Windows Server Password Reset Without Data Loss

Why perform Windows Server password reset?

For different reasons, some users may search forums for how to reset local administrator password on Windows Server 2016 or other operating systems.

When a password is lost, it means we lose control of our computer. If you have another account with administrator permission, you can still log into the operating system. But when you only have one account, and you lose the password, it's a little more troublesome, because Windows always makes it difficult for users to recover their passwords.

In this tutorial, we will let you know some basics of resetting Windows Server passwords so that you can smoothly reset the password on Windows Server 2022/2019/2016/2012(R2) without data loss.

About Windows Server Local User Accounts

In Windows Server, there are two types of Windows user accounts: domain user accounts and local user accounts. The former are stored on domain controllers. The latter are stored on the computer where the user is logged on. The administrator account we usually refer to refers to the local user account. When a user logs on with a local user account, the computer checks the user list and password files to see if you are allowed to log on to the computer.

Microsoft uses different encryption algorithms to protect these two types of Windows Server user account passwords and stores them in different locations. Typically, domain user accounts are stored in the Active Directory database file (ntds.dit), while local user accounts are stored in the Windows SAM registry hive.

How to reset local admin password on Windows Server 2016

If you need to change your Windows Server administrator password after logging in, you can press and hold "Ctrl + Alt + Delete" at the same time, and then select "Change a password" to reset the password. But if you can't log into Windows Server, please refer to the following ways.

▶ Way 1. Reset password by Password Reset Disk

If you have created a Windows password rest disk before forgetting your password, you can use it to reset your password.

Step 1. Click Reset password when you enter the wrong password.

Step 2. When the Password Reset Wizard pops up, insert the prepared password reset disk into the PC, and click Next.

Step 3. Select password reset disk and click Next.

Step 4. Here, please enter the new password and new password hint. After confirmation, click Next. When finished, restart the computer and log in to Windows Server with the new password.

▶ Way 2. Reset password via Command Prompt

If you don't have a password reset disk, then you can reset Windows Server password with CMD, but you must prepare a Windows Server 2019 installation USB. This USB will allow you to launch the command tool as the built-in administrator, then run a command to reset the password of a local user account.

Step 1. Insert the Windows Server 2019 installation USB and boot from it.

Step 2. Select Repair your computer when this interface appears.

Step 3. Next, select Troubleshoot.

Step 4. Under Advanced options, select Command Prompt.

Step 5. In the CMD execution window, type move E:\windows\system32\utilman.exe E:\ and hit Enter.

Step 6. Then, type in copy E:\windows\system32\cmd.exe E:\windows\system32\utilman.exe and hit Enter.

Step 7. Type wpeutil reboot and press Enter to reboot the PC.

Step 8. After rebooting, click the Ease of Access button. In this window, type net user administrator * to reset the password. Once done, you will be able to log in as an administrator.

▶ Way 3. Windows Server password reset with password reset expert

If you did not create a password reset disk in advance, and think that method 2 is too complicated, then you have to resort to third-party tools.

AOMEI Partition Assistant Server is an all-in-one Server management expert, compatible with Windows Server 2022, 2019, 2016, 2012(R2), 2008, and 2003. It provides Reset Password function and GUI operation steps, which can help you remove/reset forgotten password easily and safely.

In addition, therre are other features to manage Windows Server, such as recover data, extend C drive, clone Windows Server, move/delete recovery partition, etc. Please download it to see how to reset administrator password in Windows Server 2012(R2)/2016/2019/2022.

★Tips:

Prepare an empty USB.

Download AOMEI Partition Assistant Server on a PC that can boot normally.

Step 1. Create Windows password reset USB

1.1 Click Tools> Reset Windows Password on the main interface.

1.2 Then, click Next to create a bootable USB.

1.3 Choose the USB you prepared and click Proceed.

1.4 Read the information and click Yes.

1.5 Waiting for creation to finish.

Step 2. Reset Windows Server password

When the creation is successful, insert the USB into the PC you forget the password.

2.1 Change the boot drive to make PC boot from the USB.

2.2 When AOMEI Partition Assistant pop out, click Reset Windows Password and click Next.

2.3 Here, choose the OS you want to operate. To reset the password, type in the new password and click Yes.

2.4 Finally, reboot the PC to log into Windows Server with new password.

Conclusion

This is the full guide on Windows Server password reset. On this page, I used detailed steps to tell you how to reset your password when you can't log into Windows. Among them, AOMEI Partition Assistant must be the best Windows server password reset tool. If you are a corporate user, please upgrade to Tech Edition, which can create a portable version so that you can manage a Server PC anywhere and at any time.