I have forgotten my password and PIN for my Windows 10 logon, and cannot access my desktop.

Question

I have forgotten my password and PIN for my Windows 10 logon, and cannot access my desktop.

Suggestions have been to type commands in the Command Prompt screen, but I cannot do that. There is nowhere to type a command. When I click on the Command Prompt button in Troubleshoot/Advance Options, it keeps taking me to a password prompt. How can I access a command screen that actually allows me to type the suggested commands to reset my Windows 10 logon password password? I notice many people have asked a similar question, but the answers seem to disregard that no matter what is done, we are taken to a password prompt and can go no further. How many ways can we say we have no password because we have forgotten it, which means the command screens mentioned cannot be accessed?

Answer 1

Hi

Welcome to Microsoft community.

If you have forgotten both your password and PIN for your Windows 10 logon and cannot access your desktop, it can indeed be challenging to reset the password using the Command Prompt or other methods that require logging in. However, there are still some options you can try to regain access to your computer:

• Microsoft Account Online Recovery: If you use a Microsoft account to sign in to Windows 10, you can try using another device to visit the Microsoft account recovery page (https://account.live.com/password/reset) and initiate the password reset process. Microsoft will send a security code to your registered email or phone number to help you reset your password.
• Windows Installation Media: If you have a Windows 10 installation media (USB), you can use it to boot your computer and access the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE). From there, you may have access to certain recovery tools, including the Command Prompt, to reset your password. To use Windows 10 installation media to boot your computer and access the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE), follow these steps:
  1. Create Windows 10 Installation Media: If you don't already have a bootable Windows 10 installation media, you can create one using the Media Creation Tool. You'll need a USB flash drive (at least 8 GB) or a blank DVD and a working Windows computer to create the installation media.
     • Go to Microsoft's website and download the Media Creation Tool: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10
     • Run the tool and select "Create installation media for another PC."
     • Choose the language, edition, and architecture (32-bit, 64-bit, or both) for the Windows 10 version you want to install.
     • Select the USB flash drive or ISO file option, depending on whether you want to create a bootable USB or burn the installation files to a DVD.
     • Follow the on-screen instructions to create the installation media.
  2. Insert the Installation Media and Boot your Computer:
     • Connect the bootable USB drive or insert the bootable DVD into your computer.
     • Restart your computer.
  3. Access Boot Menu or Change Boot Order:
     • During the computer's startup process, press the key that corresponds to the "Boot Menu" or "Boot Order" (usually one of the Function keys or Esc/Delete key) to access the boot menu. The specific key varies depending on your computer's manufacturer. Common keys are F12, F11, F10, F9, Esc, or Delete.
     • Select the bootable USB drive or DVD from the boot menu. Your computer will now boot from the Windows 10 installation media.
  4. Windows Setup:
     • You'll see the initial Windows Setup screen. Wait for the files to load.
  5. Language and Other Preferences:
     • Select your language, time, and keyboard input, and click "Next."
  6. Repair your Computer (WinRE):
     • On the next screen, click on the "Repair your computer" link located at the bottom left corner.
  7. Choose an Option:
     • In the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) screen, you'll see a list of options. Select "Troubleshoot."
  8. Advanced Options:
     • In the Troubleshoot menu, choose "Advanced options."
  9. Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE):
     • Here, you'll find various advanced recovery options, such as System Restore, Startup Repair, Command Prompt, etc., depending on your needs.
  10. Select the Desired Recovery Option:
      • Choose the recovery option that suits your situation. You can try "Command Prompt" to execute specific commands.

Please feel free to let me know if you have any further updates, thanks.

Best regards

Derrick Qian | Microsoft Community Support Specialist

Answer 2

Hi, there.

I'm Jen. I'm an independent advisor and would happily help you figure this out.

I'm sorry to hear that you are still having issues accessing you PC. To make sure I'd be sharing helpful advice, may I ask if you are using a Microsoft account or a local account to sign in? Also, is there another user profile with admin access aside from your account?

Answer 3

Hello, Derrick.

Thank you for the detailed explanation. I have tried all you suggest. I tried changing my Microsoft account on a laptop that has my account details. It did not work. I created a password reset disk on the laptop. When I plug it into my computer, a screen opens that asks me to create a new password. However, when I press enter to install the password, an error message appears stating: An error occurred while the Wizard was attempting to set the password for this user account.

I have been to the boot menu and changed the boot order, to no effect. I cannot access any other screen repair screen without a password.

I should mention, my laptop works on Windows 7, while my PC is Windows 10.

Cheers

Answer 4

Hi Jen. Thank you for replying.

You will see my problem from my response above to Derrick.

I have tried signing in with a Microsoft account password I set on a separate laptop. It did not work, so I assume I have a standard/local account.

There is only one account listed when I access the Command Prompt in Advance Troubleshooting. When I select the account, I am taken to a logon password screen. The message on a forgot password screen states: This list only shows administrator accounts that have previously signed in to this PC. It does not include standard or domain accounts You need to be signed in as an administrator to use some repair and restore tools.

The clincher is it goes on to say: If you don't have a password for any of these accounts, you can try signing in to Windows to manage your user accounts.

That is the problem to start with - I have forgotten the password and would like to access my desktop someway so that I can reset my user accounts. Everything I have read makes the resetting of a forgotten password easy. Yet, when I follow instructions, all I achieve is to return to a logon page. Why can't Microsoft do what many other companies/institutions do and send a code to a desperate user so they can use the product they purchased?

I don't know if this has helped, but I am desperate for help. I have important information on my desktop that I cannot access, or afford to lose.

Answer 5

Sorry for the late reply. Based on the error, it looks like the password reset disk you are using is not compatible with your PC. In the link below, you can find that a password reset disk should be created before your password has been forgotten or it might not work.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/cre...

Have you tried creating a USB installation media as per Derrick19 - MSFT suggestion? If yes, you can try again and follow the steps in the "Setting Up the Password Reset Workaround" section and see if it helps.

https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/3-ways-to-reset-t...

Feel free to share how it went.

Kind regards.

*****Note: This is a non-Microsoft website that would provide accurate and safe information. Watch out for ads on the site that are frequently classified as PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). There is no need to buy paid products to fix your computers as they do more harm than good sometimes.*****