Entering a password every time you want to access Windows can quickly turn into tedious work. This annoyance is compounded only by the need to constantly change the same password, forcing you to remember whether the most recent combination requires 4 instead of 3 or a dollar sign instead of S.
You can avoid this situation by configuring Windows to log in automatically every time you boot your computer. It can save you precious seconds by completely bypassing the login screen, and it’s a pretty straightforward process to boot. If you can remember your password at all.
But what if you can’t? What if it suddenly flew out of your head? How can something that you had to enter every day, and maybe several times, just disappear from your memory? Believe it or not, this happens more often than you think.
So what is the solution for those who forget their login credentials?
Bypass the Windows login screen without the password
If you’re stuck at the Windows login screen and can’t remember your password, all you really need to do is click on the I forgot my password link. You will be taken to the Microsoft website to reset your account password.
Then you can sign in to your account and set up automatic sign-in, which will help you bypass the Windows sign-in screen.
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- Log in to your computer and open the Run window by pressing Windows + R keys. Then enter netplwiz in the field and click OK
- Uncheck the box next to Users must enter a username and password to use this computer.
- Click the OK button at the bottom of the window. The Auto Login window will appear. Enter your username and the new password you created earlier in the appropriate fields.
- Click OK and choose to restart your computer.
You will now bypass the login screen every time. However, we already looked at something similar in more detail a few years ago. Another way to approach a similar problem is to suggest a different scenario.
What if you are already signed in and forgot your password? You can simply log out and try the above method as it should work exactly the same. You can do it or go the other way and save time.
Command line
Already signed in to Windows 10, but can’t remember your password? Don’t want to log out or switch off in case you can’t log in again? You can bypass the old password and configure your account to automatically log in using the command line.
- Press Win + X and choose Command Prompt (Admin) from the menu. If you cannot find this option in the list, type cmd in the search box on the taskbar, right-click the Command Prompt option, and select Run as administrator from the menu.
- At the open command prompt, enter the following:
- Replace username with the username for the account. Press Enter.
- When prompted for the option to enter a password for a user: just press Enter.
- You will need to “re-enter” the password. Again, just hit Enter.
Your account no longer requires a password. This means that the next time Windows boots, it will automatically log in.
PC Unlocker
None of the above methods work for you? Maybe it’s time to throw the big guns.
Definitely a more last resort, when your computer is completely locked, a boot disk like PC Unlocker is your best bet. PC Unlocker is an amazing tool that can let you either reset forgotten Windows account passwords or bypass the login screen without resetting your password.
To use this tool, you need either a recording CD or a USB stick. This also means that you will need a different computer to purchase the tool, as you cannot currently log into your own. You will need to download the PC Unlocker ISO and either burn or install it on the device of your choice.
- Turn on the computer, enter the boot device menu (BIOS setup) and set it to boot from whatever option you choose. Press F10 to save changes.
- Insert the CD or USB into your computer and reboot. After completing the download process, you should see the main PC Unlocker window.
- In the first field, select Reset Local Administrator / User Password. Skip the second field and go directly to select the account you want to sign in with.
- Highlight an account and click the Reset Password button. This will leave the password for this account blank.
- Finally, click the Restart button and remove the disk or USB from the port.
Until you provide a password, the Windows logon screen will be skipped without prompting for a password.
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