How to Reset Forgotten Password on Dell Laptop or Desktop Computer

If you are reading this guide, you most likely forgot your Dell laptop password and are searching the internet for a way back into the system. You want to learn how to reset password on your Dell laptop. Before getting to the end of this page, you will be fully equipped to do just that.

When your PC boots and arrives at the logon screen, without a password, you will not be able to get past there. A solution is to take the computer to a technician, but then, be ready to part with hundreds of dollars. You are better off learning how to bypass password on Dell laptop. Read this post to learn the best ways to do it.

Method 1. Reset Forgotten Dell Laptop Password with Reset Disk

A pre-created password reset disk is the first thing that comes to most people’s minds when they hear about Dell laptop password reset. It also incredibly popular as the conventional technique that beginners are taught when they learn how to reset a Dell desktop/laptop computer without password. Therefore, before going into more sophisticated methods, we will treat how to unlock a Dell Inspiron laptop without the password but only using a password reset disk. Below are the steps for performing a Dell laptop password reset using a password reset disk.

Step 1. Power on your Dell computer and allow it to boot until it gets to the Windows logon screen. Click on the account that you wish to log in to and enter an incorrect password multiple times. After several trials, you will see a “Reset password” link below the password field. Next, connect the password reset USB or disk to your computer, click this “Reset password” link and continue to the next step.

Step 2. Next, with the password reset disk inserted while you click the “Reset password” link, the computer will now launch the Password Reset Wizard. Click “Next,” and then from the dropdown menu, select your inserted password reset disk and click “Next” once again to continue.

Step 3. A new screen opens on the Password Reset Wizard in which you can now change the user account password. Enter your new password in the first field and re-enter it below. You may also need to type out a password hint in case you forget the new password again.

Step 4. Finally, restart your Dell computer. This time around, when you arrive at the Windows logon screen, enter your newly created password here, and you will be logged in with it.

Method 2. Reset Forgotten Dell Laptop Password without Disk (All Windows Versions)

Unlike the first method, for this solution, we will do the Dell laptop password reset using a third-party application. Don’t bother about whether it will work on your system because Windows Password Recovery is fully compatible with all versions of the Windows operating system. It is a very robust software that handles reset tasks superbly, but it is also quite easy to use. Just follow the instructions we will give later in this guide. But before we get into how to reset a Dell desktop/laptop computer without password, let us first check out its awesome features.

Key Features:

• You can create a Windows password reset disk or USB drive right from the application with no need for additional tools.
• The entire Dell laptop password reset process takes only three simple steps – create a password reset disk, boot the locked PC from the password reset disk, and do the Dell laptop password reset.
• Windows Password Recovery supports all Dell laptops and desktops fully, and it also works perfectly on all other computer models. This program recovers local admin accounts, Microsoft accounts, domain admin account, and regular user account passwords.
• It also has the ability to create or delete these user accounts without having to log in to Windows.
• Full compatibility with all Windows operating system editions.

Steps to reset Dell laptop password using Windows Password Recovery

Step 1. Create a Windows password reset disk or USB

As noted, we begin the Dell laptop password reset by creating a Windows password reset disk. You can do that on a USB, CD, or DVD drive, and note that this step should be carried out on a different PC – one that you are not locked out of.

On the first screen, you see on launching Windows Password Recovery, if you want to make the Windows password reset disk on a USB stick, select “USB device.” Otherwise, click on “CD/DVD” to create it on a CD or DVD.

After selecting the media type, insert the USB flash drive, CD, or DVD that you wish to use for the Windows Password Reset disk, select the inserted media from the dropdown, and then click the “Begin burning” button to proceed.

After clicking “Begin burning,” when the Dell laptop password reset procedure is completed successfully, Windows Password Recovery will prompt you on the screen like in the screenshot below.

Step 2. Boot the locked Dell computer from the Windows password reset disk

Next, after the application has finished creating your Windows password reset disk, eject it or remove it from the other computer and connect it to the Dell computer. The next step is to boot the PC that you wish to unlock because you want the system to boot from this disk.

After connecting the reset disk, power on the computer. Watch as the screen lights up; you will be shown your boot menu entry key on the screen(In most situations the boot key isF12 for Dell Laptop,Esc for Dell Desktop Computer). Press this key continuously until you are taken to the boot menu. There, scroll down to your newly created Windows password reset disk and press “Enter” to boot from it.

Step 3. Perform the Dell laptop password reset operation

Finally, when the computer finishes booting, the Windows Password Recovery Advanced window will be displayed. Now select the Windows system and user account that you want to unlock, and then click on the “Reset Password” button.

Done. After resetting the password, remove the Windows password reset disk and restart the Dell laptop.

Method 3. Reset Forgotten Dell Laptop Password By Resetting Microsoft Account Password reset (Windows 10, 8.1, and 8 Only)

If you do not have a second computer for creating the Windows password reset disk with Windows Password Recovery, or even an empty USB flash or disk, there are other ways for you to do the Dell laptop password reset. Some users make use of their Microsoft account to log in to Windows. If you do this, then this method will show you how to reset your Dell computer password using the Microsoft account reset.

Limitations:

• This method only works on Windows 10, Windows 8.1, and Windows 8 computers.
• Also, it will only recover your Windows password if you use a Microsoft account.

Steps to recover your Dell computer password using Microsoft account password reset

Step 1. Visit https://account.live.com/password/reset and enter your Microsoft or Skype email, phone number, or Skype ID. Click “Next” when you enter this.

Step 2. After entering your email and clicking “Next,” you will have to verify your identity. To do this, simply click the box beside your email and hit “Get code” below. If you do not have access to this email, click the “Show more verification methods” link to get the code on your mobile via SMS.

Step 3. On the next page, confirm your account by entering the code that was sent to you via email or SMS. When that is done successfully, then you will be redirected to the page where you finally reset your password.

Step 4. Enter your new password and confirm it by entering it again. When you are done, click the “Next” button to save the password change. Finally, reboot your Dell laptop. On the Windows logon screen, enter the newly created password, and you will be able to log in to the system with it.

If you neither have a second laptop for creating the password reset disk with Windows Password Recovery, nor do you use a Microsoft account, you can also do the Dell laptop password reset with the help of a second administrator account.

Method 4. Reset Forgotten Dell Laptop Password with Another Admin Account

Usually, people create one or two admin accounts on their Dell laptops for various reasons, such as ease of use and elevated privileges. However, when they forgot your Dell laptop password, they realized another benefit of having multiple administrator accounts. You can use the second one to reset the password of another user account when you need to do that.

Follow the below steps carefully in order to avoid mistakes.

Step 1. Power of your Dell computer and on the Windows logon screen, select instead of the other admin account that you will use for resetting your other password. When the Windows system boots up, press the Windows key and then press “R” to open the Run dialog box.

Step 2. In the Run dialog box, type “cmpmgmt.msc” and press “Enter” to take you to the Computer Management utility. Here, go to “System Tools” and select “Local Users and Groups.” You will now see a list of all the users on your Dell system.

Step 3. Locate the locked user account and right-click on it. From the options, select the “Set password” link. This opens a new screen on which you should now enter the new password and confirm it. After confirming your new password, click the “OK” button to set it.

Step 4. Your password has now been changed. What you can do now is either log out of the admin user account you are currently signed in to or reboot the computer. When you get to the Windows logon screen, enter your new password.

Method 5. Bypass Password on Dell Laptop in Safe Mode (Windows 7/XP/Vista Supported)

The Windows Safe Mode boots up your Dell computer with only the most essential processes running. This mode is used in troubleshooting computer issues, and in this section, we will show you how to reset a Dell desktop/laptop computer without password using Safe Mode. Let’s get to it.

Limitations:

• The administrator account must be enabled for it to work.
• This method only supports Windows 7, Windows XP, and Windows Vista computers.

Steps to reset a Dell desktop/laptop computer without password using the Windows Safe Mode

Step 1. Power on your Dell laptop and start pressing the “F8” key continuously. Do not stop pressing “F8” until you arrive at the Advanced boot options screen. On this screen, scroll down to “Safe Mode with Command Prompt” and hit “Enter.” This causes the system to start in Safe Mode but with access to the Windows Command Prompt.

Step 2. Next, in the course of the Windows booting into Safe Mode, at the logon screen, here is what to do. If you have enabled the built-in administrator account, you would be able to continue logging in to Dell laptop without entering a password. However, a Command Prompt screen will open.

Step 3. In Command Prompt, enter the following command:

net {your username} {new password}

Note: In the command above, replace “{your username}” with the username of your Windows account. Also, change “{new password}” to whatever you want the new password to be.

Method 6. Unlock Dell Laptop Password via Dell Support Service

If all of the above-mentioned methods fail, you can also reset Dell laptop password by contacting the Dell Support Service. Dell computers come with free support forever. This case of your laptop locking you out and all methods of Dell laptop password reset failing. Their technicians will be glad to help you to unlock the user account quickly.

To contact the Dell support service, follow the instructions below:

Step 1. Call their phone number on 1-844-324-2808 using any smartphone, telephone, or even Skype.

Step 2. When it connects, press “1” to listen and be served in English. Alternatively, you can press another corresponding number for your preferred language.

Step 3. Next, from the prompt, press “9” to speak to a customer service representative.

Step 4. Finally, when you get connected to an agent, let them know that you forgot your Dell laptop password, and hear what they advise. The normal solution they will offer is to replace the computer if it’s under warranty. They could also provide other solutions from their end.

Conclusion

If you forgot your Dell laptop password, contacting the Dell support service is tricky because the best-case scenario is that they replace the system. If this happens, you will have to forego all of your data on that computer. Before taking that option, try out the other solutions on Dell laptop password reset. We have gone through six different ones, and you can attempt them based on your specific situation. For a more general approach, learn how to bypass password on your Dell laptop using the software called Windows Password Recovery.