Locked Out of My PC: Forgotten Windows Password or PIN

Check simple sign-in causes first

Check Caps Lock, the keyboard layout and whether numbers are registering correctly. Read the account name on screen. A laptop shared by family members or staff may be showing a different account from the one you normally use. Make a note of any error without sharing the password or codes you tried.

If you forgot the Windows Hello PIN

Look for I forgot my PIN beneath the PIN box and follow the verification process if it is offered. If it is not available, use Sign-in options to try the account password instead. A PIN is not the same as your Microsoft account password, so changing one does not necessarily change the other.

If you forgot the account password

For a Microsoft account, use Microsoft’s official account recovery on a trusted device. For a local account, supported recovery may include security questions or a reset disk previously created for that account. Do not download a password-removal program from an advertisement. Account recovery depends on information and methods already associated with the account.

If this is a work or school computer

Contact the administrator responsible for that organisation. They may control password recovery, device policies and access. A local software technician cannot legitimately remove company management controls just because a user has the laptop. Tell us if your organisation has authorised you to request support.

If the screen says BitLocker

Stop and use the separate recovery-key guide. BitLocker protects an encrypted drive; it is not the normal Windows account password. We cannot bypass encryption or recreate a missing key.

Can NOXTech help while I am locked out?

A normal remote connection usually requires you to sign in first. We may be able to guide the owner through official recovery using another device, but some situations need hands-on help. Send a free enquiry describing the screen before booking.