20Oct 2025
How to Reset Your Windows Password

How to Reset Your Windows Password: A Complete Guide

Forgetting your Windows password can be frustrating, especially when important files and programs are locked behind the login screen. Fortunately, Windows provides several ways to reset or recover your password depending on whether you use a local account or a Microsoft account. In this guide, we’ll walk you through all available methods step by step.

1. Resetting a Microsoft Account Password

If you use your Microsoft account (your email, usually ending with @outlook.com, @hotmail.com, etc.) to sign in, resetting is straightforward.

Steps:

  1. Go to the Microsoft password reset page.
  2. Choose “I forgot my password” and click Next.
  3. Enter your Microsoft account email or phone number.
  4. Select a verification method (email, SMS, or Authenticator app).
  5. Enter the security code sent to you.
  6. Create a new password.
  7. Restart your PC and sign in with the new password.

✅ Best option if you already linked your Windows login to a Microsoft account.

2. Resetting a Local Account Password (Windows 10 & 11)

If your account is a local user account, you’ll need to reset it manually.

Method A: Using Password Reset Disk (if created earlier)

  1. Insert the USB reset disk.
  2. At the login screen, enter the wrong password until you see “Reset Password”.
  3. Follow the Password Reset Wizard.
  4. Set a new password and login.

⚠️ Works only if you created a reset disk earlier.

Method B: Using Another Administrator Account

If another admin account exists on your PC:

  1. Log in with the other administrator account.
  2. Press Win + R, type netplwiz, and press Enter.
  3. Select your locked account → click Reset Password.
  4. Enter a new password and restart.

3. Resetting Password with Windows Recovery Environment (Advanced)

If no admin account is available, use the recovery environment.

Steps:

  1. Restart your PC and hold Shift + Restart to enter recovery mode.
  2. Go to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Command Prompt.
  3. Run these commands:
copy c:\windows\system32\utilman.exe c:\
copy c:\windows\system32\cmd.exe c:\windows\system32\utilman.exe
  1. Restart your PC.
  2. At the login screen, click Ease of Access → Command Prompt will open.
  3. Type: 
    net user yourusername newpassword
  4. Close the window and login with your new password.

⚠️ After login, restore utilman.exe with:

copy c:\utilman.exe c:\windows\system32\utilman.exe

4. Resetting with Third-Party Tools

If none of the above works, you can use tools like:

  • Ophcrack (free, password recovery using rainbow tables).
  • PCUnlocker (paid, but very effective).
  • Hiren’s BootCD PE (bootable recovery tools).

⚠️ Always download from trusted sources to avoid malware.

5. Preventing Future Lockouts

To avoid getting locked out again:

  • Link your account to a Microsoft account.
  • Create a password reset disk or USB.
  • Set up Windows Hello (PIN, fingerprint, or face recognition).
  • Write down/store passwords securely (use a password manager).

✅ Final Thoughts

Resetting a Windows password is possible using multiple methods. The easiest is resetting through a Microsoft account. For local accounts, recovery tools or admin rights are required. To save yourself future trouble, always create a recovery option in advance.

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