How to Reset Your Password on Windows 11 (Step-by-Step)
Reset Using Windows 11 Installation Media (Advanced)
This method is for situations where you are completely locked out - no Microsoft account recovery, no security questions, no second admin account. It requires a Windows 11 bootable USB drive.
** Note:** This method requires physical access to the machine and should only be used on a device you own or are authorized to manage.
Step 1: Create a Bootable Windows 11 USB
On another PC, download the Windows 11 Media Creation Tool from:
https://microsoft.com/software-download/windows11
Insert a USB drive (8GB minimum) and follow the tool's instructions to create bootable media.
Step 2: Boot from the USB Drive
Insert the USB into the locked PC. Restart and press the boot menu key (usually F2, F12, DEL, or ESC depending on your motherboard brand) to select the USB as the boot device.
Step 3: Open Command Prompt from Recovery
When the Windows Setup screen appears:
- Click "Repair your computer" (bottom left)
- Go to Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Command Prompt
Step 4: Replace Utility Manager with CMD (Temporary)
In the Command Prompt (cmd), type the following commands one by one:
move c:\windows\system32\utilman.exe c:\windows\system32\utilman.exe.bak
copy c:\windows\system32\cmd.exe c:\windows\system32\utilman.exe
** Step 5: Reboot Normally**
Close Command Prompt and restart the PC without the USB:
cmd
wpeutil reboot
Step 6: Open CMD from Login Screen
When the Windows 11 login screen appears, click the Accessibility icon (bottom right corner). This will now open a Command Prompt with system-level privileges.
Step 7: Reset the Password
Type the following command, replacing the placeholders with your actual username and desired password:
cmd
net user YourUsername NewPassword123
press Enter
Step 8: Log In and Restore the Original File
Sign in with your new password, then open Command Prompt as administrator and restore the original Utility Manager:
cmd
copy c:\windows\system32\utilman.exe.bak c:\windows\system32\utilman.exe
Note: Always restore the original utilman.exe after completing this process. Leaving the modified version in place is a security vulnerability.
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