Reset Forgotten Windows 11/10 password in 3 minutes

Introduction

This tutorial provides a straightforward method for resetting a forgotten Windows 10 or Windows 11 password. Whether you’ve forgotten your password or it’s no longer accepted after an upgrade, you can regain access to your system quickly and effectively.

Step 1: Prepare for Password Reset

Before starting the reset process, ensure you have a few essentials:

• A Windows installation media (USB drive or DVD)
• Access to another computer to create the installation media if you don’t have one

Creating Installation Media

1. Go to the official Microsoft website.
2. Download the Windows Media Creation Tool.
3. Run the tool and follow the prompts to create a bootable USB drive.

Step 2: Boot from Installation Media

To reset your password, you'll need to boot your computer from the installation media you created.

1. Insert the USB drive or DVD into your computer.
2. Restart your computer.
3. Access the boot menu (usually by pressing F12, F2, or Esc during startup).
4. Select the USB or DVD as your boot device.

Step 3: Access Command Prompt

Once you boot from the installation media, follow these steps to access the Command Prompt:

1. Choose your language preferences and click "Next."
2. Click on "Repair your computer" at the bottom left.
3. Select "Troubleshoot."
4. Click on "Advanced options."
5. Choose "Command Prompt."

Step 4: Identify the Windows Partition

You need to locate your Windows installation partition.

1. In the Command Prompt, type the following command and press Enter:

   diskpart
   

2. Type:

   list volume
   

3. Identify the volume letter where Windows is installed (usually C:).

Step 5: Replace Utilman.exe with Cmd.exe

This step allows you to open the Command Prompt from the login screen.

1. Type:

   exit
   

   to leave diskpart.
2. Change to the Windows directory by typing:

   C:
   

3. Then navigate to the System32 folder:

   cd Windows\System32
   

4. Backup the Utilman.exe file:

   ren utilman.exe utilman.bak
   

5. Copy Cmd.exe to Utilman.exe:

   copy cmd.exe utilman.exe
   

Step 6: Restart Your Computer

Now that you have replaced the files, restart your computer.

1. Type exit in the Command Prompt to close it.
2. Choose "Continue" to boot into Windows.

Step 7: Reset Your Password

Once you reach the login screen:

1. Click the Ease of Access icon (bottom right corner).
2. This will open the Command Prompt.
3. Type the following command to reset your password:

   net user [YourUsername] [NewPassword]
   

   Replace [YourUsername] with your actual username and [NewPassword] with your new password.

Step 8: Restore Original Utilman.exe

It’s important to restore the original Utilman.exe file for security reasons.

1. Boot again from the installation media and access Command Prompt as before.
2. Navigate to the System32 folder.
3. Restore the original file:

   del utilman.exe
   ren utilman.bak utilman.exe
   

Conclusion

You have successfully reset your Windows 10 or 11 password. Remember to store your password securely and consider using password management tools to avoid future lockouts. If you encounter any issues during this process, ensure that you have followed each step carefully and consult additional resources if necessary.