Forgotton password

James500 · 01 Dec 2016

Hello everyone

It's not as bad as it sounds.

I can still get on to my computer and use it just fine. Here's the situation.

I bought a new computer about a month ago, and I set a password that must be entered to go beyond the lock screen. And while customizing the computer, doing things like downloading security updates, downloading third party programs, and other things like that, I told windows not to require this password.

I'm 95+ percent finished with the customizing now, and I'd like to start using a password again. But I've forgotten the password I was using when I turned the password requirement off. The password is still in the computer, but as instructed, the computer skips over it, or automatically enters it, because it's not required.

What I'd like to do is find the password (or hint) and reactive the lock screen password requirement.

Help!

Kari · 01 Dec 2016

When Windows signs you automatically in to desktop, open an elevated Command Prompt and enter the following command to reset your password:

Code:

net user Username Password

Replace Username in above command with your local account username, and Password with you preferred new password (Microsoft account passwords should only be changed on https://account.live.com).

Example: Windows local user account username JohnDoe wants to reset the password to MyNewPassword123, the command would be:

Code:

net user JohnDoe MyNewPassword123

Sign out from Windows, sign back in. Now you can remove the automatic sign in.

Kari

RolandJS · 01 Dec 2016

Can the User Account be used to change the password? Windows 7: Control Panel --> User Account can, I don't know about Windows 10.

Kari · 01 Dec 2016

RolandJS said:

Can the User Account be used to change the password? Control Panel --> User Account Windows 7 can, I don't know about Windows 10.

Setting / reset password can be done in an elevated Command Prompt, even for the local account the user is currently signed in if the local user is admin. If the local user is standard user without admin rights, a local admin password must be entered to run an elevated Command Prompt.

In this case OP's first post, although not mentioning it directly strongly hints he is the local admin user and the solution in my previous post works without him needing to remember his original password used for auto login.

Using Control Panel or Settings app to reset the password would require user to remember his old password.

Kari

EDIT:

I misread the question first, misunderstanding it. My reply is now edited as I noticed I had answered on a wrong question based on this misunderstanding.

My apologies.

RolandJS · 02 Dec 2016

Kari - I learned from your posts! Thanks for the info! :)