Passwords are an essential aspect of computer security. They protect our data from being easily accessed by unauthorized third-parties. Sometimes we might forget our passwords or probably acquire a second-hand computer with a password set. That is where password bypassing comes in handy. This article will explore various ways you can use to bypass passwords on a laptop.
Video Tutorial:
Why You Need to Get Past the Password on a Laptop
There are specific instances when knowing how to bypass passwords comes in handy. For example, when setting up a new computer, you might forget the password you set, and the computer demands it during startup. Another instance is when you acquire a secondhand computer with the password set and need to personalize the device your way. Whatever the situation, having the knowledge of getting past a laptop password can prove useful.
Method 1: Via Administrator Account
One of the easiest ways to bypass a laptop password is through the administrator account. If you have physical access to the computer, follow these easy steps to bypass the password:
- Power on the laptop normally and wait for the login screen to appear
- Click the shift key five times consecutively. It will pop up a command prompt screen
- On the command prompt, type "net user administrator /active:yes" and press enter.
- Log in to the administrator account.
- Click "Start" and go to settings. Navigate to the "Accounts," and click on "Sign-in options."
- Select "Windows Hello PIN," and then click "Add" to set up a new password.
Pros:
- One of the easiest methods to use
- Can be done with no additional tools or software
Cons:
- Requires physical access to the laptop
- You might need to switch on the computer bios settings to enable the administrator account
- The method might not work on newer versions of Windows
Method 2: Using Windows Installation Disk
If you do not have access to the administrator account, another way to bypass the password is using the Windows installation disk.
Please follow these steps:
- Insert the Windows installation disk on the locked computer and start it up
- Choose "repair your computer," followed by "troubleshoot."
- In the "troubleshoot" menu, select "advanced options."
- Click on "Command Prompt."
- On the command prompt, type the following commands:
copy c:\windows\system32\utilman.exe c:\
copy c:\windows\system32\cmd.exe c:\windows\system32\utilman.exe - Reboot the computer, and the Windows login-screen will appear.
- Click the "Ease of Access" icon in the bottom right corner. It will open the command prompt.
- Type "net user <user name> *<password>" (replace <username> with the username and <password> with the new password you want to set) on the command prompt.
- Restart the computer
Pros:
- Works even if you do not have the Administrator account
- Does not delete any user files
Cons:
- You need a Windows installation disk or USB drive
- Commands need to be correctly formatted; otherwise, you might end up scripting some files unintentionally
- It can be time-consuming
Method 3: Using 3rd Party Software
Using third-party software could be another option for bypassing laptop passwords. There are various tools available online that can assist with this kind of task, such as Hiren’s BootCD, Kon-Boot, and Ophcrack. These tools can either remove or change the laptop password. Let’s take a look at how to use the Ophcrack tool to bypass your laptop password.
Please follow these easy steps:
- Download the Ophcrack tool from their website and save it to a USB drive.
- Insert the USB drive into the locked laptop and switch it on.
- Select the Ophcrack LiveCD option when the normal login screen appears, and wait for it to boot from the USB.
- Once it loads, it will reveal a hashed version of the passwords on the computer. Wait for the process to complete.
- Navigate to the "NT Pwd->1" tab on the screen, and wait for the user accounts to appear.
- Select the user account you wish to change the password for, and click "Set Password."
- The password should be reset simultaneously. Restart the laptop
Pros:
- It works even if you do not have access to the administrator account
- Easy to use
Cons:
- You require additional software
- Downloading third-party software could pose security risks
Method 4: Reset via Bios Settings
With physical access to the computer, bypassing passwords could get even more natural and faster if you reset it via the Bios settings. Follow the steps below to achieve that.
Please follow these easy steps:
- Power on the laptop and navigate to Bios settings by pressing "F2"
- Navigate to the "Security" tab and enable the "Supervisor Password"
- Set your new password by typing it through the keyboard and hitting "Enter."
- Save the changes and close the Bios
- Power off the computer
- Switch on the machine again and return to Bios settings by pressing "F2."
- Disable the "Supervisor Password" you set, then save the changes and exit
- You can now log in to the computer by selecting "Enter" on the password prompt.
Pros:
- Easy to perform
- No additional software required
Cons:
- Requires physical access to the laptop
- The method might not work if the Bios settings are blocked
What to Do If You Can’t Get Past The Password on a Laptop
If you have tried one or multiple methods of bypassing the laptop password, but it did not work, there are other things you could do. Here are a few options you could consider:
- Reinstall the operating system – you can use this option if you do not have anything on the computer that you can lose. You’ll need to back up your data on external sources before reinstalling the OS.
- Use advanced diagnostic tools – you could run an advanced diagnostic tool on the computer if it’s giving you errors.
- Contact the manufacturer – you could also reach out to the manufacturer’s customer service support for assistance. They will guide you on how to reset the password without losing any data on the computer.
Bonus Tips
- Always create a bootable USB drive or disk whenever you install an operating system.
- Avoid resetting the laptop password if you do not have any backups stored anywhere else besides the computer.
- Try to set easier-to-remember passwords for your laptop.
5 FAQs
Q1: Can I set up a new account on a laptop if I do not know the previous account credentials?
A: Reinstalling the OS is the only option if you lost the previous account credentials.
Q2: Is there a way to bypass a laptop password without using third-party software?
A: Yes, there are several ways to bypass laptop passwords without using any third-party software. Refer to the methods mentioned above.
Q3: What happens to the data on a laptop after resetting the password?
A: Normally, resetting the password does not erase any data from the laptop.
Q4: What is a good laptop password?
A: Short phrases like, "Alex321," are good passwords. They are easy to remember, and you won’t forget them quickly.
Q5: Can I use any recovery disk to reset the password on any computer?
A: No, you can’t. Recovery disks are customized to suit a specific system type. Ensure you always use the right recovery disk for the right computer.
Final Thoughts
Forgetting the password to your laptop can be frustrating, especially if you do not have extra accounts on the PC. Some methods mentioned in this article require no installations or any third-party tools, while others require a USB bootable drive or additional software. Regardless of the method, it is always best to have backups of your data, so when situations like this happen, you’ll have nothing to worry about. Always remember to set up passwords that you can remember but hard enough for unauthorized third-parties to guess.