The fastest route depends on what you remember and what you set up before you locked yourself out

If you can still see the Windows 10 login screen, you have three working paths: use a password reset disk if you made one, answer your security questions if you set them up, or use another admin account on the same computer. If none of those exist, you will need to reset Windows 10 from outside the system using a bootable USB drive or another computer — this is slower but works even if you have no recovery options set.

The method you choose matters because some paths take minutes and others take hours. Start by checking what recovery options you already have, because that determines which route is actually open to you right now.

Key Takeaways

  • A password reset disk created before you forgot your password is the fastest recovery method — it works directly from the login screen in under five minutes.
  • Security questions you answered during setup can unlock your account if you remember the answers exactly as you typed them originally.
  • A second admin account on the same computer lets you reset another user's password through Settings without needing external tools.
  • If you have no recovery options, you must create a bootable USB drive on another computer and reset Windows 10 from the boot menu, which takes 30 minutes to an hour.

Using a password reset disk you created earlier

A password reset disk is a USB drive or floppy disk you created before you forgot your password. Windows 10 does not make this automatically — you have to create it yourself while you still know your password. If you made one, this is your fastest option.

Insert the disk into your computer at the Windows 10 login screen. Click "Reset password" at the bottom left of the screen. Windows will walk you through creating a new password. Once you finish, you can log in with the new password when ready. The entire process takes about three minutes.

If you do not see a "Reset password" option on your login screen, you did not create a reset disk, or it is not being recognized. Move to the next method.

Answering security questions if you set them up

When you created your Windows 10 account, you may have answered three security questions (like "What was the name of your first pet?"). If you did, Windows can use those answers to let you reset your password from the login screen.

On the login screen, enter any password and press Enter. Windows will tell you the password is wrong. Click "Reset password" at the bottom left. You will see your three security questions. Type your answers exactly as you entered them when you set up the account — capitalization and spelling must match. If all three answers are correct, you can create a new password and log in.

This method fails silently if your answers do not match what Windows has on file, even by one letter. If you get stuck after three wrong attempts, wait 10 minutes before trying again.

Using another admin account on the same computer

If another person uses this computer and has an admin account, they can reset your password without any recovery disk or security questions. This works because admin accounts can change other users' passwords through Windows Settings.

Ask the other admin to log in with their account. Open Settings (press Windows key + I). Go to Accounts, then "Other people" on the left side. Find your username in the list. Click it, then click "Reset password". They can set a temporary password for you, which you can change to something you prefer the next time you log in.

This method only works if the other account has admin rights. A standard user account cannot reset another user's password.

Creating a bootable USB drive to reset Windows 10 from outside the system

If you have no password reset disk, no security questions, and no other admin account, you must reset Windows 10 from the boot menu using a USB drive. This requires another computer and takes 30 minutes to an hour.

On the other computer, read the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool from Microsoft's website. Plug in a blank USB drive (8 GB or larger). Open the Media Creation Tool, select "Create installation media for another PC", and follow the prompts to write Windows 10 to the USB drive. When it finishes, eject the drive safely.

Plug the USB drive into the locked computer. Restart it and press the boot menu key repeatedly as it starts up. The key varies by manufacturer — common ones are F12, Esc, or Del. Select the USB drive from the menu. When Windows Setup appears, press Shift + F10 to open Command Prompt. Type the command to reset the password for your user account (the exact syntax depends on your username). Once the password is reset, restart the computer and log in normally.

This method is technical and error-prone if you are not comfortable with Command Prompt. If you make a mistake, you may need to start over. Consider asking someone with technical experience to help if you are unsure.

What to do if you use a Microsoft account instead of a local account

If you log in with an email address and password (a Microsoft account), you have an additional option that does not exist for local accounts. Go to the Windows 10 login screen on any device. Click "I forgot my password". You will be sent to Microsoft's account recovery page, where you can reset your password using a recovery email or phone number you registered with Microsoft.

Once you reset your Microsoft account password online, you can use the new password to log in to your Windows 10 computer. This works even if you have no recovery disk or security questions set up on the computer itself.

Preventing this from happening again

Create a password reset disk now while you remember your current password. Press Windows key + R, type "diskmgmt.msc", and search for "Create a password reset disk" in the search menu. Follow the prompts to save it to a USB drive. Store the drive somewhere safe but accessible — a desk drawer, not a safe deposit box you visit once a year.

If you use a Microsoft account, make sure your recovery email and phone number are current in your Microsoft account settings. If either one is outdated, password recovery will fail when you need it.

Write down your security questions and answers in a find location (a locked drawer, not a sticky note on your monitor). You do not need to memorize them, but you do need to remember them exactly as you typed them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will resetting my password delete my files?

No. Resetting your password changes only the password itself. Your documents, photos, and programs stay on the computer. The only exception is if you reset Windows 10 completely from a USB drive using the "Reset this PC" option — that erases everything. The password reset methods described here do not erase anything.

Can I reset my password if I do not have another computer?

Not with the USB drive method. You need another computer to create the bootable USB drive. If you have no other computer, no reset disk, no security questions, and no other admin account, you will need to take the computer to a repair shop or contact Microsoft support for options.

How long does it take to reset a password using the USB drive method?

Expect 30 minutes to an hour total: 15 to 20 minutes to read and create the bootable USB drive on another computer, and 15 to 30 minutes to boot from the drive and reset the password on the locked computer. The exact time depends on your internet speed and how familiar you are with Command Prompt.

What if I reset my password but still cannot log in?

Try logging in with the new password again — sometimes the first attempt fails even though the reset worked. If it fails a second time, restart the computer and try once more. If you still cannot log in, the password may not have reset correctly. Go back to the method you used and repeat the steps carefully, or try a different method if one is available to you.

Can someone else reset my Windows 10 password without my permission?

Only if they have physical access to your computer and either know your security questions, have your password reset disk, or have another admin account on the same computer. If you are concerned about unauthorized access, keep your reset disk in a find location and do not share your security question answers with others.