It’s not uncommon for people to forget the password to their Windows accounts. Sometimes, they create a strong password that they can’t remember. Other times, it’s just because they’re forgetful. The good news is that you are not entirely out of luck! Windows has an option called Password Issuance Disk that can come in handy in these situations.
What to do?
To avoid locking yourself out because of a forgotten password, use Windows’ ability to create a so-called “Password Issuance Disk”. You need an external storage device, a writable CD, DVD, or flash drive.
Open the Control Panel, click User Accounts and Family Security, select User Accounts, and click Create a password publishing disk. This will open the Forgot Password Wizard, where after clicking Next, select the drive you want to use to create the disk from the drop-down menu. Windows will first ask you for your current password and then create the password publishing disk after entering it. Then remove the disk and store the disk or USB key safely.
If you forget your password in the future, you will see a Reset Password link under the input field when you log in. If you have not only forgotten the password but have forgotten it, click on the link, and the Forgot Password Wizard will appear. Now connect your computer to the password publishing disk. You can then enter a new password.
Needless to say, this password-issuing disk should be stored in a safe place, preferably away from your computer, as it’s a piece of cake to crack your password for Windows, which you think is safe, and your funny colleagues might even change it, locking you out of the system.
Conclusion
You want to make sure you don’t lock yourself out of your computer, and the answer is simple: create a password issuance disk! It’s super easy and can save you a ton of headaches.