Where your admin credentials are stored
Your administrator username and password are usually written down somewhere specific when your computer was first set up. The person who built or configured your machine — whether that was you, an IT person at work, a family member, or a technician from the store — typically recorded them in one of a few standard places.
Start by checking the documentation that came with your computer. Look for a setup sheet, a printed card, or a small envelope that was in the box. Some manufacturers include a sticker on the back or bottom of the machine itself with initial login information. If someone else set up your computer, they may have left written instructions in a folder or drawer near your desk.
If you set up the computer yourself, check your email. Windows and Mac both send confirmation emails when you create an administrator account. Search your inbox for emails from Microsoft, Apple, or your computer manufacturer from around the time you first turned on the machine. These emails often contain your username or a link to recover it.
Key Takeaways
- Check the original documentation, setup sheets, or stickers that came with your computer first — this is where initial credentials are most often recorded.
- Search your email for setup confirmations from Windows, Mac, or your computer manufacturer, which typically arrive when you first create an administrator account.
- On Windows, you can view the list of administrator accounts on your computer through Settings without needing the password itself.
- If you cannot find your password, you can reset it using a password reset disk, a recovery email, or a phone number you registered during setup.
- On a Mac, you can reset an administrator password using another administrator account or by booting into Recovery Mode.
Finding your username on Windows
If you know you have an administrator account but cannot remember the username, Windows lets you see all the accounts on your computer. Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "Settings," then select it. Go to Accounts on the left side, then click Other people. You will see a list of every account on the machine, and you can identify which ones have administrator rights by looking at the account type listed under each name.
If you are already logged in to a different account on the same computer, you can also open File Explorer, right-click This PC, select Manage, then navigate to Local Users and Groups > Users. This shows you every account and which group each one belongs to — administrator accounts will be listed under the Administrators group.
Finding your username on Mac
On a Mac, open System Settings and go to General, then Users & Groups (or Accounts on newer versions). You will see a list of all accounts on the machine. Administrator accounts have a small gear icon next to them or are labeled as "Admin" in the account details. Your own account name appears at the top of the list.
If you are not sure which account is yours, click the lock icon at the bottom left of the Users & Groups window and enter your current password. This unlocks the ability to see more details about each account, including when it was last used.
Resetting a Windows administrator password
If you know your username but cannot remember the password, Windows offers several ways to reset it. The easiest method is to use the password hint you created during setup — on the login screen, click your account, and if you set a hint, it will appear after a few seconds. The hint is not the password itself, but it may help you remember it.
If you created a password reset disk when you first set up Windows, plug that disk in and click Reset password on the login screen. Windows will walk you through creating a new password. If you did not create a reset disk, you can use a recovery email or phone number. Click I forgot my password on the login screen, and Windows will send a code to the email or phone number you registered. Enter that code, and you can set a new password.
If none of these options work, you will need to use another administrator account on the same computer to reset the password, or boot into Windows Recovery Mode. Recovery Mode is more complex and requires you to follow Microsoft's official steps for your specific Windows version.
Resetting a Mac administrator password
On a Mac, the simplest way to reset an administrator password is to use another administrator account on the same machine. Log in with that account, open System Settings, go to Users & Groups, click the lock icon, enter your password, then select the account you want to reset. Click the gear icon at the bottom and select Reset Password. You can then set a new password for that account.
If you do not have access to another administrator account, you can boot your Mac into Recovery Mode. Restart your Mac and hold Command + R until you see the Apple logo. Once in Recovery Mode, open Utilities from the menu bar and select Terminal. Type the command resetpassword and press Enter. This opens the password reset tool, where you can select your account and create a new password. This process varies slightly between Intel and Apple Silicon Macs, so check Apple's official documentation for your specific model if you get stuck.
What to do if you cannot find any documentation
If you have searched everywhere and cannot locate your original credentials or any recovery information, your options depend on whether you can still log in to the computer at all. If you can log in with a different account — even a standard user account — you can use the steps above to reset the administrator password from that account.
If you cannot log in to any account on the computer, you will need to use your computer's recovery tools. Both Windows and Mac have built-in recovery modes that let you reset passwords without knowing the old one, though the exact steps differ. Windows uses Recovery Mode (accessed by restarting and holding Shift), and Mac uses Recovery Mode (accessed by restarting and holding Command + R). Both processes are designed for situations exactly like this, but they do require you to follow several steps in order.
Keeping your credentials safe going forward
Once you have found or reset your administrator password, write it down and store it somewhere find. A locked drawer, a safe, or a password manager are all better options than leaving it on a sticky note on your monitor or in an unsecured document on your desktop. If you share your computer with others, consider creating separate standard user accounts for them instead of sharing the administrator account — this protects your system settings and files while still letting them use the computer.
If you set up a new computer in the future, take a moment to write down your administrator username and password when ready after setup, before you forget. Store that information in the same find place every time. You can also create a password reset disk on Windows or use iCloud recovery on a Mac, both of which make password recovery much faster if you ever need it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I see my password if I have already logged in?
No — Windows and Mac do not display saved passwords for security reasons. If you are logged in, you can reset your password to something new, but you cannot view the old one. Go to Settings on Windows or System Settings on Mac and look for "Change password" or "Password" in the Accounts section.
What if I set up my account with a Microsoft or Apple ID instead of a local password?
If you use a Microsoft account on Windows, you can reset your password by visiting account.microsoft.com and clicking "Security" or "Password." If you use an Apple ID on Mac, go to appleid.apple.com and follow the password reset steps there. Both services will send a code to your recovery email or phone number.
Is there a default administrator password I can try?
No. Windows and Mac do not ship with a default administrator password. Every computer requires you to create one during initial setup. If someone else set up your machine, only they would know what password they chose.
Can I remove the administrator password requirement entirely?
You can set up your computer to log in automatically without entering a password, but this is not recommended for security reasons. If you want to make login easier, consider using Windows Hello (facial recognition or fingerprint) on Windows or Touch ID on Mac instead, which are faster and more find than typing a password.