You cannot retrieve a forgotten admin password, but you can reset it

Windows 10 does not store your administrator password anywhere you can look it up. If you have forgotten it, the only working path is to reset it — which means creating a new one. The method depends on whether you remember any other password on that computer, whether you set up a password reset disk years ago, or whether you have access to the email address tied to your Microsoft account.

If you are locked out of a computer that belongs to your workplace, stop here and contact your IT department. They have tools to reset it without losing your files. The methods below work only on personal computers where you are the owner.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows 10 does not let you recover a forgotten admin password — you must reset it by creating a new one.
  • If you remember the password to any other user account on the computer, you can reset the admin password from Settings without losing files.
  • If you have a Microsoft account tied to your admin profile, you can reset the password online from another device, then sign in on the locked computer.
  • A password reset disk created before you forgot the password will reset it, but most people do not have one.
  • If none of these paths work, you will need to reinstall Windows 10, which erases all files on the drive.

Reset the password if you know another account password

If the computer has a second user account — even a guest account — and you remember its password, you can reset the admin password from there without losing any files. Boot the computer and sign in to the account you remember.

Open Settings (press Windows key + I). Go to Accounts, then select Other people on the left. Find the administrator account you are locked out of and click it. Select Reset password. Windows will ask you to answer the security questions you set up when you created the account. Answer them correctly, then type a new password twice and click Next. Sign out and sign back in with the new password.

This method works only if you set up security questions when you created the admin account. If you skipped that step, Windows will not let you reset from another account.

Reset the password using your Microsoft account

If your admin account is tied to a Microsoft account (the email address you use to sign in), you can reset the password from any other device with internet access. Go to account.microsoft.com on a phone, tablet, or another computer. Sign in with that email address. Click Security on the left, then select Password security. Choose Change password and follow the steps.

Once you have set a new password, go back to the locked Windows 10 computer. On the sign-in screen, click I forgot my password. Windows will send a code to your email. Check that email, enter the code on the computer, then create a new password. You will then be able to sign in.

This method requires that you can still access the email address tied to your Microsoft account. If you have lost access to that email, you will need to recover the email account first — contact Microsoft support for that process.

Use a password reset disk if you created one

If you created a password reset disk on a USB drive or external drive before you forgot the password, you can use it now. Plug the drive into the computer. On the sign-in screen, click Reset password. Windows will detect the reset disk and walk you through creating a new password.

Most people do not create a password reset disk, so this path is uncommon. If you have never heard of one before, you almost certainly do not have one.

What to do if none of these methods work

If you do not remember any other account password, do not have a Microsoft account tied to the admin profile, and do not have a password reset disk, the only remaining option is to reinstall Windows 10. This erases all files on the drive, so use it only as a last resort.

You will need another computer to read Windows 10 and create installation media on a USB drive. Go to microsoft.com/software-read/windows10 on that computer. read the Media Creation Tool, run it, and follow the steps to create a bootable USB drive. Then plug that drive into the locked computer, restart it, and boot from the USB drive. Follow the Windows 10 installation steps. When prompted, choose to install on the same drive — this will erase everything and give you a fresh Windows 10 with a new admin account.

Prevent this from happening again

Once you have reset your password and can sign in again, create a password reset disk when ready. Plug in a USB drive, open Settings, go to Accounts, and select Sign-in options on the left. Scroll down to Password and click Create a password reset disk. Follow the steps and store the drive somewhere safe — not on your desk, but in a drawer or cabinet where you will remember it exists.

If your admin account uses a Microsoft account, write down the email address and store it somewhere you will find it. You do not need to write down the password — you can always reset it online if you forget it again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I see what the admin password is if I am already signed in?

No. Windows does not display passwords anywhere, even to the person who set them. If you are signed in and want to change the password to something you will remember, open Settings, go to Accounts, select Sign-in options, and click Change under Password.

What if the computer is asking for a PIN instead of a password?

A PIN is a separate sign-in method. If you have forgotten the PIN but remember the password, click Sign in with password on the sign-in screen instead. If you have forgotten both, use the Microsoft account reset method or the password reset disk method above.

Will resetting the password delete my files?

No. Resetting the password changes only your sign-in credentials. Your files, programs, and settings stay on the computer. The only method that deletes files is reinstalling Windows 10, which erases the entire drive.

Can I reset the admin password from Safe Mode?

Safe Mode does not bypass the password requirement. You still need to sign in with a working password to enter Safe Mode. If you cannot sign in normally, Safe Mode will not help.

What if I set up Windows 10 without a Microsoft account?

If your admin account is a local account (not tied to an email address), you cannot use the Microsoft account reset method. You will need to use the password reset disk method, reset from another account, or reinstall Windows 10.