Imagine you try to login to your Windows and all you keep getting is, incorrect password.
You input is several times after carefully checking that you are inputting the right thing but the error is still the same.
We’ve all been there. And don’t worry, this post will help you get it back.
You don’t need to worry about your files or wonder if you need to do a factory reset because this post will show you a straight forward approach you can follow to gain access to your computer.
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STEP 1: Use Built-in Options
Before looking for any other option or calling a support personnel, you can try out their methods on your Windows yourself and see if it’ll solve the problem at hand. Some of these options are:
Password Hint:
Someone people tend to ignore this process during the sign up stage because they feel it is not necessary. But if you have a password hint on your account, all you need to do is click on it and it’ll give you a hint on what your password might be. Try to remember your password from the hint, and it works out, then that’s perfect.
It not, let’s move on to the next method!
Microsoft Account Reset:
Thankfully, you have an option to reset your password since you can’t remember the former one. All you need to do is click on the reset password option and it’ll take you to a new page to set a new password of your choice. Once you’re able to do that, you’ll gain access to your Windows immediately.
Reset Disk:
If you had a reset disk prior to forgetting your password, well I’m happy for you!
All you need to do now is insert the disk into your computer and diligently follow the instructions to set a new password.
STEP 2: Offline Password Reset
A lot of windows users are not familiar with this method but if the built in options are not working, you can use the offline reset tool to get a new one.
The beautiful thing about this tool is you don’t need to have access to your operating system to reset your password.
Some of the top option for this offline password reset is the Offline NT Password & Registry Editor (ONTP&RE).
Step by Step process on how to use ONTP&RE:
- Install ONTP&RE ISO file on another computer
- Create a bootable USB or CD/DVD using the ISO file. There are several free tools available for this purpose, such as Rufus or UNetbootin.
- Insert the bootable USB or CD/DVD into the locked computer and restart it.
- Access the computer’s boot menu (usually by pressing a specific key like F12 or Del during startup) and choose the bootable USB or CD/DVD as the primary boot device.
- Follow the on-screen instructions provided by ONTP&RE to reset the Windows password.
- After it is completed, remove the bootable USB or CD/DVD and restart your computer.
STEP 3: Third-party Password Recovery Tools
If you are looking to use an interface that is user friendly and has more features to aid your password recovery, there are so many tools you can choose from that support Windows to gain access to your Windows computer. Examples are PCUnlocker, PassMoz LabWin, and Ophcrack.
This is how you can use a third-party password recovery tools:
- Browse online and choose a standard password recovery tool that’ll suit your needs.
- Download and install it on a separate computer
- Create a bootable USB or CD/DVD using the password recovery tool.
- Insert the bootable media into the locked computer and boot from it.
- Follow the instructions dutifully to recover or reset your Windows password.
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Conclusion:
When you lose access to your Windows computer, do not allow panic to block your mind from easy and efficient ways of recovering it. Take time out to choose the best method that’ll give you an easy way out.
After you’ve recovered your password, you should always have it saved somewhere so avoid such issue from coming up again.