[Step-by-Step Guide] Windows 2012 Change Administrator Password

Why need Windows 2012 change administrator password?

In Windows Server 2012, the Administrator account holds significant power and control over the system. The Administrator account is the most privileged account on a Windows Server system. It grants unrestricted access to the server, including administrative tasks, file management, and system configurations. To maintain the security and integrity of your server, it is crucial to regularly change the administrator password.

Another reason is some users might forget Windows Server 2012 admin password on their devices, they need to reset Windows Server 2012 administrator password even without entering the system.

Thus, this article provides a comprehensive guide on how to change the Administrator password in Windows Server 2012 and offers insights into resetting the local admin password in Windows Server 2012 R2.

How to change administrator password on Windows Server 2012 (R2)?

The methods in this part are all suitable for both Windows Server 2012 and Server 2012(R2). You’ll see how to reset Windows Server 2012 admin password after you log in, and how to reset admin password without login. So, choose one way for your case, and let’s quickly solve the problem.

Case 1. Windows Server 2012 change Administrator password after login

If you still remember the current password or can successfully enter the system, you can use Control Panel, Computer Management, and Command Prompt to reset the Server 2012 admin password.

▶ Tool 1. Control Panel change Windows Server 2012 admin password

Step 1: Open Control Panel, and click on Change account type.

Step 2: Choose the admin or user account you would like to change.

Step 3: Click on Change the password.

Step 4: Input your current password and re-type the new password. After that, please set up a password hint for it. Then click on the Change password button to restart your computer.

▶ Tool 2. Computer Management reset Windows Server 2012 admin password

Step 1: Press Windows + X and click on Computer Management from the menu.

Step 2: In the Computer Manager window, navigate to System Tool > Local Users and Groups > Users.

Step 3: Then you can find your target administrator or user account in the right pane. Then you can simply right-click on it and select the Set Password.

In the popup dialog, type your new password to change Windows Server login password. After that, restart your machine.

▶ Tool 3. Command Prompt change Windows Server 2012 admin password

Step 1: To get started, you need to press Windows + X to open the power user menu and choose Command Prompt (Admin)

Step 2: In the new popup windows, input the following command line and hit Enter key.

net user [username] [password]

When it shows "The command completed successfully", it means you can log into Windows Server 2012 with new password next time.

Case 2. Reset Windows Server 2012 Administrator password without login

If you ever encounter a situation where you must reset the administrator password on a Windows Server due to losing the old password, this section provides two methods that can assist you. These methods apply to various Windows Server versions including 2008 R2, 2012 R2, 2016, 2019, and 2022.

▶ Way 1. Reset Windows Server 2012 administrator password via installation media

Step 1: Insert a Windows Server R2 installation USB or DVD and boot the system from it. On the "Language and other preferences" screen, click "Next."

Step 2: Select "Repair your computer".

Step 3: Select "Troubleshoot."

Step 4: Click "Command Prompt."

Step 5: Enter the following command:

MOVE C:\Windows\System32\Utilman.exe C:\Windows\System32\Utilman2.exe
COPY C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe C:\Windows\System32\Utilman.exe

This command replaces Utilman with the Command Prompt, allowing you to reset the password.

Note: Modify the commands accordingly if your Windows installation is located on a different disk partition.

Step 6: Reboot the Windows system. On the login screen, click the "Ease of Access" icon.

Step 7: Enter the following command: net user .

Step 8: Set and confirm the desired password.

Now, you need to restore the changes made to Utilman to their original state. 

Step 1: Reboot the computer again using the Server R2 installation USB.

Step 2: Open the Command Prompt.

Step 3: Execute the following command:

MOVE C:\Windows\System32\Utilman2.exe C:\Windows\System32\Utilman.exe

Restart your server once more, and you're all done. Your administrator password has been reset, and the Utilman file is restored to its initial configuration.

▶ Way 2. Change Windows Server 2012 admin password with a password manager

If you encounter difficulties in following the previous steps to reset the password on Server 2012 R2, there is an alternative solution that is easier to implement.

AOMEI Partition Assistant Server is a powerful tool designed specifically for Windows Servers. It offers a convenient "Reset Password" function, allowing you to quickly reset passwords on Server 2025/2022/2019/2016/2012 R2/2008 R2/2003 in case of loss. Even if you're a beginner, the entire process is straightforward and user-friendly.

This tool will help you create a password reset USB on another PC, and then you can use this USB to unlock your Server 2012.

Part 1. Create Server 2012 R2 password reset bootable media

Step 1: Download and install it on the PC that you can run it. Then, click Tools> Reset Windows Password on the main interface.

Step 2: Then, click Next to create a bootable USB.

Step 3: Choose the USB you prepared and click Proceed.

Step 4: Read the information and click Yes.

Step 5: Waiting for creation to finish.

Part 2. Reset Windows Server 2012 R2 password

After creating the bootable USB, insert the USB into the Server 2012 R2 device.

Step 1: Change the boot drive to make this device boot from the bootable USB.

Step 2: When AOMEI Partition Assistant pop out, click Reset Windows Password and click Next.

Step 3: Here, select the "User Name" and "Reset Account Password". Then, click "Next" to type in a new password .

Step 4: After that, reboot the computer and log into the Server 2012 R2 with the new password.

To sum up

Changing Administrator password in Windows Server 2012 is crucial for maintaining the security and integrity of your system. Following the step-by-step guide outlined in this article, you can reset the local Administrator password in Windows Server 2012.

Of course, the best way to protect your device is by using strong and unique passwords, regular password changes, enabling two-factor authentication, and limiting administrator privileges. But if you happen to lose your password, AOMEI Partition Assistant can help you.