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What to Do if You Get Locked Out of Your Windows Computer
Getting locked out of your computer can be really frustrating, especially when you urgently need to access important data and applications. Below, we provide you with practical solutions to help you get back into your Windows computer.
Whether you forgot your password or encountered a login problem, these solutions will help you overcome these obstacles and regain control swiftly.
1. Try Some Preliminary Fixes
After getting locked out of your Windows computer, start by checking for any simple mistakes like incorrect username and password. Ensure that the Caps Lock key is not accidentally enabled.
If you had a password set, the Hint option (if you set one up previously) can help you recall the forgotten password. We also recommend restarting the computer and checking if that fixes any login issues.
In case none of this helps, move to the more specific troubleshooting methods below.
2. Try Alternate Sign-In Options
If you cannot log into your Windows computer because your current sign-in option (let’s say password) is not working properly, then try using an alternate sign-in option.
Click on the “Forgot my password” option and see which other options you have available. If you have Windows Hello set up, you can use biometric authentication methods such as fingerprint, facial recognition, or iris scanning to log in. Look for this option on the sign-in screen and proceed with the online instructions to complete the sign-in process.
: Are Passwords Dead? (ThioJoe)
Finally, if your Windows account is linked to your Microsoft account, use your Microsoft account email address and password to log in.
These steps may help you bypass the need for the traditional password and regain access to your computer.
3. Use Another Account
If you have multiple user accounts on your computer, try logging into a different account, preferably the administrator one. This is because administrator accounts have the ability to manage system settings, including the other user accounts and passwords.
If you manage to log into your administrator account, press the Win + R keys together to open a Run dialog. Type “control” into Run and click Enter.
Once you are inside the Control Panel, choose User Accounts. Click on User Accounts in the following window again and choose Manage another account. Select the problematic account and change its password.
Alternatively, you can launch Computer Management and head over to Local Users and Groups > Users. Select the problematic account by right-clicking on it and choose Set Password. Follow the on-screen instructions to proceed and check if the problem is resolved.
4. Use the Command Prompt
Another way to bypass the login screen and boot into Windows is by using the Command Prompt to reset the password of the targeted account.
Follow these steps to proceed:
- Boot Windows using an installation disc or a USB drive.
- In the boot menu, press the Shift + F10 keys together to open
- Inside the Command Prompt window, execute the commands below one by one: move c:\windows\system32\utilman.exe c:\copy c:\windows\system32\cmd.exe c:\windows\system32\utilman.exe
- Once the commands are executed, remove the drive or disk you are using and restart the device.
- In the login screen, click the icon on the screen to launch Command Prompt again.
- Type net user and click Enter. Replace and with the name of the targeted account and the password you wish to set.
- Next, boot your computer with the disk/drive again and launch Command Prompt.
- Execute the following command: copy c:\utilman.exe c:\windows\system32\utilman.exe
- Type Yes and click Enter. You can now use your new password to log into your account and check if any errors appear.
5. Boot Into Safe Mode
Safe Mode can bypass certain login restrictions, helping you sign in to Windows without any difficulties. This fix can help if are unable to boot into the administrator account as well.
To boot into Safe Mode, restart your computer, and during the boot process, press the F8 key (or another key specific to your computer) repeatedly to launch the Advanced Boot Options menu.
Once the advanced options are displayed on your screen, choose "Safe Mode" or "Safe Mode with Networking". Press Enter and wait for the system to boot into the Safe Mode.
In Safe Mode, there are several troubleshooting methods you can try. These include the following:
- Scan for malware: Malware and inconsistencies within the system might be preventing you from accessing it. To identify these issues, we recommend running a scan with your preferred antivirus program in Safe Mode. You can also use the System File Checker to identify any corruption errors that may be leading to the problem.
- Review recent changes: Go through any recent changes that you may have made to the system. This can involve hardware installations or software updates. Try removing the recently installed hardware temporarily or disabling the new software. Similarly, if you installed a new driver or updated an existing one, roll the driver back and check if that makes any difference.
- Check event logs: Access the Event Viewer and check the system and application logs for any error messages or warnings related to the login issue. You can look for specific codes and descriptions to get a better understanding of the problem.
If you are unable to resolve the login issue even after trying all these methods, it is best to seek further assistance from technical support or a professional technician. We recommend reaching out to the official Microsoft support team first and reporting the issue to them.
Take your time to apply the fixes they suggest. If you are still unable to regain access to your computer, you can consider resetting Windows. However, note that this will remove all installed applications, and you may lose some of your important data.
Access Your System Easily
Experiencing a lockout on your Windows computer can be unpleasant but with the right troubleshooting techniques, you can easily overcome this challenge. The solutions we have listed above should help you access your system with ease. As soon as you can regain access, we highly recommend creating a backup of your important data, so that you can easily restore your important files and documents in case they become inaccessible due to unforeseen circumstances in the future.
