How to Unlock a Windows Computer That Is Locked Out

If you are locked out of your Windows computer, don’t worry, you’re not alone. It’s a common problem that can happen for a variety of reasons, such as entering the wrong password too many times or forgetting your password altogether.

There are a few different ways to unlock your Windows computer. Here are some of the most common methods:

1. Use a password reset disk

If you created a password reset disk when you first set up your computer, you can use it to unlock your account. To do this, insert the password reset disk into your computer and restart it. When you see the Windows logo, press any key. You will then be prompted to enter your password. Instead of entering your password, click on the “Use a password reset disk” option. Follow the on-screen instructions to reset your password.

2. Reset your password online

If you don’t have a password reset disk, you can reset your password online. To do this, go to the Microsoft website and sign in with your Microsoft account. Once you are signed in, click on the “Forgot your password?” link. You will then be prompted to enter your email address or phone number associated with your account. Microsoft will then send you a security code. Enter the security code and follow the on-screen instructions to reset your password.

3. Use the Windows Easy Fix tool

If you are unable to reset your password online, you can use the Windows Easy Fix tool. To do this, go to the Microsoft website and download the Windows Easy Fix tool. Once you have downloaded the tool, run it and follow the on-screen instructions to reset your password.

4. Boot into Safe Mode

If you are unable to reset your password using any of the above methods, you can try booting into Safe Mode. Safe Mode is a diagnostic mode that allows you to start your computer with a limited set of drivers and services. This can sometimes help you to unlock your account.

To boot into Safe Mode, restart your computer and press the F8 key repeatedly. You will then see a list of boot options. Select “Safe Mode” and press Enter. Once you are in Safe Mode, you can try to reset your password using one of the methods above.

5. Reinstall Windows

If you are unable to unlock your account using any of the above methods, you may need to reinstall Windows. This will erase all of your data, so make sure you back up your files before you do this.

To reinstall Windows, go to the Microsoft website and download the Windows installation media. Once you have downloaded the installation media, burn it to a DVD or create a bootable USB drive. Then, restart your computer and boot from the installation media. Follow the on-screen instructions to reinstall Windows.

Final Thoughts

These are just a few of the ways to unlock a Windows computer that is locked out. If you are unable to unlock your account using any of these methods, you may need to contact your computer manufacturer or a local IT professional for help.

How to Fix a Locked-Out Windows User

Getting locked out of your Windows computer can be a frustrating experience. Whether you’ve forgotten your password, entered it incorrectly too many times, or someone else has locked you out, there are a few things you can do to get back in.

1. Use the built-in password reset tool

If you’re using a local account (not a Microsoft account), Windows has a built-in password reset tool that you can use. To access it, follow these steps:

1. Restart your computer and press F8 repeatedly while it’s booting up.
2. This will bring up the Advanced Startup Options menu.
3. Select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup settings > Restart.
4. When your computer restarts, you’ll see a list of startup options. Press 4 to select Enable Safe Mode with Command Prompt.
5. Your computer will boot into Safe Mode with Command Prompt.
6. At the command prompt, type the following command and press Enter:

Code snippet

net user [username] [new_password]

Replace [username] with your username and [new_password] with your new password.

7. Restart your computer and you should be able to log in with your new password.

2. Use a password reset disk

If you created a password reset disk when you set up your account, you can use it to reset your password. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Insert the password reset disk into your computer.
2. Restart your computer and press F8 repeatedly while it’s booting up.
3. This will bring up the Advanced Startup Options menu.
4. Select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup settings > Restart.
5. When your computer restarts, you’ll see a list of startup options. Press 4 to select Enable Safe Mode with Command Prompt.
6. Your computer will boot into Safe Mode with Command Prompt.
7. At the command prompt, type the following command and press Enter:

cd %windir%\system32\config

ren SAM

copy SAM.bak SAM