[Solved] Windows 10 I Don’t Know My Password

Some users might be trapped in “Windows 10 I don’t know my password, how to reset Windows 10 password without logging in” error. You can follow the solutions in this post to easily solve this problem.

Posted by @Lucas December 17, 2024 Updated By @Lucas July 17, 2023

Some Windows users who have more than one device might be trapped in the “Windows 10 I don’t know my password” problem because nowadays there are so many passwords in our life. In the fast-paced digital world, it's not uncommon to forget passwords. Forgetting a computer password on Windows 10 can be frustrating, but fortunately, there are several methods you can employ to regain access to your computer.

In this article, we will explore different ways to reset forgotten password on Windows 10, ensuring you can regain control of your system with ease.

How to reset Windows 10 password without logging in

In this part, we’ll show you some solutions to reset forgot password in Windows 10 for local account password. If your Windows 10 is using a Microsoft account to log in, you can directly use your smartphone or other devices to visit the official website to reset password.

Way 1. Using Windows password resetting disk to reset forgot password on Windows 10

This way is incredibly beneficial for individuals who have previously generated a password reset disk prior to forgetting their password. In the event that you can't recall the password for your Windows 10, you can employ this disk to establish a fresh password. Here are the straightforward instructions.

Step 1. Type an incorrect password on the login screen and click "OK" when you see a notice.

Step 2. Click Reset password link below the password box.

Step 3. The Password Reset Wizard window will be woken. Click "Next" to continue.

Step 4. When you are asked to choose the password reset disk, choose your drive and click "Next".

Step 5. Then, type the new password in the blank and click "Next" after confirming.

Way 2. Using Windows installation disk to reset forgotten password Windows 10

When you find yourself unable to log in to your computer due to a forgotten Windows 10 password, you have the option to optimize the process by creating a Windows 10 installation USB. You can then open Command Prompt and reset the password by doing so. It is important to note that this method involves familiarity with command lines.

Step 1. Connect the installation disk to your computer and boot from this installation disk.

Step 2. When you see this screen, press the Shift + F10 key.

Step 3. After opening the Command Prompt, we need to execute the following commands on the system disk. Input "C:" (the system drive letter) and "cd windows system32" successively.

Step 4. Then, type the commands below and press "Enter": ren sethc.exe sethc01.exe (rename sethc.exe to sethc01.exe) copy cmd.exe sethc.exe (copy cmd.exe to sethc.exe)

Step 5. After that, we can input "wpeutil reboot" to fast restart your Windows 10 PC.

Step 6. When you see the user password input interface again, constantly press the "Shift" key to call out the CMD window.

Step 7. Now, type "net user username password" and press "Enter" to reset the local account password in Windows 10.

Way 3. Using password reset USB to reset forgotten Windows 10 password

Upon reviewing the above information, it becomes apparent that preparing a Windows password reset USB in advance is essential. In case of an unexpected situation where you cannot create one using the first method due to password requirements, it can become quite challenging. Additionally, Command Prompt is a complex tool for the majority of users.

Thankfully, there is a user-friendly solution available to address this awkward scenario: AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional. This tool provides a solution on how to reset Windows 10 password without the need for logging in.

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It only requires an empty USB, which can be easily inserted into your computer. Following the provided instructions, you can effortlessly navigate through the process. Furthermore, this tool overcomes the limitations of Windows versions and enables users to utilize the created USB on any functional Windows PC. Moreover, if you need to remove or reset a Windows Server password, you can opt for the Server Edition.

Step 1. Launch the installed software and find "Tools"> "Reset Windows Password" in the main Tab.

Step 2. A notice will show up to guide you to create a WinPE bootable media. Select “Next” after reading.

Step 3. There are three ways to create bootable media based on Windows PE  (USB Boot Device is recommended).

• USB Boot Device: To create a bootable USB Device. • Burn to CD/DVD: To create a bootable CD/DVD. • Export ISO File: Use this method to make a bootable ISO file.

Choose one of them according to your needs and select “Proceed”. 

Note: The choice “Add Drivers” means that you can add additional drivers to the bootable media.

Step 4. It will format the USB flash drive in this step, and all the data will be wiped. Please make a backup of all your important files in advance.

Step 5. Wait for the process of creating a WinPE bootable USB drive.

Step 6. It would help if you booted the computer which you want to reset the password when the bootable USB is created. And then, choose the system and click "Next".

Now you can reset the password, and then click "OK" to confirm it.

Notice: You need to enter BIOS and change boot order under the menu, and then you can boot from the Windows PE USB flash drive, CD, or DVD.

Step 7. Select the target account and the feature. And then click “Next”.

Notice: You can choose Remove Account Password or Reset Account Password from the two options below the mini window.

Step 8. After resetting the password, you need to select “Reboot Computer” to restart your PC.

To sum up

There are 3 ways to solve the “I don’t know my Windows 10 password” problem. Forgetting your Windows 10 password can be a frustrating experience, but with the methods outlined in this article, you can regain access to your computer.

AOMEI Partition Assistant is a disk manager for Window PC with many handy functions. It can also clone disk, convert a disk to MBR/GPT, move installed apps, test disk speed, extend C drive space, clean junk files, etc.