What you can actually do if you forget your admin password

If you have forgotten the administrator password on your Windows or Mac computer, you have a few real options — but none of them are when ready, and some depend on what you set up before you locked yourself out. The fastest route is usually a password reset disk or a recovery email address, if you created one. If you did not, you will need to use your operating system's built-in recovery tools, which take longer but do work.

The key thing to understand: you cannot straightforward "find" an admin password that is already set. You can only reset it or recover access through methods the operating system provides. What works depends on whether you are on Windows or Mac, whether you have a recovery email or phone number on file, and whether you set up a password reset disk before you got locked out.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows users with a Microsoft account can reset their password through the login screen using a recovery email or phone number, which takes a few minutes.
  • Windows users with a local account need either a password reset disk (created before lockout) or access to another admin account on the same computer.
  • Mac users can reset their password through Apple ID, a recovery key, or by using another admin account — but the process varies by macOS version.
  • If you have no recovery method set up and no other admin account, you will need to reinstall your operating system, which erases everything on the drive.
  • Setting up a recovery email, phone number, or password reset disk now prevents this problem in the future.

Windows: resetting a password tied to a Microsoft account

If you log in with your Microsoft email address (not a local username), you can reset your password from the login screen itself. On the login screen, click "I forgot my password" below the password field. Windows will ask you to enter a code sent to your recovery email or phone number, then let you create a new password.

This works as long as you still have access to the email address or phone number you registered with Microsoft. If you no longer have access to that email or phone, you will need to contact Microsoft support through your account recovery page at account.microsoft.com. They can verify your identity through security questions or other methods, but this can take several hours or days.

Windows: resetting a local account password

A local account is one where you log in with a username that exists only on that computer, not tied to Microsoft. If you forgot this password and did not create a password reset disk beforehand, your options narrow.

If you have another admin account on the same computer, log in with that account. Open Settings, go to Accounts, select the account you are locked out of, and click "Reset password." You can set a new password without knowing the old one.

If you do not have another admin account, you will need the password reset disk you created before you got locked out. Insert the disk at the login screen, click "Reset password," and follow the prompts. If you never created a reset disk, you will need to reinstall Windows, which erases all files on the drive. You can do this with a Windows installation USB created on another computer.

Mac: using your Apple ID to reset your password

On a Mac, if you forgot your admin password, click "Reset Password" on the login screen. You will be asked to enter your Apple ID and password. Once verified, you can create a new admin password for your Mac.

This works if your Mac account is linked to an Apple ID, which most modern Macs are by default. If you do not remember your Apple ID password, you can reset it at iforgot.apple.com using your email address and security questions or a recovery key.

Mac: using a recovery key or another admin account

If you set up two-factor authentication on your Apple ID, you may have received a recovery key — a long string of characters that can reset your password without needing your Apple ID password. If you saved this key, you can use it at the login screen instead.

If you have another admin account on the same Mac, log in with that account. Open System Settings, go to General, then Users & Groups (or Users & Accounts, depending on your macOS version). Select the locked account and click the reset password button. You can then set a new password.

If you have no recovery method and no other admin account

If you have no recovery email, no recovery phone, no password reset disk, no recovery key, and no other admin account on the computer, you will need to erase the drive and reinstall your operating system. This is the only way to regain access, and it deletes everything on the computer.

On Windows, you will need a Windows installation USB on another computer. On Mac, you can restart in Recovery Mode (hold Command + R during startup) and use Disk Utility to erase the drive, then reinstall macOS. Both processes take an hour or more and require you to set up your computer from scratch.

How to prevent this from happening again

The best time to set up recovery options is right after you first set your password. On Windows, create a password reset disk by going to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options > Password > Create a password reset disk. Store this disk somewhere safe. Also make sure your Microsoft account (if you use one) has a current recovery email and phone number.

On Mac, link your account to an Apple ID if you have not already. Go to System Settings > General > Users & Groups and make sure your Apple ID is connected. If you use two-factor authentication, save your recovery key in a safe place — not on the computer itself.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I reset the admin password if I know the old password?

Yes, and it is much faster. On Windows, go to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options > Password and click "Change." On Mac, go to System Settings > General > Users & Groups, select your account, and click "Change Password." You will need to enter your current password first.

What if I bought a used computer and do not know the admin password?

You cannot reset a password you never created. The previous owner would need to do it, or you would need to erase the drive and reinstall the operating system. If the computer is under warranty, contact the manufacturer — they may be able to help verify ownership.

Can someone else reset my admin password without my permission?

If they have physical access to your computer and know your recovery email or phone number, yes. If they have another admin account on the same computer, also yes. This is why keeping your recovery email find and not sharing admin accounts is important.

Does a password manager help if I forget my admin password?

No. Password managers store passwords, but you need your admin password to log in to the computer in the first place. A password manager helps you remember passwords once you are logged in, but it cannot help you regain access if you are locked out.

How long does it take to reset an admin password?

With a recovery email or phone number, a few minutes. With a password reset disk, about five minutes. With another admin account, about ten minutes. If you have none of these, reinstalling your operating system takes one to three hours depending on your computer speed and internet connection.