If you’re using any computer, you need a secure password to protect your important data. There’s no point using generic, easy-to-guess admin passwords unless you’re happy to put your files and personal data at risk. It’s important to keep a record of passwords like these, as without them, you’ll be left locked out of your PC. Show
Of course, there are times when you may need to bypass a lost admin password. If you’ve been given an old PC with an existing user account, you may not have the details you need to wipe your PC and repurpose it. To factory reset Windows 10 without the admin password, you’ll need to follow these steps. How To Factory Reset Windows 10 From The Login ScreenIf you don’t have the admin password for a Windows PC, you can reset Windows 10 to factory settings pretty easily from the login screen.
This will begin the reset process, and you may need to follow further on-screen instructions to proceed. Once the process is complete, you’ll be able to set up your Windows PC with a new user account, bypassing the old admin password entirely. Using Windows Installation Media To Reset Or Reinstall WindowsThe easiest method to factory reset your Windows 10 PC without the admin password is to use the method above. If your PC is having problems, however, you could decide to wipe the hard drive entirely, using Windows installation media to reinstall or reset Windows. You can download the Windows 10 installation disk image from the Microsoft website. This can be burned to a fresh DVD or flashed to a USB flash drive. If you have a second Windows 10 PC available, you can flash this ISO file to your USB drive using the Rufus flashing tool. Linux users can WoeUSB to do this, while macOS users could use the official Boot Camp Assistant app, which is installed on all Mac devices.
At this point, Windows will begin wiping your drive and copying files for the new installation. Windows will then reboot to begin the next stage of the installation process, allowing you to create a new user account once the process has completed to allow you to use the PC again. Resetting Your Admin Password Using Manufacturer Recovery FilesSome PC and laptop manufacturers include a special recovery partition drive that allows you to restore your Windows 10 installation back to the factory default. This can usually be activated by restarting your PC and pressing a certain key on your keyboard during the boot-up process. The key you press will vary, depending on the device manufacturer. For instance, some HP computers require you to press and hold the F11 key on your keyboard as your PC boots. Source: HPEach manufacturer has its own on-screen instructions for how to activate and trigger this process. Consult the user manual for your PC or laptop for any special instructions on how to use a recovery partition on your PC, as well as to determine the right key to press. If your PC doesn’t have a recovery partition available, you’ll need to use one of the methods listed above to factory reset Windows 10 instead. Starting Again On Windows 10Once you know how to reset Windows 10 without the admin password to hand, you’re ready to start again. Your first task is to use a password manager to help you generate a secure password for your PC. You can set up Windows without a Microsoft account, but you’ll lose access to some additional Windows features. You could switch to a passwordless login on Windows 10 to be able to ditch passwords completely. Once your PC is reset and ready to use, you’ll need to think about the new software you’ll need to immediately install, from a new web browser to an antivirus to keep your PC safe from malware. How do I change administrator password without administrative privileges?Whenever you try to use an incorrect password to log in to the admin account, a Reset Password button will appear below the Password box on the Windows login screen. This button is the only way provided by Windows to change the admin password when you do not have admin privileges or cannot log in to Windows.
How can I unlock my computer if I forgot my administrator password?Windows 11, Windows 10, and Windows 8.. Press Win-r . In the dialog box, type compmgmt. msc , and then press Enter .. Expand Local Users and Groups and select the Users folder.. Right-click the Administrator account and select Password.. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the task.. How can I reset my Windows 10 password without administrator rights?Running a Command Prompt to Change Your Password
On modern versions of Windows 10 or Windows 11, you'll have to reboot into Safe Mode for this to work. To do this, click the Power menu in the bottom-right corner of the login screen. Then, hold the Shift key and click Restart.
How do I unlock administrator access?To enable the Administrator account, follow these steps:. Start your computer to Safe mode with networking support.. Log on as the administrator.. Click Start, click Run, type cmd, and then press Enter.. At the command prompt, type the following command, and then press Enter: Console Copy. net user administrator /active:yes.. |