How to Change Windows Password Without Old One

Forgetting your Windows password can feel like being locked out of your own house. Luckily, there are legitimate ways to reset or change a Windows account password even if you don’t remember the old one. This is especially useful for:

• Users who forgot their login password.
• IT admins managing multiple systems.
• Recovery of old or secondary PCs.

⚠️ Disclaimer: The methods shared here are for educational and recovery purposes only. Misuse of these steps on someone else’s system without permission is illegal.

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1. Using the net user Command (Requires Admin Access)

If you can log into another account with Administrator privileges, you can reset the password of any user account on the system.

Steps:

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
   • Press Win + S → type cmd → right-click → Run as administrator.
2. Type the following command to see all users: net user
3. To reset a password: net user USERNAME NEWPASSWORD Example: net user John P@ssw0rd123 ✅ The next time John logs in, he must use the new password.

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2. Using Local Users and Groups (Windows Pro/Enterprise)

If you have access to another admin account, you can use the GUI.

1. Press Win + R → type lusrmgr.msc → press Enter.
2. Navigate to Users → right-click the account → Set Password.
3. Enter the new password and confirm.

👉 This doesn’t require the old password either.

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3. Password Reset from Recovery Mode (Offline Method)

If you are completely locked out, you can use the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) to reset a password.

Steps:

1. Boot or restart the system, and interrupt startup 3 times to trigger Automatic Repair → Advanced Options.
2. Go to:
   Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Command Prompt.
3. In Command Prompt, type: net user to list all users.
4. Reset the password with: net user USERNAME NEWPASSWORD Example: net user Admin Reset123!
5. Restart the computer → Log in with the new password.

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4. Using a Password Reset Disk (If Created Beforehand)

Windows allows users to create a Password Reset Disk for local accounts.

• Plug it in at the login screen.
• Follow the reset wizard to set a new password.

👉 Sadly, most users don’t create this beforehand.

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5. Microsoft Account Password Reset

If the account is tied to a Microsoft Account (like @outlook.com):

1. Visit: https://account.live.com/password/reset
2. Follow steps to reset via email, SMS, or authenticator app.
3. Use the new password to log into your PC.

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6. Third-Party Tools

Several tools can help in extreme cases (when no access at all is possible):

• Offline NT Password & Registry Editor (free, bootable).
• PassFab 4WinKey (paid, GUI tool).
• Ophcrack (can crack weak passwords instead of resetting).

👉 Always download from trusted sources.

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🔐 How to Protect Yourself

Since these techniques can be abused, here’s how to defend your PC:

• Use strong login passwords + Windows Hello (PIN, fingerprint, or face ID).
• Enable BitLocker → encrypts the drive so offline resets won’t work without the recovery key.
• Use a Microsoft Account instead of a local account for easier (but more secure) resets.
• Keep regular backups.

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✅ Final Thoughts

Changing a Windows password without knowing the old one is possible and sometimes necessary for recovery. The net user command and recovery mode are the most common approaches. But remember, while this is useful for self-recovery, the same methods can be abused by hackers if your system isn’t properly secured.

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