How to Reset Forgotten Windows Password (Proven Method) 2024

Introduction

Forgetting your Windows password can be a frustrating experience, but don’t worry—there are reliable methods to help you regain access to your computer. Whether you’re using Windows 10 or Windows 11, this guide will walk you through three proven ways to reset your forgotten password. Follow the steps carefully, and you’ll be back on your desktop in no time.

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Method 1: Resetting Password Using Utilman.exe and CMD (Bootable USB Drive)

This is the most technical method, but it’s highly effective. We’ll use a bootable USB drive to reset the password by making some modifications through Command Prompt.

Step 1: Prepare a Bootable USB Drive

1. Create a Bootable USB: Depending on your Windows version, create a bootable USB drive for Windows 10 or Windows 11 using tools like Rufus or the Media Creation Tool. If you need help with this step, refer to our tutorial on creating a Windows USB drive.

See this Video https://youtu.be/3sMCYurRidY how to do it.

1. Insert the USB Drive: Plug the bootable USB drive into your computer.
2. Restart and Boot from USB: Restart your computer and press the appropriate key (usually F12, F2, or ESC) to enter the boot menu. Select the USB drive to boot from it.
3. 

Step 2: Modify Utilman.exe via Command Prompt

1. Open Command Prompt: Once the Windows setup screen appears, press Shift + F10 to open Command Prompt. If this doesn’t work, try holding the FN key along with the combination.
2. Move Utilman.exe: Enter the following command to move the Utilman.exe file:

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

   This command moves the Utilman.exe file to the root of your C: drive.
3. Replace Utilman.exe with CMD: Next, copy the Command Prompt executable to replace Utilman:

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

Step 3: Reset the Password

1. Restart Your Computer: Remove the USB drive and restart your computer.
2. Use the Accessibility Button: At the login screen, click the Ease of Access button (bottom-right corner). Since we replaced Utilman.exe, this will now open Command Prompt.
3. Reset the Password: In Command Prompt, type the following command to reset the password:

   net user [your_username] [new_password]

   Replace [your_username] with your account name and [new_password] with your desired password.

4. Log In: Close Command Prompt and log in with your new password.

Step 4: Restore Utilman.exe

1. Restore the Original Utilman.exe: Once logged in, open Command Prompt again (this time as an administrator) and type:

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

   This restores the original Ease of Access utility.

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Method 2: Creating and Using a Password Reset Disk

If you have a password reset disk prepared, this method is straightforward and user-friendly. However, it requires prior preparation.

Step 1: Create a Password Reset Disk

1. Insert a USB Drive: Insert a blank USB drive into your computer.
2. Create the Reset Disk: Go to Control Panel > User Accounts > Create a password reset disk. Follow the prompts to create the disk.
3. Store Safely: Keep the USB drive in a safe place. It will allow you to reset your password if you forget it.

Step 2: Use the Password Reset Disk

1. Insert the USB Drive: If you forget your password, insert the reset disk.
2. Reset the Password: Click “Reset Password” on the login screen and follow the prompts. You’ll be asked to enter a new password.
3. Log In: Use the new password to access your account.

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Method 3: Using EaseUS Partition Master (The Easiest Method)

EaseUS Partition Master offers a professional and user-friendly way to reset your Windows password. This method doesn’t require advanced technical skills and is highly reliable.

Step 1: Install EaseUS Partition Master

1. Download and Install: Download EaseUS Partition Master from their official website and install it on another computer.
2. Create a Bootable USB Drive: Open the software, navigate to “Toolkit,” and select “Password Reset.” Follow the instructions to create a bootable USB drive.

Step 2: Use the Bootable USB Drive

1. Insert the USB Drive: Insert the newly created bootable USB drive into your locked computer.
2. Restart and Boot from USB: Restart the computer and boot from the USB drive, similar to Method 1.

Step 3: Reset the Password

1. Select Your Account: The software will display a list of user accounts. Select the one you want to reset.
2. Reset the Password: Click “Reset Password” and confirm. The software will reset the password to blank.
3. Log In: Restart your computer, remove the USB drive, and log in without a password or set a new one once inside.

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Conclusion

These three methods provide reliable ways to reset a forgotten Windows password, ensuring you can regain access to your computer. Whether you’re comfortable with technical commands or prefer a user-friendly software solution, there’s an option here for everyone.

If you found this guide helpful, feel free to share it with others who might benefit. Don’t forget to check out our other tutorials for more tech tips and solutions.

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