Forgetting the password to your Windows laptop is an incredibly frustrating and worrying experience. The fear that you may be losing all your data is not something anyone wants to experience. Thankfully, Windows 11 allows you to recover your password or sign-in information if you've forgotten it.

Whether you use a Microsoft account or a local account, you have options for getting back into your PC, so let's dive right into them.

How to unlock a Microsoft account

Most Windows users are using a Microsoft account on Windows 11 and 10. If this is the case, and you forgot your PIN, password, or other login information, then you don't have to worry. Your Microsoft account will let you reset the password.

1. On the sign-in screen for your account, choose I forgot my password. If you're using a PIN, choose I forgot my PIN.
2. Follow the prompts on your screen to confirm your identity with your Microsoft account. If you only forgot your PIN, you can use your Microsoft account password or an authenticator app to verify your identity and receive a security code that will allow you to reset your PIN.
3. If you have forgotten your Microsoft account password, you'll need to have a recovery method set up to be able to reset your password. A reset link will be sent to an alternative email so you can reset your Microsoft account password.

How to unlock a local account

If you set up your PC using a local account on Windows 11, you can reset the password through the password hints and prompts you used when you first set up your PC. Here's what to do:

1. Click the Reset Password link under the login screen.
2. Answer the security questions (these should have been created by you when creating the account).

Once you fill out the prompts, you'll be prompted to set a new password. Make sure it's memorable but not easily predictable.

How to unlock a computer without the password in the Windows Recovery Environment

Thanks to a weird quirk on Windows, you can use the Accessibility feature on Windows and change it to Command Prompt on the lock screen to force a password reset. It's a pretty technical process, but we have you covered.

1. Restart your computer and when you see the Windows logo, press and hold the power button to force it to shut down.
2. Turn the computer back on and repeat this process.
3. When you turn on the computer again, automatic repair will initiate, giving you some troubleshooting options. Click Advanced options.
4. Choose Troubleshoot and then Advanced Options and Command Prompt.
5. At this point, you may be asked for a BitLocker recovery key to be able toa ccess your drive. You can find your BitLocker recovery keys on this page, or another place where you may have chosen to save them.
6. Type in the drive letter for your Windows installation, followed by a colon. Generally, it will be C, so type C: and press Enter.
7. Type cd windows and press Enter.
8. Type cd system32 and press Enter.
9. Type out ren utilman.exe utilman1.exe, then press Enter again.
10. Type ren cmd.exe utilman.exe and press Enter one more time.
11. Exit the Command Prompt and click Continue to reboot Windows 11.
12. Once in the login screen, click the Accerssibility icon (near the power icon) and Command Prompt will open.
13. Type the command: control userpasswords2 and press Enter.
14. Choose the account you want to reset the password on and choose Reset password.
15. Enter your new password, or leave it blank to remove the password. Click OK.
16. Close the Command Prompt, restart, and enter the password you entered.
17. Go back to the Windows 11 Settings app, choose Accounts > Sign-in options, and reset the password again so you can set new security questions.
18. Open the Start menu and, while holding Shift on your keyboard, click the Power button and then Restart. Windows will restart to the recovery environment again.
19. Choose Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Command Prompt. Again, you'll need your BitLocker recovery key.
20. Type C: (or the appropriat edrive letter) and press Enter.
21. Type cd windows and press Enter.
22. Type cd system32.
23. Enter the following command: ren utilman.exe cmd.exe.
24. Finally, enter this command: ren utilman1.exe utilman.exe.

Once you complete the steps above, you'll be able to sign in again and no damage will have been done to your files. It's important that you follow the steps through to the end, as things might break otherwise.

A warning about other options

These are all the major ways you can unlock a computer without a password in Windows 11. If none of these three methods work, you might be tempted to try a third-party program that you might have come across through a Google search. Indeed, there are plenty of these options on the internet, and some of these work, but we suggest staying away from these programs because they could contain hidden malware that can damage your computer. You're probably better off resetting your PC entirely than using programs that can unlock your computer.