Lost the password

Question

Suddenly, I can't log in to my laptop. When I try to find the password, it keeps saying no. I contacted Lenovo because it's a Lenovo laptop, but I'm asking because I have to contact Microsoft about the loss of my Windows password. Please help me find the password. There are important files on your laptop, so you can't initialize or use a new account. I beg you.

Answer 1

Windows passwords cannot be viewed or recovered, only reset. The steps depend on whether the laptop signs in with a Microsoft account or a local account.

1. Determine the sign-in type

• If the sign-in screen shows an email address (for example, something like ******@outlook.com), it is a Microsoft account.
• If it shows only a name without an email, it is likely a local account.

2. If using a Microsoft account Because the password is stored with the Microsoft account, reset it instead of trying to find it.

When not signed in:

1. At the Windows sign-in screen, select I forgot my password.
2. Or select Sign-in options > Web sign-in, follow the prompts to sign in, then select Forgot my password.
3. Or from another device, go to Reset password at https://account.live.com/ResetPassword.aspx.
4. Follow the verification steps (code to email/phone, etc.) and set a new password.

If already signed in (for future changes):

1. Open Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options (or use the Sign-in options shortcut).
2. Select Password > Change.
3. If the current password is forgotten, select Forgot my current password and follow the verification steps to create a new one.

If the Microsoft account itself cannot be accessed (for example, password stopped working everywhere):

1. Use the Recover your account flow at https://account.live.com/password/reset.
2. If the username/password have stopped working, follow the steps in My username and password have stopped working to reset the password using a security code.
3. If using a local Windows account If the account is local (no email shown on sign-in), Windows cannot show the old password, but it can be reset if security questions or a reset disk were set up.

Reset local account password from sign-in screen:

1. On the sign-in screen, select the password entry button.
2. Select OK and then Reset password.
3. Answer the security questions configured when the account was created.
4. Enter a new password.

If signed in and changing later:

1. Open Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options.
2. Select Password > Change.
3. If the password is forgotten, select I forgot my password, answer the security questions, and set a new password.

If a password reset disk was created earlier:

1. On the sign-in screen, select Use a password reset disk instead and follow the instructions.
2. If signing in with a PIN A PIN is separate from the account password. If the PIN is forgotten but the Microsoft account password is known, the password can be used to sign in and then the PIN can be reset.

If the Microsoft account password is forgotten but the PIN still works:

1. Open Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options.
2. Select Password > Change.
3. If the password is forgotten, select Forgot my current password and follow the verification steps to set a new one.
4. If none of the above works

• If the Microsoft account cannot be verified (no access to email/phone and the recovery form fails), or
• If the local account has no security questions and no reset disk,

then there is no supported way to recover the existing password or decrypt protected data. For Microsoft accounts, support cannot bypass account security beyond the documented recovery methods. For local accounts, Windows does not provide a backdoor to reveal the password.

To protect the important files, try all official recovery options first (Microsoft account password reset, account recovery form, local account security questions). Only if those fail should a reset/clean install be considered, understanding that it may result in data loss if the files are not backed up elsewhere.

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References:

• Change or reset your password in Windows
• My username and password have stopped working
• I can't sign in to my Microsoft account

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Answer 2

1

If you log into Windows with a Microsoft Account, try the steps on this page:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/account-billing/reset-a-forgotten-microsoft-account-password-eff4f067-5042-c1a3-fe72-b04d60556c37

2

If you log into Windows with a Local Account, try the steps on this page:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/reset-your-windows-10-local-account-password-86912508-e584-37cc-86eb-6e9b0542b5ba

3

If you are unable to reset your password using either of those methods:

Start your PC, just as Windows attempts to load (spinning dots), press and hold Power Button for 5 - 10 seconds to perform a Hard Shut Down

Do this twice

On the third start Windows will boot into the Recovery Environment and from there you can access System Repair, Safe Mode, Command Prompt... etc.

Go to Troubleshoot - Advanced Option - Command Prompt.

In Command Prompt, type notepad.exe and press Enter.

Notepad should open.

Select File - Open.

You should then be able to use the Open File Dialog like a small File Explorer window to copy out your files onto a USB.