What Should You Do If You're Locked Out on Your Windows 10 Computer? 1

What Should You Do If You’re Locked Out on Your Windows 10 Computer?

There are few things in life more frightening than being locked out of your Windows 10 PC. For those who are digitally inclined, it can take a very painful day, month or even months.

Microsoft, for its part, continues to offer ways to prevent any scenario that could put you out of your digital life, while trying to keep your PC safe. The company added direct support for Microsoft Accounts in Windows 8. When a Microsoft Account is used, this computer completely forgets its local credentials and is instead linked to that Microsoft Account. We’re all likely to forget our passwords at some point, and that’s why Windows 10 includes something called Windows Hello. Windows Hello lets you bypass passwords altogether.

If your Windows 10 PC is locked, don’t panic. There are still ways you can get into it.

What To Do If You’re Locked Out on Your Windows 10 Computer: Determine What Kind of Account You Have

So you booted your Windows 10 device and it is not unlocking it for you. The first thing you should do is determine what type of account you have connected to that computer.

Windows 10 supports two types of accounts. One is called Microsoft Account. It allows your computer to talk to Microsoft’s different online services such as OneDrive and Outlook.com. The usernames for these accounts end with an email suffix from Microsoft’s existing services. There’s Outlook.com, Live.com, and Hotmail.com

The second type of account you can create on your Windows 10 PC is a simple User Account. User Accounts do not access Microsoft’s services. If you’re using this type of account, you won’t be able to connect to the Windows Store either to download new apps, music, videos or games.

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What type of account you have is very important because they determine what options are available to you if you forget your password.

What To Do If You’re Locked Out on Your Windows 10 Computer: Try Changing Password Types

Think back to the last time you successfully logged into your computer. Did you have to enter a password that included the alphabet, or did it contain nothing but numbers? Second, you have configured your device with a PIN code. So you may be having trouble logging in.

What to do when your Windows 10 computer crashes (2)

Windows Hello allows users with a PC with a fingerprint reader or compatible camera to log in with their finger or face. Maybe you remember configuring one of these?

To read: Windows Hello: How To Sign In To Windows 10 With Your Finger

You can switch back to logging in with Windows Hello or a PIN by tapping or clicking . Register Options in the login area. Note that these options will only be available to you if you have already set them up. If you haven’t done this, you won’t see the Login Options at all.

What To Do If You’re Locked Out on Your Windows 10 Computer: Reset Your Microsoft Account Password

If you don’t see Sign-in Options in your Windows 10 sign-in area, but you’re sure you have a Microsoft Account, your next step is to reset the password for that Microsoft Account. Fortunately, you don’t need to have access to your PC to do this. Head here To start the account reset process You may need your smartphone or home phone nearby to complete the process.

Microsoft uses the contact information on file to make sure you are who you say you are. If you have a phone number attached to your account, you can choose to have the company send you a text message with the required code or instead make a voice call with the information.

What to do when your Windows 10 computer crashes (1)

Either way, you want the locked Windows 10 PC you’re trying to log back into to have an internet connection. This is really important. In the absence of an Internet connection, your PC will continue to use whatever old password it was, as it cannot reach Microsoft servers for the new password.

What To Do If You’re Locked Out on Your Windows 10 PC: Don’t Use a Software Package to Try and Unlock Your Password

Going back to locked Windows 10 PCs that don’t have a Microsoft Account and have a User Account is a bit more difficult. Many companies advertise software that will let you enter a PC after forgetting the password, but Microsoft has made security tighter with Windows 8. These software packages generally do not support any operating system beyond Windows 7.

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You can search for a software package that will unlock your PC, just make sure it supports Windows 10. If it doesn’t say it supports the OS, stay away. Also, be very careful when purchasing any of the utilities you see.

In general, we do not recommend using these utilities at all.

What To Do If Your Windows 10 Is Crashed: Restore Your PC

If you’ve exhausted all these options, it’s time to consider declaring data bankruptcy and starting over. This means collecting your files from the backups you made before the lockdown and restoring your PC using restore discs or a flash drive.

DellFlashDrive

If you don’t have a restore disk or flash drive, you can order one from the company that made your computer for a small fee. As for the data currently in the locked PC, PC tech services like Geek Squad can remove the driver from your PC, then copy those files so you can have them. How much this will cost depends on the service you choose.

Good luck getting back to your locked Windows 10 PC.

Moyens I/O Staff has motivated you, giving you tips on technology, personal development, lifestyle and strategies that will help you.