How can I log into an ex-employee's Windows 11 desktop if they won't give us the password

Question

I am having trouble logging into one of our ex-employee's desktop computers. You could say this employee was disgruntled when they left and changed the login password to their computer. I have taken over for this employee as the HR Manager and need to be able to access the computer to get all of the employee files off of it. When you start up the computer, it only shows her login no other potential logins (the only things on the login screen are her username, the password field, and the network, accessibility, and power icons). I restarted the computer holding the shift key to access the troubleshooter and then command prompt so that I could enable the Administrator account using net user via command prompt but nothing has changed. Also, her username doesn't show up in the username list using net user.

This is a business and we have a Microsoft business account, through that I have changed her online password so I can access her online account, but that doesn't help me with her local computer. Unfortunately, she didn't save anything to the cloud.

I really hope she didn't brick this computer and there's a way to access it. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Answer 1

Hi

If your goal is to only re-purpose the computer I suggest to boot with an Windows Media and just re-install over. Go there to download it

I would suggest to do it in case she tempered with the computer in any way.

Answer 2

Hi,

If this is the only local admin account, I am afraid that windows system itself does not provide the method to help you to log on to the system without the password.