Reset Windows 10 Password on VMware: Step-by-Step

This guide shows you how to reset a forgotten Windows 10 password on a VMware virtual machine without reinstalling the OS or losing your files. You’ll use the Windows 10 installation media to access the recovery environment and replace the Utility Manager with the Command Prompt, then set a new password. This works for local accounts (not Microsoft accounts) on any VMware product (Workstation, Player, or Fusion).

What You’ll Need

• VMware Workstation, Player, or Fusion with the VM powered off
• A Windows 10 ISO file (you can download the official Media Creation Tool from Microsoft)
• Basic familiarity with navigating BIOS/UEFI settings and the Windows recovery environment

Step-by-Step

1. Connect the ISO to your VM. In VMware, open the VM settings, go to the CD/DVD (SATA) drive, select “Use ISO image file,” and browse to your Windows 10 ISO. Make sure “Connect at power on” is checked.
2. Set the VM to boot from the ISO. Power on the VM and quickly press F2 (or Esc on some systems) to enter the BIOS. In the Boot menu, set the CD-ROM drive as the first boot device. Save and exit. If you miss it, restart and try again.
3. Start the Windows Setup. When prompted “Press any key to boot from CD or DVD,” press any key. The Windows Setup screen will appear. Choose your language and click Next.
4. Open the Recovery Environment. Instead of clicking “Install now,” click Repair your computer at the bottom-left corner of the Setup window.
5. Navigate to Troubleshoot. On the “Choose an option” screen, click Troubleshoot.
6. Open Command Prompt. Click Advanced options, then Command Prompt. A black terminal window will open.
7. Find your Windows drive letter. In the Command Prompt, type diskpart and press Enter. Then type list volume and press Enter. Look for the volume with the label “Windows” (often D: or E:, not C:). Note the drive letter. Type exit to leave DiskPart.
8. Back up the Utility Manager. Type the following and press Enter after each line (replace D: with your actual Windows drive letter):
   
   D:
cd \Windows\System32
ren utilman.exe utilman.exe.bak
9. Replace Utility Manager with Command Prompt. Type copy cmd.exe utilman.exe and press Enter. This copies the Command Prompt over the original Utility Manager.
10. Close the Command Prompt. Type exit and press Enter. Then click the red X or close the window. Click Continue (or “Turn off your PC”) to restart the VM.
11. Boot normally. When the VM restarts, remove the ISO from the CD/DVD drive (in VM settings) or press a key to skip booting from it. Let Windows start normally to the login screen.
12. Open the Command Prompt. On the login screen, click the Ease of Access icon (the little person with a clock) at the bottom-right. This will now open a Command Prompt window instead of the Utility Manager.
13. Reset the password. Type the following command, replacing username with your actual Windows username and newpassword with your new password:
    
    net user username newpassword
    
    Press Enter. You should see “The command completed successfully.”
14. Close the Command Prompt. Type exit and press Enter. Then click anywhere on the login screen and enter your new password.
15. Restore the original Utility Manager. After logging in, open an elevated Command Prompt (right-click Start > Command Prompt (Admin)) and run:
    
    ren C:\Windows\System32\utilman.exe utilman.exe.cmd
ren C:\Windows\System32\utilman.exe.bak utilman.exe
    
    This restores the original Ease of Access functionality.

Common Mistakes

• Using the wrong drive letter. In the recovery environment, the Windows drive is often not C:. Always verify with diskpart.
• Not pressing any key to boot from the ISO. If you miss the prompt, the VM boots to Windows and you have to restart.
• Typing the username incorrectly. The username is case-insensitive but must match exactly. Use net user to list all accounts if unsure.
• Forgetting to restore utilman.exe. Leaving cmd.exe as utilman.exe is a security risk and breaks Ease of Access. Always restore it.

Tips

• Use a strong, memorable password. You can also use net user username * to be prompted to type the password hidden.
• If you have multiple VMs, this method works on all of them with the same steps.
• Take a snapshot of the VM before starting, so you can revert if something goes wrong.
• If you use a Microsoft account, this method won’t work; you’ll need to reset via Microsoft’s online recovery.

Troubleshooting

• VM boots to Windows instead of the ISO. Check the boot order in BIOS and ensure the ISO is connected. Also, try pressing any key as soon as the VM powers on.
• “Access is denied” when renaming utilman.exe. Make sure you’re in the correct drive and folder. If the file is in use, it’s because Windows is running; you must be in the recovery environment.
• “The user name could not be found” when using net user. Type net user to list all accounts. The username may be different from what you expect (e.g., “Administrator” or “User”).
• Command Prompt doesn’t open when clicking Ease of Access. Ensure you copied cmd.exe to utilman.exe correctly. You can redo the steps from the recovery environment.
• Forgot the Administrator password too. If you have another admin account, use that to reset. Otherwise, you may need to use a third-party password reset tool.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will this delete my files?

No, this method only modifies the Utility Manager and resets the password. Your files, applications, and settings remain intact.

Does this work with Microsoft account passwords?

No, this only works for local accounts. For Microsoft accounts, you must reset the password online at account.live.com or use another Microsoft account recovery method.

Can I use this on a physical PC?

Yes, the same steps work on physical hardware, but you’ll need to boot from a Windows 10 USB or DVD and access the recovery environment.

What if I don’t have a Windows 10 ISO?

You can download the official ISO from Microsoft’s website using the Media Creation Tool. It’s free and doesn’t require a product key for the download.

Is this method safe?

Yes, if you restore utilman.exe afterward. Leaving the modified file is a security risk because anyone with physical access to the VM could reset the password.

What if I get “The system cannot find the path specified”?

This usually means you’re not in the correct directory. Make sure you typed D: (or your actual drive letter) and then cd \Windows\System32 before trying to rename.

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