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Changing the password for your local account administrator on Windows 10 is an important step in ensuring the security of your computer. Whether you’ve forgotten your password or simply want to update it for security reasons, this tutorial will guide you through the process of changing your local account administrator password.
Step 1: Press the Windows key + X on your keyboard to open the Power User Menu. From the menu, select "Computer Management" to open the Computer Management window.
Step 2: In the Computer Management window, navigate to "Local Users and Groups" in the left panel and expand it. Then, click on "Users" to view the list of users on your computer.
Step 3: Locate and right-click on the local account administrator for which you want to change the password. From the context menu, select "Set Password".
Step 4: In the Set Password window, click on the "Proceed" button to confirm that you want to set a new password for the selected user.
Step 5: In the New Password and Confirm Password fields, enter and re-enter the new password respectively. Make sure to choose a strong password that is not easily guessable.
Step 6: If desired, you can enter a password hint that will help you remember the password in case you forget it in the future. This step is optional but recommended for added convenience.
Step 7: Click on the "OK" button to save the new password for the local account administrator. You will receive a confirmation message indicating that the password has been successfully changed.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 1. Provides an added layer of security for your local account administrator. | 1. Changing the password may require you to update the password on other devices that use the same account. |
| 2. Allows you to easily regain access to your computer if you forget the password. | 2. If you forget the new password, you may need to use additional recovery methods to regain access to your account. |
| 3. Provides peace of mind by ensuring that unauthorized users cannot access your administrator account. | 3. Changing the password may require you to update the password in various applications and services that use the same account. |
Changing your local account administrator password on Windows 10 is a simple yet effective way to enhance the security of your computer. By following the steps outlined in this tutorial, you can easily update the password and protect your account from unauthorized access. Remember to choose a strong and unique password to ensure maximum security.
Video Tutorial: How do I find my local administrator password Windows 10?
How to reset administrator password using Command Prompt?
Resetting an administrator password using Command Prompt involves a few steps. Here is a professional guide:
1. Access the Advanced Startup Options: Restart your computer and continuously press the appropriate key (e.g., F8 or Del) to access the advanced startup options menu. Select "Troubleshoot" and then "Advanced options."
2. Enter Command Prompt: From the advanced options menu, select "Command Prompt." This will open a Command Prompt window.
3. Locate the drive containing the Windows installation: In the Command Prompt window, type the drive letter followed by a colon (e.g., "C:") and press Enter. Use the "dir" command to list the contents of the drive and locate the directory containing the Windows installation (e.g., "Windows" folder).
4. Access the System32 folder: Enter the following command to navigate to the System32 folder within the Windows directory:
"`
cd Windows\System32
"`
5. Create a backup of the original Utilman.exe file: Enter the following command to create a backup of the original Utilman.exe file (which will be replaced later):
"`
ren Utilman.exe Utilman.exe.bak
"`
6. Copy the Command Prompt executable as Utilman.exe: Enter the following command to replace the Utilman.exe file with a copy of the Command Prompt executable:
"`
copy cmd.exe Utilman.exe
"`
7. Restart your computer: Close the Command Prompt window and restart your computer. Let it boot normally.
8. Access Utilman: Once you arrive at the Windows login screen, click on the "Ease of Access" icon, usually represented by an icon with a stylized accessibility logo.
9. Reset the administrator password: In the Utilman menu, enter the following command to reset the administrator password (replace "username" with the actual username and "newpassword" with your desired password):
"`
net user username newpassword
"`
10. Log in with the new password: Close the Utilman menu, and you should now be able to log in to the administrator account with the newly set password.
Remember, the process described here assumes you have legitimate access to the computer. Performing these steps on someone else’s computer without proper authorization is illegal and unethical.
How to reset administrator password in Windows 10 without admin rights?
Resetting the administrator password in Windows 10 without admin rights can be a challenging task, but there are a few methods you can try. It’s important to note that these methods should only be used on your own computer, as attempting to reset the administrator password on someone else’s device without their permission can be illegal.
1. Method 1: Using Windows Installation Media
a. Create a Windows 10 installation USB or DVD.
b. Boot your computer using the installation media.
c. On the installation screen, click on "Repair your computer."
d. Select Troubleshoot > Command Prompt.
e. In the command prompt, type the following command:
"`
copy c:\windows\system32\sethc.exe c:\
"`
f. Next, type this command to replace the sticky keys executable with the command prompt:
"`
copy /y c:\windows\system32\cmd.exe c:\windows\system32\sethc.exe
"`
g. Restart your computer and boot into the Windows login screen.
h. Press the Shift key five times consecutively to open a Command Prompt.
i. In the Command Prompt, type the following command to reset the administrator password:
"`
net user
"`
Replace `
j. You should see a message confirming that the command was completed successfully. Restart your computer and log in with the new password.
2. Method 2: Using PassMoz LabWin
a. Download and install PassMoz LabWin on a different accessible computer.
b. Launch the software and insert a USB drive or DVD/CD.
c. Follow the on-screen instructions to create a password reset disk.
d. Insert the password reset disk into the locked Windows 10 computer.
e. Boot the computer from the password reset disk.
f. Select the user account from the list and click on the "Reset Password" button.
g. Set a new password and click on "Reset."
h. Restart your computer and log in with the new password.
3. Method 3: Using Local Account Recovery
a. Restart your computer and repeatedly press the F8 key during startup to enter Advanced Boot Options.
b. Select "Safe Mode with Command Prompt."
c. In the Command Prompt, type the following command to enable the hidden administrator account:
"`
net user administrator /active:yes
"`
d. Restart your computer and log in with the "Administrator" account.
e. Open the Command Prompt as an administrator.
f. Type the following command to reset the password for the desired user account:
"`
net user
"`
Replace `
g. Restart your computer and log in with the new password.
Please note that these methods are intended for scenarios where you have forgotten your own administrator password. It’s always a good idea to create password reset disks or regularly backup important data to avoid losing access to your account.
Where is local admin password stored?
As a tech blogger, I can provide a professional answer to your question about where the local admin password is stored.
The storage location of the local admin password may vary depending on the operating system or platform being used. Here are the typical storage locations for different operating systems:
1. Windows:
– In earlier versions of Windows (such as Windows 7 and earlier), the local admin password is stored in the Security Account Manager (SAM) database file located in the Windows\System32\Config folder.
– In newer versions of Windows (such as Windows 10), the local admin password is securely hashed and stored in the SAM database, which uses the NTLM hash algorithm. The hashed passwords are stored in the Security Accounts Manager Remote (SAMR) server to enforce remote access restrictions.
2. macOS:
– In macOS, the local admin password and user credential information are stored in the Keychain Access application. The Keychain acts as a secure storage container for passwords, encryption keys, and other sensitive information.
3. Linux:
– In Linux distributions, the local admin password is usually stored in the /etc/shadow file or the /etc/passwd file. However, modern Linux distributions often store password hashes instead of the actual password, making them more secure.
It is important to note that these are the typical storage locations, but security practices continually evolve to protect user information. Therefore, it is always recommended to follow best practices like using strong, unique passwords and regularly updating your operating system to ensure the highest level of security possible.
Remember, protecting the local admin password is crucial to safeguarding system integrity and preventing unauthorized access. If you have concerns about local admin password security, consult with an IT professional or refer to the official documentation provided by the operating system or platform you are using.
How to reset local admin password Windows 10 without admin rights?
Resetting the local admin password on Windows 10 without admin rights can be a challenging task. However, there are a few methods you can try to regain access. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
1. Method 1: Using Windows Installation Disk or USB Drive
a. Boot your computer from the Windows installation disk or USB drive.
b. When the Windows Setup screen appears, press Shift + F10 to open the command prompt.
c. Type "diskpart" and press Enter to open the DiskPart utility.
d. Enter the following commands one by one and press Enter after each:
– list disk
– select disk [number] (replace [number] with the relevant disk number)
– list volume
– select volume [number] (replace [number] with the volume number where Windows is installed)
– assign letter=x (replace "x" with any available drive letter)
– exit
e. Now, back in the command prompt, type "x:" (replace "x" with the assigned drive letter) and press Enter.
f. Change the directory by entering "cd windows\system32" and press Enter.
g. Type "ren utilman.exe utilman.exe.bak" and press Enter to rename the utility manager file.
h. Enter "ren cmd.exe utilman.exe" and press Enter to rename the command prompt file as the utility manager.
i. Close the command prompt and restart your computer.
j. When the login screen appears, press the Windows + U key combination to open the Command Prompt.
k. Type "net user" and press Enter to see the list of user accounts.
l. Now, enter "net user [username] [new_password]" and press Enter to reset the desired user’s password (replace [username] with the relevant username and [new_password] with the new password).
2. Method 2: Using Windows Password Recovery Tool
a. Download and install a Windows password recovery tool, such as PassFab 4WinKey or iSeePassword Windows Password Recovery Pro.
b. Create a bootable USB drive or CD/DVD using the tool on another accessible computer.
c. Connect the bootable drive to the locked Windows 10 computer and set it as the primary boot device.
d. Follow the on-screen instructions to navigate through the password recovery process provided by the tool.
e. Once the password is reset, restart your computer and log in with the new password.
It’s important to note that these methods should only be used on your personal computer or with proper authorization. Resetting passwords without proper authorization may violate legal and ethical guidelines. Always ensure you have the necessary permissions or seek assistance from the appropriate IT support channels before attempting these methods.
How do I change my local administrator password?
Changing the local administrator password on your device is an important security practice. Here’s how you can do it:
1. Access the "Settings" or "Control Panel" on your device. You can typically find these options by clicking on the "Start" or "Windows" button, and then searching for "Settings" or "Control Panel."
2. In the "Settings" or "Control Panel" menu, look for the "Accounts" or "User Accounts" option and click on it.
3. Within the "Accounts" or "User Accounts" menu, locate and select the "Manage Accounts" or "User Accounts" option. This will display a list of user accounts on your device.
4. Find the local administrator account from the list displayed and select it. Depending on your operating system, the local administrator account may be labeled as "Administrator" or "Admin."
5. Look for the option to change the password for the selected account. It may be labeled as "Change password" or "Reset password." Click on it.
6. A dialog box will appear asking you to enter the new password. Create a strong password that includes a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters for maximum security. Follow any specific password requirements mentioned on-screen.
7. After entering the new password, confirm it by entering it again in the designated field provided.
8. Finally, click on "OK" or "Save" to apply the changes and set the new password for your local administrator account.
Remember to store your new password in a secure location and avoid sharing it with unauthorized individuals. Regularly updating your passwords is a good practice to enhance the security of your device and protect your data.