How to Reset Password in Windows 10, 8, 7 & Vista

The problem is old: you have forgotten or lost the password to login to your Windows computer. In this tutorial I will show you, how to reset your password to regain access to your computer. Please do not use the information provided in this tutorial on a computer that you don't own.

How to reset lost password in Windows 10, 8, 7 & Vista

A. Reset Microsoft Account Password.

– If you're using a Microsoft account to login to Windows 10 or 8, then navigate to Reset Password Page and follow the on-screen prompts to reset you password.

B. Reset Local Account Password. *

* Update: This methods doesn't work anymore in Windows 10/11 and only applies to Windows 7, 8, 8.1 OS. If you want to reset your password in Windows 10/11, see the instructions on method-4 in this article.

– To reset the password for a local user in Windows 10, 8 7 or Vista, you must start your computer from a Windows installation media (USB or DVD) that matches your Windows version and edition. If you don’t own a Windows Installation Media then from another working computer, you can create one by using Microsoft’s Media Creation tool.

• Related articles:
  • How to create a Windows 10 USB installation media.
  • How to create a Windows 10 DVD installation media.

1. Boot your computer from the Windows installation media.
2. Press Next at Language options screen.
3. Choose Repair your computer.

4A. Windows 7 & Vista:

a. At the below screen, click Next.

b. Then, click Command Prompt.

4B. Windows 10 & 8/8.1:

Go to Troubleshoot -> Advanced Options –> Command Prompt.

5. At command prompt type the following command: *

• cd /d D:\Windows\System32

* Note: If you receive "The system cannot find the path specified" error, then replace the letter D on the above command with the next letter on the alphabet.

6. Then type the below commands in order:

• ren utilman.exe utilmanOLD.exe
• copy cmd.exe utilman.exe
• exit

7. Remove the Windows Installation Media and reboot your computer.
8. At Login Screen click at Easy of Access icon (is located at the lower-left corner in Windows 8, 7 or Vista & at the lower-right corner in Windows 10). This will bring up a command prompt window.
9. At command prompt window type the following command to enable the hidden Administrator account:

• net user administrator /active:yes

10. Close command prompt and restart your computer.
11. After restart, login to Windows by choosing the Administrator account.
12. Then proceed and reset the forgotten password on the other account.
13. Finally perform the following tasks to undo the changes made:

a. Boot your computer from the Windows installation media and launch command prompt again.
b. In command prompt type the following commands in order:

• cd /d D:\Windows\System32
• del utilman.exe
• ren utilmanOLD.exe utilman.exe
• exit

c. Power Off and Power ON your computer.
d. After restart login with your old account.
e. Open Command prompt (as Admin) and give the following command to disable the Administrator account:

• net user administrator /active:no

f: Close command prompt and you 're done!

That’s all! Did it work for you?
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Konstantinos Tsoukalas

Konstantinos is the founder and administrator of Repairwin.com. Since 1995 he works and provides IT support as a computer and network expert to individuals and large companies. He is specialized in solving problems related to Windows or other Microsoft products (Windows Server, Office, Microsoft 365, etc.).

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