Windows 10 : Password Recovery Made Simple

Few things are as exasperating as attempting to log into your Windows computer only to draw a blank on the password. If you’re using Windows 10 or 11 without the aid of a recovery disk or a Microsoft account for resetting your password, fear not—here’s a step-by-step guide on how to reset it using Windows Automatic Repair:

1. Initiate Automatic Repair
– Power on your computer and wait for the Windows logo to appear.
– Unplug the power cord or hold down the power button to force a hardware shutdown.
– Restart the computer. You’ll encounter the Windows Automatic Repair screen.

2. Navigate to Advanced Options:
– Choose “Advanced options” from the menu.
– Click on “Troubleshoot,” then select “Advanced options,” and finally, choose “System Image Recovery.” This leads you to a screen ready for action.

3. Access System Image Backup:
– Click “Cancel” to clear the dialog box, then proceed by clicking “Next.”
– Select “Advanced” on the next screen and choose “Install a driver.” Confirm with “OK.”
– An Explorer window will appear, granting you access to the magic of password resetting.

4. Rename Files:
– On the left side, click on “This PC.”
– Open the C:\ drive, which may be named Local Disk (C:\), Windows 10 (C:\), or Windows 11 (C:/) based on your computer’s configuration.
– Navigate to Windows, System32, and find the file named “utilman.” Right-click, select “Rename,” and rename it to your preferred choice, such as “UtilmanPW.”

5. Duplicate and Rename:
– Scroll up and find the “cmd” file. Duplicate it by right-clicking, selecting “Copy,” and then pasting it in a free area. Rename the original “cmd” file to “utilman.”
– Refresh the window to visualize the changes.

6. Completion and Login:
– Close all windows and select “Continue” (Exit and continue to Windows 10 or 11). After a brief moment, you’ll see the Windows login screen.
– Congratulations! You’ve replaced the Ease of Access button with the command line, enabling you to reset your password.

7. Command Line Password Reset:
– Click on the Ease of Access button (“Accessibility” in Windows 11).
– A command line prompt will appear. Type the following command:

Net user

– Press Enter to display a list of available usernames, including your own.
– Type the command:

Net user YOURNAME *

Replace “YOURNAME” with the desired username.
– Windows 10 or 11 will prompt you to confirm a new password. Hit ENTER twice for an empty password.

8. Final Steps:
– Close the window and log in with an empty password by pressing the arrow button.

By following these steps, you’ve successfully executed a password reset on Windows 10 or 11 using the powerful Windows Automatic Repair feature.