Reset Windows 10 Admin Password on Dell PC

If you’re locked out of a Dell computer running Windows 10 because you forgot the administrator password, this guide walks you through the built-in recovery options that don’t require third-party tools. You’ll learn how to reset the password using a password reset disk, another admin account, or the Windows recovery environment—depending on what you have available.

What You’ll Need

• Access to another administrator account on the same PC (if using that method).
• A USB flash drive or external drive (if creating a password reset disk in advance).
• A Windows 10 installation USB or recovery drive (for the command prompt method).
• Your Dell model’s service tag or product key (not usually needed, but handy for support).

Step-by-Step

1. Try the “I forgot my password� link. On the login screen, click “I forgot my password� if you see it. Windows will guide you through security questions if you set them up when creating the account.
2. Use another administrator account. If you have a second admin account, log in with it. Go to Settings > Accounts > Family & other users, select the locked account, and click “Change password.� Enter a new password and save.
3. Use a password reset disk. If you created one earlier, insert it into a USB port. On the login screen, click “Reset password� and follow the wizard. This only works for local accounts, not Microsoft accounts.
4. Reset a Microsoft account password online. If you use a Microsoft account to sign in, go to account.live.com/password/reset from any device. Follow the prompts to verify your identity (email, phone, or recovery code) and set a new password.
5. Boot from a Windows 10 installation USB. Insert the USB, restart the Dell, and press F12 (or F2 for setup) during boot to open the boot menu. Select the USB drive.
6. Open Command Prompt from the installer. On the first screen, click “Next,� then “Repair your computer.� Go to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Command Prompt.
7. Replace the Utility Manager with Command Prompt. In the Command Prompt, type move d:\windows\system32\utilman.exe d:\windows\system32\utilman.exe.bak and press Enter. Then type copy d:\windows\system32\cmd.exe d:\windows\system32\utilman.exe and press Enter. (Replace d: with the drive letter of your Windows installation—usually C: or D:.)
8. Reboot normally. Close the Command Prompt, remove the USB, and restart the PC. On the login screen, click the “Ease of Access� icon (the person with a clock). This opens Command Prompt as administrator.
9. Reset the password. Type net user to see all accounts. Then type net user username newpassword (for example, net user John P@ssw0rd) and press Enter. Close the window and log in with the new password.
10. Restore the original files. After logging in, open Command Prompt as administrator and type move c:\windows\system32\utilman.exe.bak c:\windows\system32\utilman.exe to put the original Utility Manager back.

Common Mistakes

• Using the wrong drive letter. In the Command Prompt, the Windows drive may not be C:. Use dir to find which drive has the Windows folder.
• Forgetting to restore utilman.exe. Leaving the modified file can cause issues with the Ease of Access features later.
• Typing the username incorrectly. The net user command is case-sensitive for the username. Check the exact spelling.
• Using a Microsoft account with local methods. The command prompt method only works for local accounts. For Microsoft accounts, you must reset online.
• Not having a password reset disk ready. This only works if you created it before you were locked out.

Tips

• Create a password reset disk now. Even if you don’t need it today, it saves you from this hassle later. Search “Create a password reset diskâ€� in Control Panel.
• Use a strong but memorable password. Combine a phrase with numbers and symbols, like “BlueSky!2024â€�.
• Set up security questions. For local accounts, this gives you an easy recovery path.
• Keep your Dell’s BIOS updated. Sometimes boot issues with USB drives are fixed by a BIOS update.
• Write down your password in a safe place. A password manager or a locked drawer works better than a sticky note on the monitor.

Troubleshooting

I don’t see “I forgot my password� on the login screen. This link only appears if you set up security questions. If not, try another method.

The password reset disk doesn’t work. Make sure it’s the correct disk for this specific user account. It’s tied to the account, not the PC.

Command Prompt says “Access denied.� You must be running as administrator. The Ease of Access trick gives you admin rights, but if you’re using a standard account, you’ll need to use the installation USB method.

The net user command shows “The user name could not be found.â€� Check the exact username with net user and copy it exactly, including spaces.

I can’t boot from the USB. Enter BIOS (F2 during startup), go to Boot Options, and enable “Legacy� or “UEFI� boot as needed. Also, make sure the USB is properly created using the Media Creation Tool.

After resetting, I can’t log in with the new password. Try typing it slowly, check Caps Lock, and make sure you didn’t include extra spaces. If it still fails, repeat the process and double-check the username.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Will this work for a Microsoft account?
A: No, the command prompt method only resets local accounts. For Microsoft accounts, reset the password online.

Q: Do I need to know the old password?
A: No, all methods here work without the old password, except the “change password� from another admin account, which doesn’t require it either.

Q: Can I use this to reset the password of another user?
A: Yes, if you have admin access, you can change any local user’s password.

Q: Will I lose files if I reset the password?
A: No, resetting the password doesn’t delete files. However, if you use Windows encryption (BitLocker), you may need the recovery key.

Q: What if I have a Dell with a TPM and BitLocker enabled?
A: The reset process may trigger BitLocker recovery. You’ll need your 48-digit recovery key, which you should have saved when BitLocker was set up.

Q: Is there a way to reset without any other account or USB?
A: If you have no other admin account, no password reset disk, and no installation media, you’ll likely need to contact Dell support or use a third-party recovery tool. Always create a reset disk in advance.

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