Need to access Windows 10?

If your PC or laptop doesn’t have a fingerprint sensor or camera with Windows Hello support, you’re probably still using a password or PIN to log in.

Microsoft forced many users to switch to using a Microsoft login rather than a local one, so it’s easier to lose track of the latest password as you probably change it more often. Note, though that the company now allows you to ditch your password entirely and use its authenticator app (as well as other methods) so that you don’t have to remember anything. Of course, that doesn’t help you right now, but it’s something you should consider setting up when you do manage to get back into your account.

Recover lost data

Either way, all is not lost. There are a few things you can try before you consider reinstalling Windows altogether.

The purpose of this tutorial is to help you gain access to a personal PC that you’ve been locked out of. We can’t, of course, condone the use of these tips to gain access to someone else’s device.