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How to Factory Reset Windows 11 PC without Admin Password

Ralph Adolphs
Ralph Adolphs

Updated:

If you have problems with your Windows 11 PC or you want to sell it, you may need to reset it to factory settings. Normally, to factory reset your Windows 11 PC, you must log in to an administrator account. But what if you forgot your admin password and can't log in? There is no need to worry. This article will show you how to factory reset Windows 11 PC without admin password.

Tip: If you reset your Windows 11 PC just to get rid of your forgotten admin password, you don't have to. There are some ways to bypass Windows 10 password without losing any data. Click that link to learn how to do it.


Option 1: Factory reset Windows 11 from the Settings menu

If you can log into your Windows 11 as an administrator account, you can simply reset your PC from the Settings menu.

Step 1: Click the Start button on the taskbar, and then select Settings to open the Settings app.

click Start and select Settings

Step 2: In Settings, select System on the left, and then select Recovery on the right.

select Recovery

Step 3: Click Reset PC under the "Recovery options".

click Reset PC

Step 4: A "Reset this PC" window opens. Choose "Keep my files" or "Remove everything" according to your own needs.

  • "Keep my files" removes all settings and third-party apps from your PC, but keeps your personal files including your user account and password.
  • "Remove everything" removes everything, including your Windows account and password.

choose Keep my files or Remove everything

Step 5: Choose Cloud Download or Local reinstall according to how you would like to reinstall Windows.

choose Cloud Download or Local Install

Step 6: Confirm your settings, and then click Next to proceed.

confirm settings and click Next

Step 7: After getting things ready, click Reset.

click Reset

Step 8: Your PC is preparing to reset. This will take some time and your PC will automatically restart.

preparing to reset

Step 9: After your PC automatically restarts, it starts resetting itself to the factory settings. Just keep your PC plugged in and wait for the reset to complete.

resetting this PC

Step 10: At the end of reset, your PC needs to reinstall Windows 11 system files. Keep waiting a few minutes until the installation is complete, and then you will get back into Windows 11.

installing Windows 11

Option 2: Factory reset Windows 11 from the lock screen

If you forgot your admin password and can't log into Windows 11, you can reset your PC from the lock screen. Follow these steps.

Step 1: On the Windows 11 login screen, click the Power button. After the Power menu appears, click Restart while holding the Shift key on your keyboard.

click Restart while holding Shift

Step 2: After your PC restarts to the "Choose an option" screen, choose Troubleshoot.

click Troubleshoot

Step 3: On the Troubleshoot page, click Reset this PC.

click Reset this PC

Step 4: Choose "Keep my files" or "Remove everything" according to your needs. Since you don't have your admin password, you will need to choose Remove everything. Otherwise, if you choose Keep my files, you still have to enter your Windows 11 admin password at the end of the reset.

choose Remove everything

Step 5: Choose "Cloud download" or "Local reinstall" according to how you would like to reinstall your Windows.

choose Cloud Download or Local reinstall

Step 6: Choose Just remove my files. But if you want to sell or give away your PC, it's better to select Fully clean the drive.

choose Just remove my files

Step 7: Finally, click Reset.

click Reset

Step 8: Your PC will immediately start resetting itself to factory settings. Just keep your PC on and wait for the reset to complete.

resetting this PC

Step 9: Once the reset is complete, you need to follow the on-screen steps to re-set up your PC and get into the Windows 11 desktop.

Option 3: Factory reset Windows 11 with a bootable USB

If you insist on resetting your Windows 11 PC to factory settings, and the methods above do not work for you, it is a good idea to use an installation media or bootable USB drive.

Step 1: Create a Windows 11 bootable USB drive using Microsoft's media creation tool or Windows 11 iSO file on any working computer.

Step 2: Insert the Windows 11 USB drive to your PC you want to factory reset. Start the PC and access its Boot menu or BIOS menu to set the PC to boot from the USB.

Step 3: After the PC boots up and displays the Windows Setup screen, choose your language and keyboard, and then click Next.

Step 4: On the next page, click Install Now.

click Install Now

Step 5: On the Activate Windows page, click I don't have a product key.

I don't have a product key

Step 6: Choose your Windows 11 edition and click Next.

choose Windows 11 edition

Step 7: Accept the Microsoft software license, and then click Next.

accept Microsoft software license

Step 8: Choose which type of installation want. Choosing the Upgrade option will keep your files including your admin password. Since you don't have your admin password, choose Custom: Install Windows only (advanced).

choose Install Windows only

Step 9: Choose the drive partition where you want to install Windows 11, and then click Next. Windows will wipe your installation drive and install a fresh copy the Windows 11 OS on your computer.

choose installation partition

Step 10: Just follow the remaining instructions on the screen, and your Windows 11 PC will restore to a brand-new state, just like when it was factory set.