HOW TO RESET WINDOWS WHEN YOU FORGET YOUR PASSWORD, by IVIEW on YouTube. 2 min 53 s.
- Video length
- 2 min 53 s
- Time to do it
- 30 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Plug the laptop into the charger and keep it connected for the whole reset. A factory reset can take a while and must not lose power halfway.
Restart the laptop. When the Windows sign-in screen appears, hold the Shift key on the keyboard and click the power icon, then choose Restart.
Keep holding Shift until the blue Choose an option screen appears. Release the key once you see it.
Click Troubleshoot, then Reset this PC. On a tablet, connect the wired USB keyboard first so you can hold Shift.
Choose Remove everything to wipe all files, apps and accounts. Choose Keep my files only if you still want your documents kept.
Pick the option to clean the drive fully if you plan to sell or give away the laptop. Otherwise the quick option is fine.
Confirm the reset and wait while Windows reinstalls itself. The laptop may restart several times, which is normal.
When the setup screen appears, choose your region, language and a new account name and password. You are now signed in with a fresh Windows install.
Tips and common mistakes
A factory reset deletes everything on the drive, so back up files from another account or a recovery drive first if you can.
If the Shift plus Restart trick does not open the blue menu, boot from a Windows USB installer and use its repair options.
Keep the charger plugged in the whole time, since a dead battery during the reset can leave Windows broken.
Questions
Will I lose my files?
Yes, if you pick Remove everything. Choose Keep my files to keep your personal documents, though installed apps will still be removed.
What if I cannot get to the blue recovery screen?
Try the Shift plus Restart step again, or start the laptop from a Windows USB installer and choose Repair your computer.
Does this remove my Microsoft account?
The reset removes the local account and its data. Your Microsoft account itself stays online, and you can sign in with it again during setup.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
