace [username] and [password] with your desired credentials.
Step 4: Restart your laptop and log in with the new account.
If you don't have access to Safe Mode or Command Prompt, you may need to use a Windows 10 password reset tool or reinstall Windows if you forgot laptop password with windows 10. Always remember to back up your data regularly to avoid data loss in such situations.
- SwawnIron Contributor
I once encountered the problem of forgot laptop password windows 10. I couldn't remember the password and I didn't create a reset disk. After some trouble, I found that I could use the command prompt (CMD) to change the password. However, this method requires entering the recovery mode. I will share my operation steps with you:
Steps:
- On the login screen, hold down Shift and click "Restart" in the lower right corner to enter the advanced startup options.
- Select "Troubleshoot" → "Advanced Options" → "Command Prompt" to open the CMD window.
- Enter in the command prompt:
net user
This will list all account names and find your account name.
Then enter:net user your username new password
For example, if your account is Jack, to change the password to 123456, enter:net user Jack 123456
After seeing "Command completed successfully", close the window, restart the computer, and try to enter with the new password!
Note:- This method is applicable to local accounts, but not Microsoft accounts. Microsoft accounts can only be reset online.
- Some systems may prompt that the permissions are insufficient. At this time, you need to enable the hidden administrator account and then change the password.
I hope this trick can help you. If you also forgot laptop password windows 10/11, you might as well try this method!
- YhooumIron Contributor
If you've forgotten your Windows 10 laptop password and don't have a recovery disk, there are still several methods you can try to reset forgotten laptop password. Here are some options:
Method 1. Use Another Admin Account
If you have another administrator account on the same laptop:
- Log in to the other admin account.
- Open Control Panel > User Accounts > Manage another account.
- Select the locked account and choose Change the password.
- Set a new password and save the changes.
- Log out and log back into your original account with the new password.
Method 2. Use Microsoft Online Account Recovery
If you're using a Microsoft account to log in to Windows 10:
- Go to the Microsoft Password Reset page.
- Follow the steps to reset your Microsoft account password.
- Once reset, use the new password to log in to your laptop.
- WalterttorIron Contributor
Don't panic. Forgetting laptop password is really a headache, but there are ways to solve it. I have encountered this before and tried several methods. I will share with you several methods that do not require a reset disk or third-party tools. You can try one of following methods to reset forggten laptop password without reset disk.
Method 1: Use "Safe Mode" to enable the hidden administrator account
Windows 10 actually has a hidden Administrator account. If it is not disabled, you can use it to change your password.- Press and hold Shift + click "Restart" to enter "Advanced Startup Options".
- Select "Troubleshoot" → "Advanced Options" → "Startup Settings", and then restart.
- After restarting, select "Enter Safe Mode" (press F4).
- Check if there is an Administrator account on the login screen. If so, select it to log in, and then go to the Control Panel to change your main account password!
But if this administrator account is disabled, you have to try other methods.
Method 2. Log in with a "local account"
If you previously logged in with a Microsoft account instead of a local account, you don't need to change your password, just reset it online:- Open the Microsoft password reset page on another device (phone/computer).
- Enter your Microsoft account email address and follow the prompts to reset your password.
- Restart your laptop and try entering your new password on the login screen.
- But if your Windows account is a local account, this method doesn't apply...
Method 3. Roll back with "System Restore"
If your computer had previously enabled System Restore, you can try rolling back to the previous state, which may bypass the password login:- Press and hold Shift + click to restart and enter the "Advanced Startup" interface.
- Select "Troubleshoot" → "Advanced Options" → "System Restore".
- Select an earlier restore point (preferably when you still remember the password).
- Let Windows restore the system, and then try to log in with the old password.
The premise of this method is that you have previously enabled System Restore. If not, it will not work...