How to Recover Windows Password for Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista, XP

Assuming that you have forgotten your Windows password and don't have a reset disk or another administrator account, there are still a few ways to get back into your computer. Here are four methods to change or reset your Windows password.

Method 1: Use the Command Prompt

If you're logged into another account on the same computer as the one you're trying to reset the password for, you can use the Command Prompt to change the password.

1. Open the Command Prompt.

2. Type in the following command, replacing USERNAME with the username of the account you're trying to reset the password for:

net user USERNAME *

3. Press Enter.

4. Type in the new password you want for the account, then press Enter again.

5. Type in the new password again to confirm it, then press Enter.

Method 2: Use the Password Reset Disk

If you created a password reset disk before you forgot your password, you can use it to reset your password.

1. Insert the password reset disk into your computer.

2. Click the Start button, then click Control Panel.

3. Click User Accounts.

4. Under "Related tasks," click "Prevent a forgotten password."

5. Follow the instructions on the screen to reset your password.

Method 3: Use the Safe Mode Boot Option

If you're using Windows Vista, 7, 8, or 10, you can boot into Safe Mode to access the Command Prompt. From there, you can change your password.

1. Restart your computer.

2. When the computer starts to boot up, repeatedly press F8 until you see the "Advanced Boot Options" menu.

3. Use the arrow keys to select "Safe Mode" from the menu, then press Enter.

4. Once you're in Safe Mode, open the Command Prompt.

5. Type in the following command, replacing USERNAME with the username of the account you're trying to reset the password for:

net user USERNAME *

6. Press Enter.

7. Type in the new password you want for the account, then press Enter again.

8. Type in the new password again to confirm it, then press Enter.

9. Close the Command Prompt, then restart your computer.

Method 4: Use a Password Recovery Tool

If you don't have a password reset disk and you can't boot into Safe Mode, you'll need to use a password recovery tool. One of the best tools for this is Kon-Boot.

1. Download the Kon-Boot program from its website.

2. Burn the Kon-Boot program to a CD or USB drive.

3. Insert the CD or USB drive into your computer.

4. Restart your computer.

5. When the computer starts to boot up, repeatedly press F12 until you see the "Boot Menu" option.

6. Use the arrow keys to select the CD or USB drive you inserted, then press Enter.

7. Kon-Boot will start up and you'll see a list of all the accounts on the computer.

8. Select the account you want to reset the password for, then type in the new password you want to use.

9. Press Enter, then remove the CD or USB drive.

10. Restart your computer and you'll be able to log in with the new password you just set.