Windows Password Recovery- 3 Approaches to Recover or Reset Windows

Penny Warren Published on August 27, 2025Windows Password3-min reading

Forgot your Windows password? It happens more often than you think. Maybe you typed it wrong too many times, or just cannot remember it after a break. Either way, you need a way back in fast. This guide will walk you via easy and advanced Windows password recovery methods. We will cover simple steps using Command Prompt, show how to reset passwords with a USB or CD, and even try tools like John the Ripper for tech-savvy users. No matter your skill level, there is a method here that can help you unlock your computer and get back to work.

In this article:

Part 1. Recover Windows Password Using CMD
Part 2. Reset Admin & User Password with a CD or USB Drive Easily
Part 3. Recover Windows Password via John the Ripper with Tech Skills
Part 4. Why Is It Important to Know How Windows Password Recovery Works?

Part 1. Recover Windows Password Using CMD

If you still have access to a user account with admin rights, Command Prompt can be a powerful way to reset a forgotten password. While it might look like just a black box with text, CMD can serve as a quick Windows password recovery tool, no extra downloads needed. This method is best for users who are comfortable typing commands and want a built-in solution without third-party software.

Step 1

Press the Windows key, type cmd, then right-click on Command Prompt and pick Run as administrator.

Step 2

In the Command Prompt window, type the following and press Enter to display all user accounts on the computer: net user.

Step 3

Type the following command, replacing username with the exact account name and newpassword with your new password: net user username newpassword.

Step 4

Close the Command Prompt and attempt to log in to the account using a new password that you have just established. In case you continue to have a feeling that your account is not granted Administrator privileges on Windows 10, you might want to customize the settings to have full access there.

Part 2. Reset Admin & User Password with a CD or USB Drive Easily

If you are locked out of your Windows account and cannot use Command Prompt, a reliable third-party tool like imyPass Windows Password Reset can save the day. This software helps you create a Windows password recovery disc using a USB or CD, which you can boot from to reset forgotten passwords. It works for both admin and standard accounts and supports all major Windows versions, including Windows 11 and older systems.

With a simple interface and step-by-step process, it is beginner-friendly yet effective, perfect for anyone who needs fast access without reinstalling the system. If you want to bypass the Administrator password since the PC is yours, follow the guide below.

Step 1

To get the latest version of the app, click the download button that we have included here. Follow the installation instruction, which requires you to accomplish, then launch it.

Free Download

Step 2

First, you need to make a bootable disc or USB on a normal working computer to burn the reset disk here. Choose which one you prefer, and also based on the plan you purchase. When it is done, click OK and eject the bootable device.

Step 3

Restart the locked computer and press the appropriate key to enter the Boot Menu, commonly it is F12 or ESC. Once you enter it, plug in the bootable device, go to Boot, find the name of the device here, and hit Enter.

Step 4

To reset the PC password, you will see the interface of the app on the locked device, then select the OS where you want to reset the password.

Step 5

The list will appear on the interface, and pick the account that you want to reset, such as the Administrator. Hit the Reset Password, click Yes, then press Reboot to continue.

Part 3. Recover Windows Password via John the Ripper with Tech Skills

John the Ripper is a strong password recovery instrument used by advanced users who favor open source solutions. It is not plug-and-play; one has to be technically proficient and possess some degree of patience. However, in the right configuration, it is capable of retrieving hashed versions of Windows passwords through brute-force or dictionary-based attacks. To begin, you need access to the SAM and SYSTEM files from the locked-out PC, which you can extract using a Windows password recovery disk or bootable Linux drive.

Step 1

Another way to boot a locked PC is to use a Linux recovery CD, such as Kali or Ubuntu Live CD. This will allow you to browse the Windows file system even without having to log in.

Step 2

Find and copy out these two files on the Windows drive:

• C:WindowsSystem32configSAM
• C:WindowsSystem32configSYSTEM

Step 3

Copy the two files to a new laptop on which the John the Ripper software is installed.

Step 4

Use samdump2 included in many John the Ripper packages, to extract the password hashes. Open a terminal and run:

samdump2 SYSTEM SAM > hashes.txt

Step 5

Let John process the hashes. Cracking time depends on the password strength.

john hashes.txt

Step 6

The recovered password will be displayed in the terminal after cracking. Log in to the original Windows with it.

Part 4. Why Is It Important to Know How Windows Password Recovery Works?

Keeping informed about how Windows recovery of passwords works can save you time, stress and even all your files. It is comforting to know what you should do whenever you get locked out, since you will be able to act quickly without having to reinstall Windows or lose data. This also comes in handy with older systems that may not have built-in tools. To give an example, Windows Vista password recovery can give rise to more manual procedures than the recent versions. Being prepared means you can choose the best method for your situation, whether it is using CMD, recovery tools, or a bootable disk, and get back into your system with ease.

Conclusion

This is, of course, stressful, but as you now understand, there are many ways you can put the situation under your control, proceed and reset your password. Rounding back to whether you work with installed software like CMD, third-party programs such as imyPass, or specialized ones like John the Ripper, each one presents a way to do the reverse, depending on your experience and access to the system. For older systems, creating a Windows 7 password recovery disk ahead of time remains one of the smartest ways to stay prepared. With the right approach, password troubles do not have to mean starting over.

Penny Warren

Penny is a senior editor from imyPass. She has focused on discovering perfect GPS location solutions in all scenarios, and also has experience in fixing computers.