Can’t Login to Windows 7 If Forgot Password? Reset it Now!

What should you do if you can’t login to Windows 7 after you forgot password? Don’t worry, you can how to reset Windows 7 password without logging in so that you can regain access to your system.

Posted by @Hedy July 24, 2024 Updated By @Hedy July 10, 2023

For the purpose of safeguarding privacy and enhancing security, it is recommended to periodically modify the login password for Windows 7 system. However, frequent changes can occasionally result in forgetting the current password.

Fortunately, there is a practical approach accompanied by appropriate tools that enables the resetting of a forgotten Windows 7 login password. By following this process, you can regain access to the system and resume normal usage.

How to reset Windows 7 password without logging in?

Method 1. Recover forgotten Windows 7 password with pre-made password reset disk

Microsoft has made the process of recovering a forgotten login password on a Windows 7 computer quite straightforward, provided that you have already created a password reset disk. This disk allows you to establish a new password in the event that you forgot login password on Windows 7. To reset a forgotten password for Windows 7 (32-bit & 64-bit), please follow the instructions below:

Step 1. On the login screen, deliberately input an incorrect password, and when the error message appears, click "OK".

Step 2. Next, locate and click on the "Reset password" link, which will activate the password reset wizard. Insert the password reset disk that you have prepared into the appropriate drive and proceed by clicking the "Next" button.

Step 3. From the drop-down box, select the password reset disk, and then press "Next" to proceed further.

Step 4. You will be prompted to enter a new password that will replace the forgotten one. Ensure that you carefully type the new password and then re-enter it for confirmation. Additionally, you can provide a password hint for future reference.

Step 5. Once you have entered the necessary information, click "Next" and subsequently "Finish" to close the wizard window. At this point, the forgotten password reset process is complete, and you can now utilize the newly set password to access your Windows 7 system.

Method 2. Reset Windows 7 login password if forgot using 3-rd party tool

In situations where you don't have a password reset disk available before your computer gets locked, you will need to rely on a third-party tool to reset or recover the lost login password on Windows 7.

One such tool is the Windows password reset software called AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional, which provides effective solutions for regaining access to both Windows 7 desktops and laptops when you have forgotten the password.

By utilizing the AOMEI password reset tool, you will gain the necessary techniques and methods to successfully regain access to your Windows 7 system even when the password has been lost. This software serves as a reliable tool for overcoming password-related obstacles and ensures that you can once again access your desktop or laptop with ease. 

Here is how to do it if you can't login to Windows 7 forgot password:

Free DownloadWin 11/10/8.1/8/7/XP
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Step 1. Begin by connecting your USB drive to a Windows computer that is currently running. Install and launch the AOMEI Partition Assistant software. Once it is open, locate the taskbar and click on "Reset Windows Password".

Step 2. A pop-up window will appear. Click on "Next" to initiate the creation of a bootable media using WinPE.

Step 3. In this window, select the option for "USB Boot Device" and choose the appropriate USB drive to create the bootable disk. After making the selection, click on "Proceed" to proceed further.

Step 4. Please note that formatting the USB flash drive is necessary, as this process will erase all existing data on it. Confirm your decision by clicking on "Yes", which will initiate the creation of the bootable media.

Step 5. Once the bootable USB has been successfully created, connect it to the Windows 7 computer for which you want to reset the password. Access the BIOS setup of your Windows 7 computer and change the boot order to prioritize the bootable USB.

Step 6. Upon seeing the AOMEI Partition Assistant interface on your screen, click on "Reset Password". Choose the desired Windows system that you wish to operate and click on "Next".

Step 7. Proceed by selecting the specific account you want to work with and choose the desired action: either "Remove Account Password" or "Reset Account Password". Once done, click on "Next".

Step 8. In a new small window, enter the new password twice as requested and click on "Yes" to initiate the password reset process for your Windows 7 computer.

Step 9. Finally, restart your computer and log in to your PC using the newly set password.

Method 3. Retrieve forgotten login password with Windows 7 installation disk

When confronted with a situation where the login password for Windows 7 has been forgotten, one common approach is to utilize an installation CD/DVD or a system repair disc to reset the user password. To effortlessly bypass the login screen, follow the steps outlined below:

Step 1. Obtain a Windows 7 installation disk and insert it into the optical drive of your computer.

Step 2. Please restart your computer and ensure that it boots from the disc. If necessary, modify the boot order in the BIOS settings to ensure correct booting from the disc.

Step 3. On the initial pop-up window, select your preferred language or leave it as the default setting, and then click "Next".

Step 4. Locate and click on the "Repair your computer" link located on the bottom left of the screen.

Step 5. On the System Recovery Options screen, select Windows 7 as the operating system and take note of its specific location, particularly the drive letter.

Step 6. Click "Next" and then choose the "Command Prompt" option to open the command prompt.

Step 7. In the command prompt, enter the following two commands. If necessary, use a different drive letter instead of C:

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

copy c:\windows\system32\cmd.exe c:\windows\system32\sethc.exe

Step 8. Remove the installation disc and reboot your computer.

Step 9. When you reach the Windows 7 login screen, press the Shift key five times in quick succession.

Step 10. A command prompt box will appear, in which you need to enter a final command to reset the login password for the Windows 7 user account. You can choose any username and new password, replacing the placeholders within the command:

net user username newpassword

Step 11. Once you have executed the command, close the command prompt window and proceed to log in to the Windows 7 desktop using the newly set password.

Method 4. Log into Windows 7 if forgot password without disk or software

Even if you forgot login password on Windows 7 computer and do not possess a password reset disk, there is still a possibility to crack the password and regain access to the system, provided there is another user account configured as an administrator.

It's important to note that if the account is a domain user account, you will need to contact the domain administrator for assistance in resolving the issue. To remove and reset the forgotten password for a local user account in Windows 7 using admin privileges, follow these steps:

Step 1. Start the computer that you are unable to access and press the F8 key repeatedly to enter the boot menu.

Step 2. Choose "Safe Mode" from the menu and press the Enter key.

Step 3. On the login screen, click on the "Administrator" account and log in. Typically, there is no password set for the admin account.

Step 4. Once logged in, click on the "Start" button and select "Control Panel" from the menu.

Step 5. In the Control Panel window, click on the "User Accounts" link, then choose "Manage another account."

Step 6. Select the account for which you need to reset the lost login password. Then, click on the "Change the password" link under the "Make changes to [username]'s account" section.

Step 7. Enter a new password in the first and second password boxes, and provide a password hint in the final box.

Step 8. Click the "Change Password" button to confirm the password change, then close any open windows.

Step 9. Restart the computer and use the new login password to gain access to your own computer.

Conclusion

What should you do if you can't login to Windows 7 after you forgot password? There are several methods you can try to regain access to your account. Start with simpler methods like using a password reset disk, and if those don't work, consider using a password recovery tool.

Remember to create regular backups of your important files to avoid data loss in such situations in the future. As a disk cloning software, AOMEI Partition Assistant is available to help clone hard drive to another as a backup.