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“Login and password do not match.” Oh no! If your day starts with a message like this, you’re in for a bad time. Maybe you forgot your password. Perhaps you have recently changed your Windows password and can’t remember the new one. Or you pulled an old PC out of storage and cannot recall its login details. It happens to the best of us! How do I find my Windows password?First of all, a strong password is highly recommended — quickly generate one here. If you’ve forgotten your computer password or can’t remember your Windows password, the bad news is that there aren’t any super-easy ways to retrieve it, unless you’re using a Microsoft account to log in. The following steps walk you through the process for (hopefully) successful password recovery, going from the easiest to the hardest things to try. If you use Windows 7, you may be out of luck, unless you previously created a password recovery disk — which we address later in this piece. On the other hand, Windows 10 users are in a good spot. The new operating system practically forces you to sign up for a Microsoft account during the installation process. If you’ve got either a Microsoft account or a reset disk, it’s very easy to recover a password, with a few options at your disposal. How to reset your password on Windows 10The Microsoft Windows password reset process via Microsoft login is straightforward:
Windows 7: Use your Windows Password reset disk or USB driveIf you were cautious enough to create a USB recovery disk for your Windows 7 system, you should feel pleased with yourself. You’ve made Windows password recovery very easy for yourself.
You can now log into your computer again using the password you created. Windows 7: Recover your password (the hard way)If you don’t have a disk or a Microsoft account to help you reset your password, you need to reset your password the hard way. Here’s how it works:
Windows 10: Recover your password (the hard way)There’s not much that’s as frustrating as trying to log into a Windows computer when you don’t remember the password. If you use Windows 10, but you don’t have a recovery disk or a Microsoft account to help you reset your password, you need to take the hard route. Here’s how:
Stop forgetting or losing your passwordsDon’t want the adrenaline rushing through your veins as Windows login tells you “Incorrect password” over and over? Wracking your brain to remember your Windows password? Instead, spend a few minutes to prepare yourself for an eventual bout of password amnesia. Tip: “Write it down on a sticky note and put that on your monitor” is horrible advice. Here’s how to prevent yourself from forgetting or losing a Windows account password. Create a Windows password reset disk or USB drive on Windows 7If you opted out of a Windows 10 Microsoft account, or if you’re running Windows 7, you can create a password recovery disk. Here’s a way to create a disk:
Sign into a Microsoft account on Windows 10Windows 10 begs you to sign into a Microsoft account, and for good reason. Aside from enabling you to download apps from its store and synchronize settings from one PC to another, a Microsoft account also offers you an easy way to reset your password, as you saw above. To set it up (or confirm you’ve got one), here’s what to do:
Going forward you can reset your password using the way we described above. Use a password managerPassword managers can safely store all your passwords, and many will also generate secure passwords for you. Choose a password manager with multi-device sync capabilities, get it set up on your computer and your smartphone, then use it to store your Windows password. This way, if you’re locked out of your computer, all you need to do is check your password manager on your phone. If all fails…reset your PC!If none of the above methods work, then the last remaining option is to wipe your entire disk and reinstall Windows. Windows 10 makes this easy by offering a reset option. To do that, click on the Power button on your login screen, select Restart, and hold down the Shift key. Go to Troubleshoot Reset this PC, and select Remove everything! Windows 7 users can boot from their DVD or Setup USB disk and wipe the drive. However, this should be the absolute last resort. We’re quite certain that at least one of the methods documented above should work for you. How do I unlock my laptop if I forgot my password Windows 10?Reset your Windows 10 local account password. Select the Reset password link on the sign-in screen. If you use a PIN instead, see PIN sign-in issues. ... . Answer your security questions.. Enter a new password.. Sign in as usual with the new password.. Can you unlock a laptop if you forgot the password?It's not possible to reset a forgotten password and the only option then open to you is to completely reset Windows. This will erase your documents, photos, music, programs, apps and settings. Windows 10 will go back to how it was when you first bought the laptop or PC.
How do you get into my computer if I forgot my password?Boot your computer and immediately press on the F8 key repeatedly until your computer displays the boot menu. With the arrow keys, choose Safe Mode and press the Enter key. On the home screen click on Administrator. If you have no home screen, type Administrator and leave the password field as blank.
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