Passwords are great for protecting your files against unauthorized access. They are also great for people who require privacy in a publicly used PC, like in an office.
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They, however, can change the day into a living nightmare once they are lost. Once you lose a password for your Windows 10 user account, you will be locked out of your account until you decrypt it.
A person may also find these passwords are inconveniencing them. A Windows User who locks the computer from time to time will eventually get tired of writing down the password (which is usually lengthy).
This is why some people prefer to use an account that is password free. The method which you will be using to remove the password depends on whether you have access to your account:
Remove Passwords from Accessible Accounts
If you remember your password but you are tired of writing down your password each time you want to log in, here is how you can remove it from your account:
- Click on settings on the start menu
- Go to accounts and click on sign in options. This option is available only if you have not signed in with your Microsoft account. If not, just click on password and leave it blank. Your password should be set to none
Since your Microsoft account needs a password, the only thing you can do is changing it to an easier one that meets Microsoft’s criteria. If you really need the password gone, click on your Info and select ‘sign in with a local account instead’.
Select your account and sign in. If this local account has a password, just follow the steps above to remove it.
Remove Passwords from Locked Accounts
When you are not able to access your account, it is impossible for you to change the password from your system. The good thing about Windows 10 is the power it gives you to change your account remotely.
Almost everyone uses Windows 10 with their online accounts because it automatically logs you in when you sign in any Microsoft product. Some people, however, stick to the local account.
If you were using your Microsoft account on your PC, then this first method should work for you:
Method 1: Online Password Change
- Connect to the internet. You need to connect to the internet in order for the PC to get the new password.
You can do this on the lock screen where the Wi-Fi icon is. Click on the icon and it will give you options for the available networks. Choose your network, enter the key and voila, you are connected.
- From another device (which you obviously have since you are reading this post), change your Microsoft credentials. You can log in to your account through the link given below:
- Sign in and go to change the password. You should be able to change your password to anything you want that meets Microsoft’s criteria.
- Once you are done, move back to your account and enter the new password. The password should give you access to your account.
- To remove the password, you have to sign in with a local account as explained in Removing Passwords from Accessible Accounts.
Method 2: Removing Passwords with CMD
Command Prompt is the terminal of the Windows OS that allows you to make administrative commands to your system.
It can be accessible to you via the start menu as well as the boot menu. Here are the steps to removing your password with CMD:
- Hold shift and click on the start menu.
- While you are still holding shift, click on the power button and restart your computer. This way, you will be given options on how you want the computer to restart.
- During reboot, a boot screen with the options will appear. Click on the second/ third option, which is Troubleshoot.
- The option takes you to yet another list of options. Click on advanced options and select command prompt.
- If you get a screen that asks you for your password, skip this step and go to method 3.
- You should otherwise type the following code into CMD:
copy c:\windows\system32\sethc.exe c:
copy c:\windows\system32\cmd.exe c:\windows\system32\sethc.exe
- The code will replace sticky keys with command prompt. After doing so, reboot your computer to the login screen.
- Once there, press your keyboard 5 times to open CMD.
- Type in the following code:
net user username NewPassword
- Replace username and NewPassword with your own credentials.
- Your account should have the new changes. Reboot and enter your new credentials.
As you can see, we have listed three methods to reset Windows password, choose the one suits you.
With Windows 10, I first create an email account that is solely used for login only. Do not use it for anything else so no one in this world will know you have this email account. Then create a long password that is related to my past history. Only those who know my past may able to guess it. And it is easy for me to remember as it is part of my past. Then create 2-tier authentication. Now, even the hacker knows my email address and password, he/she won’t able to access my cellphone and therefore, cannot access my account remotely. Finally, use that email account as my windows login account and create a PIN. Use only the PIN to login. At this moment, even the hacker has a keylogger in my computer, he cannot use my PIN to login remotely. A secured computer is now created. The only weak point now is the user himself.