Windows need repair but it won't accept my password

Question

Hello! I had recently cleaned up my laptop of temporary files (I looked up how to do so on youtube and the comments all say it worked for them) so that I can free up some space. There were some files that didn't get deleted so I decided to just cancel as the bar that shows progress/how much was being deleted wasn't moving. I shut down my account for the day and the next time I opened it, I get a blue screen notif telling me something was wrong but that it can be repaired and it automatically reset and after showing the windows logo, I get taken to a blue screen.

That screen has a "Select Account" at the very top, my account name which is clickable below it, and at the very bottom says "Forgot your password or don't see your account?". Clicking my name takes me to another screen that asks for my password (it's got my name and email on top and instructions that say "Enter the password for this account.".

I entered my pc login password and it says incorrect. I tried entering my Microsoft Account password and it's also incorrect. I decided to reset my password using another computer just in case I got my old password wrong and using my new password still gets me an incorrect.

I then just clicked the back button and click on the forgot password option. It tells me that I needed to be signed in as an admin to use the pc's repair and restore tools but if I don't have the password, I can restart to try signing in to Windows to manage my user accounts. Clicking on the restart button below that restarts my pc but it just takes me back to the "Select Account" blue screen.

I don't know what else to do, please help.

Answer 1

Hello, Han C

 

Welcome to Microsoft Q&A Community.

 

You see that Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) asks you to enter your account password, but also rejects your Microsoft account and Windows Hello PIN. This usually happens because WinRE requires the local device password you set on your computer last time - Windows Hello credentials are not cached for the repair tool. Additionally, if you have linked a Microsoft account, WinRE still needs the device-specific cache for that password, rather than the password cache in the cloud.

 

By default: The solution is to Create a Windows 10 USB installer on another PC (using the Media Creation Tool). Boot from installation media, go to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Command Prompt

 

• In the Command Prompt, run: net user Administrator /active:yes
• Reboot normally. You should now see the Administrator account at login—no password is required by default. Use it to sign in and then reset your own account’s password
• Or try net user user name password /add (create local account); then try the command of net localgroup administrators user name /add (give account administrator permission);

For more details, you can refer to this documentation: https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/2969-enable-disable-elevated-administrator-account-windows-10-a.html

Disclaimer: Microsoft provides no assurances and/or warranties, implied or otherwise, and is not responsible for the information you receive from the third-party linked sites or any support related to technology.

 

Feel free to let me know if any updates, thanks!

 

Ian | Microsoft Q&A Support Specialist