Windows 10 Windows Login Restore and Password Recovery
Two things will be covered in this article. 1) How to recover the Windows 10 account password, even if it is a Windows Live account, and 2) How to revert back to a normal local system account when you ended up somehow with a Windows Live account.
Contents
How Do You Log Into Windows
A local account is a username and password combination that you have used to log into any of the Windows operating systems before Windows 8.
The Windows Live ID is a Microsoft account, which is tied into one or more of any number of products including Hotmail, Windows Live, Xbox gaming, OneDrive (their crappy cloud storage) and Outlook.
The push to change the way we've logged into Windows for many generations of the operating system began with Windows 8. Rather than having a simple username and password that was saved on the computer, Microsoft started pushing for Windows users to have an Internet based account. This gives Microsoft a way to be more up in your business about your computer activity and Internet habits.
Windows 10 has relaxed the push for users to have what is called a "Windows Live" Internet based account to access the computer, making it easier to have a good old conventional local username and password that doesn't require Internet connectivity or any association with a Microsoft email address.
Why the push for this Internet connected Microsoft Live ID? Because Microsoft wants to copy what Google is doing with their Android devices. Android users have little privacy and no administrative privileges on their devices. Microsoft is trying to move in that direction. However, when it comes to our computers, people seem to be more resistant towards the intrusiveness.
When you set up Windows 10 there is an option to "Skip this step" on the setup screen where Microsoft is trying to get you to create a Windows Live ID. You should skip the step. The screen in question has bold text at the top that reads, "Make it yours" when in all actuality as soon as you create a Windows Live ID then you make it theirs.
Switch Back to a Local Account if you have a Live ID
Open Settings in Microsoft Windows 10 and go to the Account group of settings. In the Your Account section, click "Sign in with a local account instead". Windows will make you verify your Microsoft account by entering your Live ID password. Click NEXT.
Now you can enter a name, a password, and a password hint to create the local account. You must use a username that isn’t already being used on the current system. Click NEXT.
Now choose "Sign out and finish." When your computer restarts you can select the account you just created and enter the password you set for it. Inside, things will be exactly as they were before for your user profile.
Windows 10 Password Recovery
If you are using a Windows Live ID you can go to the web site
Password Recovery Utilities for Windows 10
These are third party software tools that can be used to "crack" or reset your Windows password.
- PCUnlocker Trial / PCUnlocker Enterprise edition
