How to Create a Password Reset Disk in Windows 11

A password reset disk helps reset your forgotten password and recover your user account in Windows 11. Here’s how to create it.

One of the biggest disadvantages of a password is that it is easier to forget. This is especially true if you have not used it for a long time or it isn’t very easy to remember. The good thing is that it is such a common occurrence that Windows has a built-in feature that lets you create a password reset disk (or USB drive) with just a couple of clicks. Once created, you can use it to reset your Windows password and restore access to your account.

In this quick and straightforward tutorial, I will show you how to create a password reset disk in Windows 11 and use it to reset the password. Let’s get started.

Good to know: How to change the user account password in Windows 11.

Before You Start

• You should have an empty USB drive plugged into the system. If the drive isn’t empty, the creation process will erase all data on it.
• A password reset disk only works for local accounts. If you use an online account (i.e., a Microsoft account) to log into Windows, you must reset your Microsoft account password online instead.
• You must be logged into the specific user account for which you want to create this password reset disk.

Good to know: Steps to create a password reset disk in Windows 10.

What is a password reset disk?

As the name implies, a password reset disk allows you to reset the password of a local user account in Windows 11, 10, 8, and 7 operating systems. It only works on the machine and for the specific user account it was created for. You cannot use the password reset disk on another machine or for another user account.

Steps to Create a Password Reset Disk in Windows 11

1. Plug in the empty USB drive.
2. Press the “Windows key” to open the Start menu.
3. Search for “Create a password reset disk” and click “Open“.
4. Click the “Next” button.
5. Choose the “USB drive” from the dropdown menu.
6. Click the “Next” button.
7. Type the user account password and click “Next“.
8. The above action starts the password reset disk creation process.
9. Click the “Next” and then the “Finish” button.
10. With that, you’ve created the password reset disk in Windows 11.

Detailed Steps (With Screenshots)

First, plug in a USB drive. Important: Windows will format this drive during the process, erasing all data currently on it. Make sure you have backed up any important files, or use an empty drive.

After plugging in the USB drive, open the Start menu by clicking the “Windows icon” on the taskbar. Next, search for “Create password reset disk” in the Start menu and click the “Open” option.

After opening the tool, click the “Next” button to continue. Select the “USB drive” from the dropdown menu and press the “Next” button.

Now, type the user account password and press the “Next” button. With that, Windows 11 starts the password reset disk creation process. Once done, click the “Next” and then “Finish” buttons.

That is it. With that, you have successfully created the Windows 11 password reset disk. From now on, you can use this disk to reset your local account password if and when you forget your user account password.

Steps to Reset Password Using the Password Reset Disk

1. Turn ON your system
2. When you see the login screen, plug in the password reset disk.
3. Click the “Reset password” option under the login field.
4. Click the “Next” button in the password reset wizard.
5. Select the “USB drive” from the dropdown menu and click “Next“.
6. Type the new password for your user account in the first two fields.
7. Type the password hint.
8. Click the “Next” and “Finish” buttons.
9. With that, you’ve reset your user account password using the password reset disk.

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That is all. It is that simple to create a password reset disk in Windows 11 and use it to reset the password if and when you forget your password. If you have any questions or need help, comment below. I’ll be happy to assist.