How can I find the password for my Windows 10 laptop?

I have a Win10 tower and a Win10 laptop. Both are set to boot into Win10 without having to enter a password. I'm the only user for both PCs.

I want to transfer a file from the laptop to the tower. I used to be able to open File Explorer on the tower and then in the left pane I see this:

Network
... Spin3
... XPS8900

So I click "Spin3" to access the shared folder on the laptop. Now it's asking me to enter the password for the laptop. I forgot the password for the laptop.

As mentioned, the laptop boots into Win10 without having to enter a password. Since I'm in Win10 and have full access on the laptop, is there a way I can find the password for the laptop?

EdTittel said:

Try this TenForums tutorial: Reset Password of User Account in Windows 10 User Accounts Tutorials . It should steer you in the right direction. If it doesn't get you back into that machine, post again here and provide more information about what's going amiss or awry.
HTH,
--Ed--

Hi Ed,

I tried the instructions in the link to reset the password for a local account. I checked "Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer" (step-1), and selected the Spin3 name (step-2). But for step-3, the "Reset Password" button is grayed out.

Anyway, I screwed up in my original post. When I click the "Spin3" name (actually mo-spin3), the window that pops up is actually asking to Enter network credentials". Here's the popup:



So my question really should have been, how do I find my network credentials password?
Sorry for the confusion,
mck

mck said:

Hi Ed,

I tried the instructions in the link to reset the password for a local account. I checked "Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer" (step-1), and selected the Spin3 name (step-2). But for step-3, the "Reset Password" button is grayed out.

Anyway, I screwed up in my original post. When I click the "Spin3" name (actually mo-spin3), the window that pops up is actually asking to Enter network credentials". Here's the popup:

(((Graphic deleted to save bandwidth)))

So my question really should have been, how do I find my network credentials password?
Sorry for the confusion,
mck

I found a solution to my problem. What I did was:

1. Open Network & Sharing Center on the laptop.
2. Click "Change advanced sharing settings"
3. Expand the "All Networks" item.
4. Change "Password protected sharing" from On to Off.

Now when I click my laptop name in File Explorer > Networks, it just shows my shared folder without asking for a network credentials password. This is how it used to work before.

Hope this helps others,
mck

EdTittel said:

Thanks for posting your solution. Glad you found a workaround. I confess, I misunderstood what you were trying to achieve. Sorry to wave a red herring at you!
Best wishes,
--Ed--

Hi Ed,

No, I had not correctly stated my symptoms in my first post. So no red herring on your part.
Thanks for taking the time to help,

mck