Locked out of the administrator account on a Windows 10 PC you own? There’s no legitimate setting that skips or reveals an existing Windows password, but there are supported ways to reset it and get back in, none of which require extra software. Which one works depends on whether you use a Microsoft account or a local account.
Note: Windows 10 reached end of support on October 14, 2025. Consumer Extended Security Updates (ESU) now run until October 12, 2027. These steps still work on Windows 10, but upgrading to Windows 11 is the long-term way to keep getting security fixes.
Quick Answer
For a Microsoft account, reset the password online from another device at Microsoft’s account recovery page, then sign in with the new password. For a local account, enter a wrong password on the sign-in screen, select Reset password and answer your security questions, or use a password reset disk. If neither works and no other administrator account exists, the supported last resort is to reset the PC.
Step 1: Work Out Which Kind of Account It Is
- Microsoft account: the sign-in screen shows an email address. The password is managed online by Microsoft.
- Local account: the sign-in screen shows just a name. The password is stored only on this PC.
- Work or school account: the PC is managed by an organisation. Contact your IT department; they can reset the password for you.
Step 2: Reset a Microsoft Account Password
- On a phone or another computer, go to Microsoft’s password reset page.
- Enter the email address, phone number or Skype name for the account.
- Verify your identity with a code sent to your recovery email or phone.
- Choose a new password, then make sure the locked PC is connected to the internet and sign in with it.
You can also start this from the Windows sign-in screen by selecting I forgot my password below the password box.
Step 3: Reset a Local Account Password
According to Microsoft’s support article on local account passwords:
- On the sign-in screen, enter any password and press Enter.
- Select OK, then Reset password.
- Answer the security questions you set up when the account was created, then enter a new password.
- If you made a password reset disk earlier, choose Use a password reset disk instead and follow the prompts.
Step 4: Use Another Administrator Account
If someone else has an administrator account on the same PC, they can set a new password for your local account. Signed in as that administrator, open Computer Management, expand Local Users and Groups, then Users, right-click your account and choose Set Password. Be aware that setting a password this way can make some information protected by the old password, such as saved credentials or files encrypted with EFS, unreadable.
Step 5: Reset the PC as a Last Resort
Microsoft’s guidance is that if you can’t recover the password and there’s no other administrator account, you’ll need to reset the device. On the sign-in screen, hold Shift while you select Power, then Restart. Choose Troubleshoot, Reset this PC. Choosing Remove everything gives you a clean Windows installation with a new account. Personal files that aren’t backed up elsewhere, for example in OneDrive, will be lost. If BitLocker is on, you’ll need your recovery key, which for most home PCs is saved in your Microsoft account.
Why We Don’t Cover “Bypass” Tricks
Many websites suggest replacing system files, booting cracking tools or creating hidden admin accounts from Command Prompt. Those methods exploit Windows’ recovery tools, can break your system, are blocked by modern protections like BitLocker, and could be used on a computer you don’t own. The supported options above are safer and, for your own PC, almost always work.
Avoid Getting Locked Out Again
- Use a Microsoft account, or add security questions and create a password reset disk for local accounts.
- Set up Windows Hello PIN or fingerprint sign-in as a second way in.
- Keep a second administrator account, or make sure a trusted family member’s account is an administrator.
- Store your password and BitLocker recovery key in a password manager or another safe place.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.