Knowledge Base

Here are a few ways you can reset your Windows 11 password and get back in:  

1. Reset Password (Microsoft Account)

If you use a Microsoft account to log in:  

1. On the login screen, click I forgot my password

2. Follow the on-screen steps to reset your password online  

3. Use the new password to log in  

You can also reset it from another device:  

– Go to [Microsoft’s Password Reset Page](https://account.live.com/password/reset)  

– Follow the instructions to reset your password  

2. Reset Password (Local Account)

If you use a local account (not linked to Microsoft):  

1. On the login screen, click I forgot my password

2. If you set up security questions, answer them to reset your password  

3. If you didn’t set security questions, you’ll need another method (see below)  

3. Use Another Admin Account

– If another user on the PC has admin rights, they can reset your password:  

  1. Log in to their account  

  2. Go to Settings  Accounts  Other users

  3. Select your account and reset the password  

4. Use a Password Reset Disk (If You Created One)

– Insert the reset disk and follow on-screen instructions on the login screen  

5. Reset Your PC (Last Resort)

If nothing works, you can reset your PC, but this removes your files unless you choose “Keep my files”:  

1. On the login screen, click Power  Restart while holding Shift

2. Select Troubleshoot Reset this PC

If the usual password reset options don’t work, here are some advanced methods you can try:  

1. Boot Into Safe Mode with Command Prompt

If you can access Safe Mode, you might be able to reset the password using the Command Prompt:  

1. Restart your PC and hold Shift while clicking Restart

2. Go to Troubleshoot Advanced options  Startup Settings  Restart

3. Press 4 or F4to boot into Safe Mode

4. Open Command Prompt (Admin) and type:  

   “`

   net user YourUsername NewPassword

   “`

   Replace **YourUsername** with your actual username and **NewPassword** with a new one.  

5. Restart and try logging in with the new password.  

2. Enable the Hidden Administrator Account

If you can’t access your account but have a way to boot into Safe Mode or a Windows installation disk:  

1. Boot from a Windows 11 installation USB/DVD  

2. Select Repair your computer  Troubleshoot Command Prompt

3. Type the following command and press Enter:  

   “`

   net user Administrator /active:yes

   “`

4. Restart and log in as “Administrator”  

5. Change your password from Control Panel  User Accounts

3. Use a Third-Party Password Reset Tool

There are tools like Hiren’s BootCD or Ophcrack that allow you to reset passwords from a bootable USB. You’ll need another computer to create the bootable drive.  

4. Restore from a System Restore Point

If you had System Restore enabled:  

1. Boot into Windows Recovery (Shift + Restart)  

2. Go to Troubleshoot Advanced options System Restore

3. Choose a restore point before you lost access  

5. Reinstall Windows (Last Resort)

If nothing works, reinstalling Windows will remove your password but also erase your files unless you back them up first:  

1. Boot from a Windows 11 installation USB  

2. Select Repair your computer or install a fresh copy  

 Step by step to regain access to your Windows 11 PC.  

Step 1: Try Safe Mode with Command Prompt

This method lets you reset your password using built-in Windows tools.  

1. Boot Into Safe Mode

1. Restart your PC and hold the Shift key while clicking Restart

2. Your PC will boot into the Windows Recovery Environment

3. Go to Troubleshoot Advanced options Startup Settings

4. Click Restart

5. Once your PC restarts, press 4 or F4 to boot into Safe Mode

2. Reset Password via Command Prompt

1. Once in Safe Mode, open Command Prompt (Admin):  

   – Press Windows + R, type `cmd`, and press Enter.  

2. Type this command to list all user accounts:  

   “`

   net user

   “`

3. Find your username and reset your password with:  

   “`

   net user YourUsername NewPassword

   “`

   Replace YourUsername with your actual username and NewPassword with a new password.  

4. Restart your PC and try logging in.  

Step 2: Enable the Hidden Administrator Account

If Step 1 didn’t work, try enabling the built-in administrator account:  

1. Boot into Advanced Recovery Mode

1. Restart your PC and hold Shift while clicking Restart.  

2. Go to Troubleshoot Advanced Options  Command Prompt.  

2. Enable Administrator Account

1. In Command Prompt, type:  

   “`

   net user Administrator /active:yes

   “`

2. Restart your PC.  

3. On the login screen, select the Administrator account (no password needed).  

4. Once logged in, open **Command Prompt** and reset your password with:  

   “`

   net user YourUsername NewPassword

   “`

5. Restart and try logging into your account with the new password.  

Step 3: Use a Third-Party Password Reset Tool (If Necessary)

If you can’t access Command Prompt or Safe Mode, you can use a tool like Hiren’s BootCD to reset the password:  

1. Create a Bootable USB with Hiren’s BootCD

– Use another computer to download [Hiren’s BootCD](https://www.hirensbootcd.org/download/)  

– Use Rufus to create a bootable USB  

2. Boot From the USB

1. Insert the USB into your locked computer.  

2. Restart and enter the BIOS/Boot Menu (press F2, F12, Delete, or Esc, depending on your PC).  

3. Select the USB drive and boot into Hiren’s BootCD.  

3. Reset Your Password

1. Open NT Password Edit in Hiren’s BootCD.  

2. Select your Windows installation and your user account.  

3. Click Change Password and enter a new one.  

4. Apply the changes and restart your PC.  

Step 4: Restore from a System Restore Point

If you previously enabled System Restore, you might be able to roll back Windows to a point where you could log in.  

1. Boot into Advanced Recovery Mode

1. Restart your PC and hold Shift while clicking Restart

2. Go to Troubleshoot  Advanced Options  System Restore  

3. Select a restore point before you lost access.  

4. Follow the on-screen instructions and restart your PC.  

Step 5: Reset or Reinstall Windows (Last Resort)

If none of the above methods work, you may need to reset your PC.  

1. Reset Windows Without Losing Files

1. Boot into Advanced Recovery Mode (Shift + Restart).  

2. Select Troubleshoot Reset this PC.  

3. Choose Keep my files.  

4. Follow the on-screen instructions to reset Windows.  

2. Clean Install Windows (Will Delete Everything)

1. Download the [Windows 11 Installation Media](https://www.microsoft.com/software-download/windows11) on another PC.  

2. Use Rufus to create a bootable USB.  

3. Boot from the USB and follow the installation process.