The fastest way depends on whether you remember any password at all

If you can log in as a different user on the same computer, you can reset the admin password from Settings without any special tools. If you are locked out completely, you will need to restart the computer in Safe Mode or use a password reset disk you created earlier. If you have neither, you will need to reinstall Windows or contact the computer maker — there is no legitimate way around a completely forgotten password on a modern computer, and that is by design.

The method you use also depends on whether this is a local account (stored only on your computer) or a Microsoft account (tied to your email). Local accounts are faster to reset if you have access; Microsoft accounts require you to verify your identity through email or phone.

Key Takeaways

  • If you can log in as any other user, open Settings, go to Accounts, and select the admin account to reset its password without restarting.
  • If you are completely locked out, restart in Safe Mode by holding Shift while clicking Restart, then log in with a backup admin account if one exists.
  • A password reset disk created before you forgot the password will let you reset it at the login screen without Safe Mode.
  • For a Microsoft account, go to the login screen, click "I forgot my password," and verify your identity through email or phone recovery options.
  • If none of these work, you will need to reinstall Windows, which erases all files on the drive — contact the computer maker first to confirm your options.

Reset from another user account on the same computer

This is the simplest route if anyone else has a working account on the machine. Log in as that user, then open Settings (press Windows key + I). Go to Accounts on the left, then select "Other people" or "Family & other users" depending on your Windows version.

Find the admin account in the list and click it. Select "Change password" or "Reset password." You will be asked to create a new password. Type it twice to confirm, then click Next. The admin account will now use this new password the next time someone logs in with it.

This method works only if the other account has admin rights itself. If it does not, Windows will not let you change another account's password from Settings.

Use Safe Mode if you have a backup admin account

Safe Mode loads Windows with only essential drivers and services, and it may let you log in with a different admin account that you had set up earlier. Restart your computer and hold down the Shift key while clicking Restart from the power menu. Keep holding Shift until you see the "Choose an option" screen.

Click Troubleshoot, then Advanced options, then Startup Settings. Click Restart. When the computer boots, you will see a menu with numbered options. Press 4 or F4 to enter Safe Mode. Try logging in with any other admin account you remember. If you succeed, follow the Settings method above to reset the forgotten password.

Safe Mode does not help if you have only one admin account and you have forgotten its password. In that case, you need a password reset disk or you will need to reinstall Windows.

Reset with a password reset disk you created earlier

If you created a password reset disk before you forgot the password, you can use it at the login screen. Insert the disk (USB drive or floppy disk, depending on when you made it), then click "Reset password" on the login screen below the password field.

The Reset Password wizard will open. Select the disk drive where your reset disk is located, then click Next. The wizard will find your password hint and ask you to create a new password. Type it twice and click Next. You can now log in with the new password.

If you never created a reset disk, you cannot use this method. Creating one now will not help you reset a password you have already forgotten — it only works if you create it while you still have access to the account.

Reset a Microsoft account password at the login screen

If your admin account is linked to a Microsoft email address (you see your email on the login screen), click "I forgot my password" below the password field. Windows will ask you to verify your identity using a recovery email address or phone number you registered with Microsoft.

Microsoft will send a code to that email or phone. Enter the code, then create a new password. You can log in with this new password when ready. This method works even if you are completely locked out, as long as you can still access the recovery email or phone number.

If you no longer have access to the recovery email or phone number, you will need to contact Microsoft support through your account recovery page at account.microsoft.com. They can verify your identity through other means, but the process takes longer.

Reinstall Windows if nothing else works

If you have no other admin account, no reset disk, and no access to your Microsoft account recovery options, reinstalling Windows is the only remaining path. This erases all files on the drive, so it should be your last resort.

You will need another computer to create a Windows installation disk or USB drive using the Windows Media Creation Tool (available free from Microsoft). Boot from that disk on the locked computer, then follow the installation steps. When prompted, choose to install Windows on the same drive — this will wipe it and install a fresh copy.

Before you do this, contact the computer maker's support line. Some manufacturers have additional recovery options or can help you verify ownership before you erase the drive. If the computer came with recovery media, try that first — it may restore Windows without erasing your files.

Why modern computers make this hard on purpose

A computer that lets anyone reset the admin password without proof of ownership would be a security liability. If a thief steals your laptop, they could wipe the password and take everything on it. The barriers you are hitting — the need for a second account, a reset disk, or recovery email access — exist to prevent that.

This is why creating a password reset disk or setting up a recovery email while you still have access is so much easier than trying to recover a completely forgotten password later. It takes five minutes and saves you hours of troubleshooting or a full reinstall.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I reset the admin password using command prompt?

Only if you can already access command prompt with admin rights, which means you are not actually locked out. If you are locked out of the login screen, command prompt is not available to you. Some older methods claimed to use command prompt to reset passwords, but Windows has closed those loopholes in recent versions.

Will a password reset disk work if I forgot my password years ago?

Yes, as long as the disk itself still works and you have not changed your password since you created it. A reset disk does not expire. However, if you changed your password after creating the disk, the disk will no longer work — you would need to create a new one while you have access.

What if I am locked out of a work computer?

Do not try to reset it yourself. Contact your IT department or help desk — they have tools and records to verify your identity and reset your password securely. Attempting to bypass security on a work computer may violate company policy and could have consequences.

Can I reset the password if I only remember part of it?

Windows does not have a "partial password" feature. You either remember the full password or you do not. If you are close but not quite right, Windows will reject it. Your options are the same as if you forgot it completely: use another account, Safe Mode, a reset disk, or Microsoft account recovery.

Is there a master password I can use to reset any account?

No. There is no universal master password in Windows. Anyone claiming to sell you one is selling you malware or a scam. The only legitimate ways to reset a password are the ones listed above, and they all require either prior access or proof of ownership through email or phone recovery.