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I bought my son a laptop in April 2025. He has passed away. I do not need access to his account, but I would like to use the laptop. It is locked with a password.
I want to unlock and add my profile so that can use the laptop.
How do i do this?
I bought Microsoft 365 Personal - 1 person.
1
If you know your son's Microsoft account Email address, try using the steps on this link to reset his password to access that device.
2
If you are not able to reset the password using that method, then because this is a Microsoft Forum it is against the Code of Conduct for us to provide a method to bypass a Windows Password, I hope you understand.
You will need to clean install Windows on that device from a bootable USB
I do know his email but it will send a code to his phone which i also cannot access
In that case, the only option to be able to use that device would be to clean install Windows using a bootable USB.
What does 'clean install windows' mean?
That means you will need to create a bootable Windows 11 USB on an empty 8 GB USB flash drive, then boot the laptop up from that and wipe the drive, then install Windows, it is a big job, if you have never previously done that, it would be best to get someone there to help you to do that.
Click this link: https://www.microsoft.com/software-download/windows11
to download the Media Creation Tool (Click on Download Tool Now), with that you can create a bootable USB flash drive (min 8GB) using that tool.
Then, Boot your PC from the Installation Media you just created (change Boot Order in your BIOS) to begin installing Windows 11
During the installation process skip the steps which ask for a product key and select the option 'I am Reinstalling Windows 11 on this PC'.
Thanks - I'll try and get help
Glad to help!
