How to Retrieve Administrator Password on Window 10

Losing access to your Windows 10 administrator account may cause file access failure. Whether you’ve forgotten your password or are locked out of your system, regaining access is crucial for managing your computer. In this guide, we’ll explore how to retrieve the administrator password Windows 10 using various methods.

4 Ways to Retrieve Administrator Password Windows 10

Below are four detailed methods to recover or reset your Windows 10 administrator password, each with step-by-step instructions.

Method 1. Quickly recover Windows 10 administrator password

If you've already not allowed to access your system because of lost Windows 10 administrator password, then the most efficient method is to  employ third-party tool to directly reset your administrator password.

AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional is a powerful disk management tool that can also help you reset or remove a Windows 10 administrator password without logging into the system. This method is particularly useful if you don’t have access to a Windows installation USB or a Microsoft account.

It stands out as a user-friendly solution for resetting or removing Windows administrator passwords, thanks to its intuitive graphical user interface (GUI) that is designed to cater to non-technical users. Whether you're using Windows 11, 10, 8.1, 8, or 7, AOMEI Partition Assistant is fully compatible with all versions of Windows and works seamlessly across all brands of PCs. Additionally, the tool allows you to create a password reset USB on any working Windows computer, ensuring you have a reliable recovery option at hand.

Step 1. Connect a USB to a running Windows computer. Install and launch AOMEI Partition Assistant. Click "Tools"> "Reset Windows Password" on the main interface.

Step 2. In the pop-up window, click "Next" to begin to create a WinPE bootable media.

Step 3. Here we tick "USB Boot Device" and choose your prepared USB and click "Proceed" to move on.

Step 4. Note that the USB flash drive needs to be formatted so you will lose all data on it. If there is important data on it, please make a backup and redo; if not, click "OK" to continue.

Step 5. When the bootable USB is created successfully, unplug it and connect it to your laptop. Boot the PC from this USB, and you will see the interface AOMEI Partition Assistant appear automatically. Click "Reset Password", select the Windows system you would like to operate, and click "Next".

Step 6. Then, select the account you would like to operate and select the feature you want to use: "Remove Account Password" or "Reset Account Password". Here we choose "Reset Account Password" and click "Next".

Step 7. Type the new password and confirm it, then click "Yes". After that, you can log in to your Windows 10 computer with this new password.

Method 2. Reset admin password using Command Prompt from a Windows Installation USB

If you have a Windows installation USB, you can use Command Prompt to reset your administrator password. This method requires some technical knowledge but is highly effective.

Step 1. Boot your laptop from the Windows 10 installation disk.

Step 2. When the Windows Setup interface appears, press the Shift + F10 keys to launch the CMD tool.

Step 3. Then, type the following commands and hit "Enter":

copy c:\windows\system32\sethc.exe c:\

copy c:\windows\system32\cmd.exe c:\windows\system32\sethc.exe

Step 4. Unplug the disk from your PC and reboot it. When you see the login screen, hit Shift key 5 times.

Step 5. When you see the command prompt window, input the command: net user username new_password to reset your password.

Step 6. After that, you can use the new password to open your locked computer.

Method 3. Resetting with Microsoft Account Online

If your administrator account is linked to a Microsoft account, you can reset the password online, a convenient option if you have internet access on another device.

Step 1. Open Microsoft password reset page on a working computer.

Step 2. Enter your email address or phone number you set for your Microsoft account and click "Next".

Step 3. Follow the steps to finish the verification.

Step 4. Once verified, you can enter the new password and confirm it to reset your password.

Method 4: Use another admin account to reset password from Safe Mode

If you have another admin account, you can use Safe Mode to reset your forgotten password.

Step 1. Restart your computer and press F8 or Shift + F8 during startup to access Safe Mode.

Step 2. Select the other admin account and log in.

Step 3. Open the Control Panel, go to "User Accounts," and select "Manage another account." Choose the locked account and click "Change the password."

Step 4. Log out and restart your computer to log in with the new password.

Ending

Losing access to your Windows 10 administrator account can be stressful, but with the right tools and methods, you can easily learn how to retrieve administrator password for Windows 10. Whether you use AOMEI Partition Assistant, Command Prompt, or your Microsoft account, these solutions ensure that you regain control of your system quickly and efficiently. In addition, you can choose the Server version for your Windows Server devices.

FAQs about how to manage user accounts passwords

1. What Should I Do If I Don’t Have a Windows Installation USB?

If you don’t have a Windows installation USB, you can use third-party software like AOMEI Partition Assistant to create a bootable media for password recovery. Alternatively, if your account is linked to a Microsoft account, you can reset the password online.

2. How Can I Prevent Losing My Administrator Password in the Future?

To avoid losing your administrator password, consider linking your account to a Microsoft account for easy recovery. Additionally, create a password reset disk or write down your password in a secure location.

3. How to Switch from a Local Account to a Microsoft Account or Vice Versa in Windows 10?

To switch to a Microsoft account:

• Go to Settings > Accounts > Your info, click Sign in with a Microsoft account instead, and follow prompts. To switch to a local account:
• Go to the same page, click Sign in with a local account instead, and follow prompts to create a local account.