Although we use PCs every day, their passwords are not immune to being forgotten. Sometimes, you just set a new password, or the Windows 10 PC has been abandoned for a long while, but you can’t seem to recall the exact password. As great as complex passwords can be, they are also quite easy to misspell or forget. In essence, there are many reasons why you may be locked out of your Windows 10 PC.
The good news is that locked out your Windows 10/11 computer doesn’t mean you can’t regain access to your PC. Unlocking Windows 10 password can be a quick and easy task regardless of your computer’s brand – all you need to do is follow this guide closely. Below are several effective ways to unlock Windows 10 password if you find yourself locked out for any reason.
Method 1. Unlock Windows 10/11 Password with Another Account
You will be able to unlock your Windows 10 password easily with this method if you use a shared computer with more than one account. To gain access to the file and apps in the locked account, all you need to do is log in with another user’s account. However, the account has to be an Administrator’s account.
Step 1: Log in to the Windows 10 computer with an Administrator’s account.
Step 2: Open Control Panel.
Step 3: Click on “User Accounts” and then select “Manage Account Type.”
Step 4: Click on the locked account that you want to unlock password.
Step 5: Select “Change the password” to enter a new password for the locked account.
Step 6: Log out of the Administrator’s account and log in to the previously locked Windows 10 account.
Method 2. Unlock A Locked Windows 10/11 Computer with Microsoft Account
If you have a Microsoft account, you have the option of unlocking your Windows 10 computer by resetting the Microsoft account. In such a situation, you will have to reset your Microsoft account’s password online using another device.
Resetting a Microsoft account password is quick and easy, but first, you must have:
- Another device apart from your locked Windows 10 PC.
- An internet connection.
- Access to the email or phone number used in creating the account.
Step 1: Visit Microsoft’s password reset link.
Step 2: On the first page, fill in your email and click “Next.”
Step 3: To verify your email, you will have to receive a confirmation code via your email or phone number. Select your preferred option and click “Get Code.”
Step 4: Depending on your earlier selection, check your email or mobile phone to find the Password Reset Code.
Step 5: You’ll be redirected to the Microsoft password reset page where you’ll enter the code in the required section.
Step 6: Input a new password and reconfirm it.
Step 8: Now, you can log in to Windows 10 by inputting your new password.
Method 3. Unlock Windows 10/11 without Password Using A Third-party Software
PassFab 4Winkey is one of the best Windows password recovery software that enables you to unlock Windows 10 without a password within minutes. With this software, you can reset or remove Windows local admin, guest, domain, and Microsoft passwords. We have broken this guide into three stages to make the steps easier to follow.
Stage 1: Creating a Bootable Drive
PassFab 4Winkey will allow you to create a bootable CD/DVD or USB flash drive to unlock your Windows 10 PC. You can follow the steps listed below to do that.
Step 1: On another computer, download and install PassFab 4WinKey.
Step 2: Launch the program and choose a disk type, i.e., CD, DVD, or a USB flash drive. Click “Next.”
Step 3: You will get a notification saying that the software will erase all the data on your external drive. Click “Continue.”
Step 4: You will have to wait for some seconds while the software burns the bootable drive. Once the process is complete, you will see a page displaying how you can unlock your locked Windows 10 with the external drive.
Stage 2: Booting Windows System From External Drive
Now, let’s discuss how to boot your locked Windows 10 computer from the bootable drive.
Step 1: Insert the bootable drive in the locked Windows 10 computer and restart it.
Step 2: Once you have restarted your computer, click on either “ESC” or “F12” to go to the Boot menu. (The Boot menu’s key isn’t the same on all brands, but “ESC” and “F12” are the most used options.)
Step 3: On the Boot menu, find and select your boot device. Exit the Boot menu after saving.
Stage 3: Remove Your Windows 10/11 Password
Your computer will reboot after you exit the Boot menu. Follow the steps below to remove the password on the locked Windows 10 account.
Step 1: Select the locked Windows account.
Step 2: Choose the feature you want to use. To remove the password, select “Remove Account Password,” then click “Next.”
Step 3: The software will remove the password in a moment. Restart your computer and eject the drive. You can now log into Windows 10 without password.
Read More: PassFab 4WinKey Review
Method 4. Unlock Windows 10/11 Computer via Command Prompt
If you need to unlock your Windows 10 computer, but you don’t have an admin account or don’t want to use a third-party software, you can unlock your computer with a command prompt.
It may seem a little complicated, but it is very effective. You will need a Windows 10 installation disk to execute the task. If you don’t have one, you can download one from the Microsoft website.
Step 1: Boot your Windows 10 computer from the installation disc or USB Drive.
Step 2: When the Windows Setup interface is on the screen, launch the command prompt by clicking on Shift + F10.
Step 3: Input the commands listed below and click “Enter” after inputting each command line:
move c:\windows\system32\utilman.exe c:\
copy c:\windows\system32\cmd.exe c:\windows\system32\utilman.exe
Step 4: Remove the drive and reboot your computer.
Step 5: On the login screen, open the Command Prompt by clicking the Utility Manager Icon.
Step 6: Set a new password by inputting the following command and clicking “Enter”:
net user username newpassword
Step 7: Restore the Utility Manager. Boot your computer from the bootable drive, select the Command Prompt and paste the following command:
copy c:\utilman.exe c:\windows\system32\utilman.exe
Step 8: Click “Enter” and input “Yes.”
You can now log in to the reset admin account with the new password.
Conclusion
Passwords are essential for security, and if you lose them, you can use the methods above to recover them without fuss. If these methods look too complex, you can try unlocking your Windows 10 password with PassFab 4Winkey. Let us know which method works you used in the comments section below. Happy unlocking.
