If you're prone to forgetting the password for your local account on Windows 10 or 11, a password reset disk can help you regain access to it. And the good thing about it is that the disk will work even if you’ve changed your password a couple of times since creating the medium. All you need is a USB drive and a little know-how.

So insert a USB drive into your Windows 10 or 11 computer and follow the steps below to create a password reset disk. We’ll even show you how to use it.

How to Create a Password Reset Disk in Windows

You’ll need to open the Control Panel in your local Windows account to find the option to create a password reset disk. To do that, press Win + S to open Windows Search. Enter control panel in the search box and click on Control Panel in the search results to open it.

control panel in the windows search results

In the Control Panel, click on the search box in the top right corner and type in password reset disk. Then, click on the Create password reset disk link in the results to open the Forgotten Password Wizard.

searching for the link to create a password reset disk in windows 11's control panel

Click Next on the Forgotten Password Wizard's welcome screen. Then, select a USB drive to use and click Next again.

select drive to use for creating the password reset disk in the forgotten password wizard on windows

Enter your current Windows password and then click Next.

entering your current user password in the forgotten password wizard on windows 11

Windows will then create the password reset disk. Click Next.

the forgotten password wizard in windows 11 showing that it has completed creating the password reset disk

Click Finish to close the Forgotten Password Wizard.

What happened here is that Windows created and saved a password reset key in the USB drive you used, making it a password reset disk. To see the key, open the drive, and you'll find it in the root directory.

a password reset key created by the forgotten password wizard and saved in an external hdd

Now store the password reset disk somewhere safe.

How to Use a Password Reset Disk in Windows

Now, let’s suppose you’ve forgotten your password, and you have no other way to remember what your passwords are. Well, just insert the password reset disk into your computer and boot up the machine.

When you get to your account’s login screen, type in the wrong password intentionally and hit Enter. Windows will tell you that you’ve entered the wrong password, so just click OK – you meant to do that.

a failed log in attempt on windows 11

Click on Reset password to launch the Password Reset Wizard.

the windows 11 log in screen with the reset password option showing

When the Password Reset Wizard opens, click Next on the welcome screen. Then, select the drive with the password reset key, and click Next again.

selecting a password reset disk to use in the password reset wizard on windows 11

Create a new password, as well as a hint, and click Next.

creating a new password in the password reset wizard on windows 11

Click Finish to close the Password Reset Wizard.

Now you’ll be able to use the newly-created password to log back into your local Windows 10 or 11 account.

No More Panicking When You Forget Your Windows Password

They say it's better to have and not need than it is to need and not have. A password reset disk is a great contingency plan for when you forget your local account’s password on Windows 10 or 11. And, as you can see, it’s quite easy to create and use.