Forgot Windows 10 password? How can I reset password without losing data?

[WSSSRF]

Hi,

I'm locked out of my HP ProBook 440 Business Laptop after two months trip from another country because I forgot Windows 10 password. Unfortunately, there is no password reset disk made in advanced. I don't sign in any Microsoft account on this laptop so I can confirm it is a local account.

I really need a safe way to reset Windows 10 password without losing my data. What’s the best method to do that in 2025? I’m open to using a bootable USB or recovery tool if needed. I just want to make sure my files stay intact.

Any step-by-step guidance or reliable tools would be greatly appreciated!

[Anetao]

The best method in 2025 remains using a Windows Installation Media to enable the hidden Administrator account if you forgot Windows 10 password. This is a safe, offline password reset technique. This method involves creating a bootable USB drive on another computer, which you'll use to boot your locked HP ProBook and enable a built-in administrative account to reset your password.

What You'll Need if Forgot Windows 10 password

• A second working computer (Windows, Mac, or Linux) with internet access.
• A blank USB flash drive (8GB or larger).
• Your locked HP ProBook 440 G6.

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Download the Media Creation Tool and Create the Installation Media.
2. Boot Your HP ProBook from the USB, your laptop will now boot from the USB. On the Windows Setup screen, select your language and click "Next." In the Command Prompt window, type or paste the following command and press Enter.
3. After the reboot, you will see the normal Windows login screen. You should now see a new user account called "Administrator". Click on it. Once logged in as Administrator, press the Windows Key + X on your keyboard and select "Computer Management."
4. In the middle pane, right-click on your original user account (the one you're locked out of). Select "Set Password." A warning message will appear. Read it and click "Proceed." Enter your new password twice and click OK.

You're done! You can now log out of the Administrator account (click Start > your user name > Sign out) and log back into your original account using the new password you just set. All your files, programs, and settings will be intact.

[NeToed]

Got it — here are two practical ways I’ve used / seen work in the field to reset Windows 10 password without losing data. I’ll keep it informal and walk you through exact steps. Both methods assume the drive is not BitLocker-encrypted (if it is, you’ll need the BitLocker recovery key first).

(1) Method A — Command-line trick via Windows 10 USB (my go-to; no third-party password crackers)

I’ve used this exact approach before when I was locked out of a laptop. It temporarily swaps the Ease-of-Access utility with cmd.exe so you can run net user at the login screen and change the password. It’s fast and keeps all user files intact.

What you need: a Windows 10 installation USB (create it on another PC with Microsoft’s Media Creation Tool if needed) and a short attention to the commands.

Steps
(1) Make or borrow a Windows 10 bootable USB and plug it into the locked HP.
(2) Boot from the USB (press Esc/F9/F12 on HP at power on to pick boot device).
(3) At the installer screen choose Repair your computer → Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Command Prompt.
(4) In the recovery Command Prompt, find the Windows system drive (sometimes 😧 instead of C: while booted from USB). Use:

diskpart
list volume
exit

(5) Once you know the correct drive letter (I'll call it 😧 below), back up utilman and replace it with cmd:

d:
cd \Windows\System32
copy utilman.exe utilman.exe.bak
copy cmd.exe utilman.exe

(6) Close CMD and reboot into the normal Windows login screen (remove USB if needed).
(7) At the login screen click the Ease of Access button — a Command Prompt should open with SYSTEM privileges. Now list users and reset your password:

net user
net user YourUserName NewP@ssw0rd

(8) Log in with the new password.
(9) Important: Restore the original utilman.exe. Boot from the USB again to Command Prompt and run:

d:
cd \Windows\System32
copy utilman.exe.bak utilman.exe

(10) Reboot and you’re done.

This is a reliable command-line method I’ve used — it’s a clean way to reset Windows 10 password without losing data as long as the drive isn’t protected by BitLocker. If your account name has spaces, wrap it in quotes.

(2) Method B — “Reset this PC” → Keep my files (reinstall Windows but keep personal files)

If you prefer a simpler GUI route that doesn’t try to edit system files, Windows can reinstall itself while preserving your personal files. I used this once when a laptop had account corruption — apps were removed but my documents stayed safe.

What it does: Reinstalls Windows, removes apps and settings, but keeps the files in C:\Users\YourName. It effectively gets you back into the machine (you’ll re-create or sign into an account) without wiping personal documents.

Steps
(1) Boot the PC from the Windows 10 installation USB (or get into the Windows Recovery Environment if possible).
(2) Choose Repair your computer → Troubleshoot → Reset this PC.
(3) Choose Keep my files. Follow the prompts.
(4) The PC will reinstall Windows. After the process you’ll be able to create/sign into an account and access your files again.

This approach is also a way to reset Windows 10 password without losing data — it’s less technical than the cmd trick but does remove apps and some settings, so you’ll need to reinstall anything you use later.

If you want, I can give the exact diskpart/list-volume output commands and variations for when Windows shows the system drive as 😧 (I can just paste the exact command sequence I run). Remember: these methods let you reset Windows 10 password without losing data, but if BitLocker is on you’ll need that recovery key first. 

[Firstation · Accepted solution]

For Windows 10 local account, you can create a windows 10 password reset disk to safely unlock the computer without losing data:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/create-a-password-reset-disk-for-a-local-account-in-wind...

[Ogilvyik]

Regarding the issue of forgoting Windows 10 passwords for HP. Please check for pre-configured password reset options is a good approach, especially on business laptops like your HP ProBook 440, which may have built-in features or security tools provided by HP or your organization. Here's how you can explore and utilize these options to reset your Windows 10 password without losing data:

• Some business laptops have preconfigured recovery tools or BIOS/UEFI options to reset passwords or restore systems.
• Restart and enter BIOS/UEFI settings (by pressing F2, Esc, or F10 during startup).
• Look for any security options that may help reset passwords or restore system settings.

[Roywayne]

• Don't care if I lose content

[Roywayne]

• Don't care if I lose my data just want to reset password