Forgot your Windows 11 password and can’t sign in to your PC? Don’t worry, you can reset your Windows 11 password and regain access to your computer with a few simple steps. If you’re using a Microsoft account, you can reset your password online on another computer or on your phone, then sign in with the new password. If you use a local account, you may be able to recover access by answering your security questions or using a password reset disk if you created one before you forgot your password. Windows 11 also includes additional recovery options to help you regain access when the usual methods don’t work. In this guide, you’ll learn how to reset a forgotten Windows 11 password for both Microsoft and local accounts. We’ll also explain what to do if none of the standard password recovery methods work.
Before You Start: Are You Using a Microsoft Account or a Local Account?
Before trying to recover your account, it’s important to know how you sign in to Windows 11. The available password recovery options depend on whether you’re using a Microsoft account or a local account.
- A Microsoft account is linked to an email address, such as Outlook.com, Hotmail.com, or another Microsoft email. Because your password is managed by Microsoft, you can reset it online from another computer or your mobile device.
- A local account is created and stored only on your PC. It isn’t linked to an online Microsoft account, so you’ll need to use recovery options available on your computer, such as security questions, a password reset disk (if you created one), or other built-in recovery methods.
If you’re not sure which account type you’re using, check the sign-in screen. If you see an email address above the password box, you’re using a Microsoft account. If you see only a username, you’re most likely using a local account.
Once you’ve identified your account type, follow the appropriate method below to regain access to your Windows 11 PC.
Method 1: Reset Your Microsoft Account Password
If you use a Microsoft account to sign in to Windows 11, you can reset your password online from another computer, tablet, or smartphone. This is Microsoft’s recommended recovery method and is the quickest way to regain access if you’ve forgotten your password.
Reset Your Microsoft Account Password
- On another device, open a web browser and visit the Microsoft password reset page.
- Enter the email address, phone number, or Skype ID associated with your Microsoft account, then click Next.
- Verify your identity by choosing a recovery option, such as your recovery email address or phone number.
- Enter the verification code sent by Microsoft.
- Create a new password and confirm it.
- Return to your Windows 11 PC and connect it to the internet if possible.
- Sign in using your new Microsoft account password.
If You Don’t Have Access to Your Recovery Email or Phone
If you can’t access your recovery email address or phone number, select I don’t have any of these or I don’t have access to these (if available) on the recovery page. Microsoft will guide you through additional account verification steps. You may be asked to provide information such as previous passwords, recently used Microsoft services, or other details to help verify that you own the account.
Tip: If you normally sign in with a Windows Hello PIN, you may still be able to use it to access your PC. However, if you’ve forgotten both your PIN and your Microsoft account password, reset your Microsoft account password first before setting up a new PIN.
Method 2: Reset a Local Account Password Using Security Questions
If you use a local account to sign in to Windows 11, you may be able to reset your password by answering your security questions. This feature is available only if you added security questions when you created your local account. If you didn’t set them up, skip to the next recovery method.
Reset Your Local Account Password
- On the Windows sign-in screen, enter the incorrect password and press Enter.
- After the failed sign-in attempt, click Reset password.
- Answer the security questions exactly as you entered them when you created the account.
- After your answers are verified, create a new password.
- Confirm the new password and, if prompted, add a password hint.
- Sign in to Windows using your new password.
If the Reset password option doesn’t appear or you can’t remember the answers to your security questions, you’ll need to use another recovery method, such as a password reset disk (if you created one) or the advanced recovery method covered later in this guide.
Method 3: Use a Password Reset Disk
If you created a password reset disk before forgetting your password, you can use it to regain access to your local account. This method works only with local accounts and requires the USB flash drive that was created as the password reset disk.
Important: A password reset disk works only for the local account it was created for. It cannot be used to reset the password of a Microsoft account or another Windows PC.
Reset Your Password Using a Password Reset Disk
- Connect the USB flash drive or other removable media containing the password reset disk to your computer.
- On the Windows sign-in screen, enter an incorrect password and press Enter.
- Click Reset password to open the Password Reset Wizard.
- Click Next, then select your password reset disk from the list.
- Create a new password and password hint.
- Click Next, then Finish.
- Remove the password reset disk and sign in using your new password.
Don’t Have a Password Reset Disk?
If you don’t have a password reset disk, continue to the next method for additional recovery options.
Method 4: Reset a Local Account Password Using Command Prompt (Advanced)
If you use a local account and the previous methods don’t work, you can reset your password using the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE). This method temporarily replaces the Ease of Access (Utility Manager) application with Command Prompt, and allows you to create a new password from the Windows sign-in screen.
Important: This method is intended for advanced users and works only with local accounts. It may not work on all Windows 11 computers, especially if BitLocker drive encryption, Secure Boot, or other security features prevent access to the Windows system files. If your system drive is protected with BitLocker, you’ll need the BitLocker recovery key before you can continue.
Step 1: Open Command Prompt from Windows Recovery
- On the Windows sign-in screen, hold the Shift key, select the Power button, and then choose Restart.
- When the Choose an option screen appears, select Troubleshoot
- Go to Advanced options > Command Prompt.
Step 2: Replace the Ease of Access tool
First, identify the drive where Windows is installed. It isn’t always C: in the Recovery Environment.
Type the following commands one at a time:
diskpart
list volume
exit
Locate the Windows partition by checking the drive letter and volume size.
Replace D: in the commands below with your Windows drive letter if it’s different.
Back up the original Utilman file:
move D:\Windows\System32\utilman.exe D:\Windows\System32\utilman.exe.bak
Replace it with Command Prompt:
copy D:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe D:\Windows\System32\utilman.exe
Close Command Prompt and restart your PC.
Step 3: Reset the password
- At the Windows sign-in screen, click the Ease of Access (Accessibility) icon.
- Command Prompt will open.
- List all local user accounts:
net user
- Reset the password by replacing Username with your account name and NewPassword with your new password.
net user Username NewPassword
Example:
net user John MyNewPassword123
If your username contains spaces, enclose it in quotation marks:
net user "John Smith" MyNewPassword123
After you see “The command completed successfully,” close Command Prompt and sign in with your new password.
Tip: Alternatively, you can run control userpasswords2 to open the user accounts window. Select the user account and click the Reset password option. Enter the new password or leave it blank to log in to your PC without any password.
Step 4: Restore the original Utilman file
After logging in, it’s important to restore the original Ease of Access application.
Open Command Prompt as Administrator and run:
del C:\Windows\System32\utilman.exe
Then restore the backup:
ren C:\Windows\System32\utilman.exe.bak utilman.exe
Restart your computer to complete the process.
Note: If BitLocker recovery is enabled or your system drive is encrypted, you may be asked to enter the BitLocker recovery key before accessing the Windows Recovery Environment.
What If None of These Methods Work?
If you’re still unable to regain access to your Windows 11 PC, you may consider using a trusted third-party password recovery tool. These utilities are designed to help reset or remove the password for a local Windows account when the built-in recovery options aren’t available.
Some of the better-known password recovery tools include:
- PCUnlocker – A commercial utility that can reset local account passwords and unlock Windows user accounts by booting from a USB drive or CD/DVD.
- Passware Kit Basic – A password recovery tool that supports certain Windows password recovery scenarios and other encrypted files.
- Lazesoft Recover My Password Home Edition – A free utility for personal use that can create a bootable recovery disk to reset local Windows account passwords.
Important: Third-party password recovery tools generally work only with local Windows accounts. They cannot reset the password for a Microsoft account, which must be recovered through Microsoft’s official account recovery process. Some tools may also be unable to access systems protected by BitLocker unless you have the BitLocker recovery key.
Before downloading any password recovery software, make sure you obtain it from the developer’s official website and use it only on a computer that you own or are authorized to access.
How to Avoid Getting Locked Out Again
Once you’ve regained access to your Windows 11 PC, take a few minutes to set up recovery options. This can save you a lot of time if you ever forget your password again.
- Keep your Microsoft account recovery information up to date. Make sure your recovery email address and phone number are up to date so you can easily reset your password.
- Create a password reset disk. If you use a local account, Windows lets you create a password reset disk on a USB flash drive. Keep it in a safe place.
- Set up Windows Hello. Sign in using a PIN, fingerprint, or facial recognition instead of typing your password every time.
- Use a password manager. A password manager can securely store your passwords, so you don’t have to remember them all.
- Back up important files regularly. Keeping a recent backup ensures your data is protected even if you need to reset your PC.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Resetting your Microsoft account password, answering security questions, or using a password reset disk does not delete your personal files. However, if you reinstall Windows as a last resort, installed apps will be removed, and your files may be affected depending on the installation method you choose.
If you’re using a Microsoft account, you’ll usually need another device, such as a computer or smartphone, to access Microsoft’s password recovery page. For a local account, you can reset your password directly from the sign-in screen if you’ve set up security questions or have a password reset disk.
No. A password reset disk only works for the local Windows account and computer it was created for. It cannot be used to reset the password of another Windows PC or a Microsoft account.
No. Command Prompt cannot reset a Microsoft account password because your credentials are stored on Microsoft’s servers. To recover a Microsoft account, you must use Microsoft’s official online password recovery process.
Yes. Most of the methods in this guide, including Microsoft account recovery, security questions, password reset disks, and local account recovery, also work on Windows 10. Some menu names and recovery screens may look slightly different depending on your Windows version.
