Windows Password Forgotten but Netplwiz was activated--PW not required

Jambe · 21 Jul 2016

I want to find out what my forgotten Windows logon password is.

I am not locked out of Windows because I had run Netplwiz and unchecked the box requiring password to log on.

Can it be found in the registry?

(I hesitate to use Change windows logon tutorial in case it asks for old password and I get locked out. Is one of those 6 appropriate to use when I don't know old password? I am the only user/administrator.)

Brink · 21 Jul 2016

Hello Jambe, :)

We cannot help to reveal your password since that would violate the forum rules.

However, if you have another administrator account, or create one, you could sign in to that account and change your password using OPTION THREE below.

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/5...a.html#option3

Afterwards, you'll have to set up netplwiz again with the new password.

Sign in User Account Automatically at Windows 10 Startup

LMiller7 · 21 Jul 2016

Like any secure operating system, Windows does not store login passwords. Only data needed to verify passwords is stored, and that in a location not normally accessible to even an elevated admin account. Methods of verifying a password without comparing it to a stored copy have been known for a long time. An administrator can change any password without knowing the original password but cannot view them. Storing login passwords would be a serious security risk.