Forgot Windows Password?

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Resetting a Forgotten Windows Password

If you’ve forgotten your Windows password, you can reset it depending on whether you use a Microsoft account or a local account. Follow the method that matches your sign-in type.

Microsoft Account

  1. On another device, go to the Microsoft password reset page.

  2. Enter the email address or phone number linked to your Microsoft account.

  3. Choose a verification method and enter the security code you receive.

  4. Create a new password and confirm it.

  5. Return to your PC and sign in with the new password.

Local Account (Windows 10/11)

  1. On the sign-in screen, click the Power icon, hold Shift, and select Restart. Watch a quick demo of the restart and recovery menu navigation:

  2. In the menu, select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Command Prompt.

  3. Identify your Windows drive by typing c: then dir, trying other letters until you see Windows and Program Files folders.

  4. Type cd windows\system32 and press Enter.

  5. Rename the accessibility tool:
    ren utilman.exe utilman.ex_

  6. Copy Command Prompt over it:
    copy cmd.exe utilman.exe

  7. Type exit and choose Continue to return to the sign-in screen.

  8. Click the Accessibility icon to open Command Prompt.

  9. Type net user to list accounts, then net user * to set a new password.

  10. Enter and confirm the new password (no characters will appear as you type).

  11. Sign in with the new password.

  12. To restore the original accessibility tool, repeat steps 1–4, then type:

del utilman.exe

ren utilman.ex_ utilman.exe

Forgot Windows Password?
Forgot Windows Password?1536×1024 280 KB

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Utilman is one of the oldest utilities in windows for exactly the same reason you have mentioned but I would love to point out some latest once as well here for the audiance.

One of the most useful recovery paths is the hidden built-in Administrator account. Enabling it from the recovery command prompt is straightforward:

  • net user administrator /active:yes
  • net user administrator *
  • net localgroup administrators /add

Ensure you run these commands on the actual Windows drive (C:, D:, etc.) and not the temporary X: drive that WinRE boots into. This is an easy detail to miss.

Additionally, the classic Utilman.exe method still works when you need to trigger a recovery prompt, provided you can unlock the drive first.

The real takeaway here is to back up your BitLocker recovery key. Without it, none of the recovery steps matter. A small bit of preparation today can save a big headache tomorrow.

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