How to Create and Use a Password Reset Disk in Windows 10 & 11
If you’re prone to forgetting the password for your local account on Windows 10 or 11, a password reset disk can help you regain access to it. And the good thing about it is that the disk will work even if you’ve changed your password a couple of times since creating the medium. All you need is a USB drive and a little know-how.
So insert a USB drive into your Windows 10 or 11 computer and follow the steps below to create a password reset disk. We’ll even show you how to use it.
How to Create a Password Reset Disk in Windows
You’ll need toopen the Control Panelin yourlocal Windows accountto find the option to create a password reset disk. To do that, pressWin + Sto open Windows Search. Entercontrol panelin the search box and click onControl Panelin the search results to open it.
In the Control Panel, click on the search box in the top right corner and type inpassword reset disk. Then, click on theCreate password reset disklink in the results to open the Forgotten Password Wizard.
ClickNexton the Forgotten Password Wizard’s welcome screen. Then, select a USB drive to use and clickNextagain.
no attribution required – author screenshot
Enter your current Windows password and then clickNext.
Windows will then create the password reset disk. ClickNext.
ClickFinishto close the Forgotten Password Wizard.
What happened here is that Windows created and saved a password reset key in the USB drive you used, making it a password reset disk. To see the key, open the drive, and you’ll find it in the root directory.
Now store the password reset disk somewhere safe.
How to Use a Password Reset Disk in Windows
Now, let’s suppose you’ve forgotten your password, and you have no other way toremember what your passwords are. Well, just insert the password reset disk into your computer and boot up the machine.
When you get to your account’s login screen, type in the wrong password intentionally and hitEnter. Windows will tell you that you’ve entered the wrong password, so just clickOK– you meant to do that.
Click onReset passwordto launch the Password Reset Wizard.
When the Password Reset Wizard opens, clickNexton the welcome screen. Then, select the drive with the password reset key, and clickNextagain.
Create a new password, as well as a hint, and clickNext.
ClickFinishto close the Password Reset Wizard.
Now you’ll be able to use the newly-created password to log back into your local Windows 10 or 11 account.
No More Panicking When You Forget Your Windows Password
They say it’s better to have and not need than it is to need and not have. A password reset disk is a great contingency plan for when you forget your local account’s password on Windows 10 or 11. And, as you can see, it’s quite easy to create and use.
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