This article was contributed by Hally Gao who is the chief content editor at iSunshare Software.
Q: “I have an old Windows 10 computer that I did not turn on for a long time. I wanted to use it again, but forgot its password. Is there any way to unlock this computer without restoring it to factory settings?”
Setting a screen password on Windows is crucial to protect data security. However, if you forget or lose your Windows 10 password, you won’t be able to access the login screen. In such cases, you need to unlock your computer without a password. This article provides a comprehensive guide to help you unlock your Windows 10 computer without a password.
How to Unlock a Locked PC using a Password Reset Utility [Without Data Loss]
If you have a local Windows account and no other login options, a universal Windows password reset tool might be the best solution. iSunshare Windows Password Genius is one such tool that can remove your password without data loss, and it only takes a few minutes. Here is a brief overview of the features of this software.
- Remove the local account password or Microsoft account password of the computer without losing data.
- Get Admin Rights on Windows without password.
- Compatible with almost all versions of Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7/Vista/XP/2000/NT, etc.
- Supports almost all brands, including Dell, HP, Lenovo, Toshiba, Sony, etc.
Step 1: Create a password reset disk.
Insert a blank USB disk or CD/DVD disk into another computer that can be used normally, run iSunshare Windows Password Genius, and then select your media type and click “Begin Burning“, wait for the completion of the production process.
Step 2: Turn the locked computer on and set the boot order.
Insert the password reset disk medium into the locked computer, and then enter its BIOS settings or boot menu; set your USD disk or CD/DVD disk as the first boot device.
Step 3: Remove the computer password.
When you use the password reset disk to boot your computer, the iSunshare Windows Password Genius interface will appear.
Select the Windows system and account you wish to remove the password from. Click “Reset Password” to automatically clear the password of the selected user’s Windows account.
Step 4: Click the “Reboot” button to restart your computer
Unplug your password reset disk medium. You will be able to access the computer without a password, and all its data will remain unchanged, and you won´t lose any files.
How to Unlock a Computer without Password via Other Login Options
There are several login options available for Windows users, including PIN, fingerprint detection, facial recognition, and more. You don’t have to rely solely on the password of the local account to unlock your computer. If your locked computer has any of these options available, you can easily use them to solve the problem.
Option 1: Answer Security Questions to Unlock Your Locked Computer
When you create a local Windows 10 account, you have the option to set security questions. By answering these questions accurately, you can reset the password for the local account and regain access to your locked computer using the new password.
Step 1: After entering the wrong password on the login screen, Windows will suggest you “Reset Password” or use other “Sign-in Options“.
Step 2: Click the “Reset Password” button, and then answer the security questions carefully.
Step 3: After passing the verification of the security questions, you will be able to set a new unlock password and then use it to restore access to Windows.
Option 2: Use Your Microsoft Account to Unlock a Locked Computer
A lot of Windows users opt for a Microsoft account over a local account as their preferred login method. This is because it allows for synchronization between devices. Moreover, if you are logged in to your Windows device with a Microsoft account, you can effortlessly reset your Microsoft account password on another device, and use it to log in to your computer.
Step 1: Open the Microsoft account password reset page in any browser.
Step 2: Enter your Microsoft email information and click “Next“.
You will be asked to enter a security code to verify your identity, click “Get Code“, and then enter the security code and click “Next“.
Step 3: Enter and confirm your new password on this page, click “Next“, and then you can use the new password to log in to your Windows computer.
How to Unlock Computer without Password via Factory Reset
How to unlock a Windows 10 computer after forgetting the admin password? Suppose the files on the computer are not important or you have made a complete backup. In that case, after you forget the password of your Windows 10 computer, you can restore the device to factory reset, and then its password will also be removed. This is a risky but effective method.
Step 1: Enter the recovery options interface. Hold down the power button and F11 key to boot the recovery partition of the computer; you can refer to the official guide of your computer brand for more instructions.
Step 2: Select “Reset this PC“, and then the “Remove everything” option. This will restore your computer to factory settings, and also delete all your files and user passwords.
Step 3: Wait for the recovery process to complete. Restoring the computer to factory reset takes some time, you need to wait patiently and avoid interrupting the recovery process. When you see the recovery success prompt, you can restart your computer.
Step 4: Set your new password. When your computer restarts, you can set the new user and password of the computer, or other information.
Bonus: How to Create a Password Reset Disk on Windows 10
The Password reset disk is a feature provided by Windows 10, users can use with a removable storage medium to reset the account password. It needs to be made in advance, and then you can use this password reset disk to reset the system login password at any time if you forget it.
Step 1: Make sure that the local account is logged in on Windows, and then create a password reset disk for it.
Step 2: Insert the USB disk or other removable disk into the computer.
Step 3: Enter the system’s “Control Panel” and type “Password Reset” in the search box, click the “Create a password reset disk” option.
Step 4: Then you will enter the “Forgotten Password Wizard“, click “Next“, and follow the program’s screen instructions to complete the operation.
Conclusion
Windows 10 is one of the most popular operating systems, but it may also encounter the situation of forgetting the password, resulting in being unable to log in to the computer.
Fortunately, there are many ways to help you unlock your computer without losing your data or damaging your system. Among them, iSunshare Windows Password Genius is a universal method to unlock a locked Windows 10 computer.
About the author
Hally Gao is the chief editor of the content team at iSunshare Software Co., Ltd., as well as a technology expert and innovator. She often shares her tips and experiences about Windows, Microsoft, Apple, and Android on the iSunshare official website, and writes various practical digital solutions. Hally’s articles have been published on several well-known websites and magazines, demonstrating her deep insights and unique perspectives on the IT field.
Last Updated on November 17, 2023 9:09 am CET by Markus Kasanmascheff
