Reset Forgotten Windows 11 local password

Lost or forgotten local windows 11 user password? 

A "Hirens BootCD" (USB KEY) may be a way to reset a lost local user account on a Windows 11 system. 

You'll need a USB key that is 4GB or larger in size that can be erased and formatted using RUFUS.

"DOWNLOAD" the Hiren's BootCD PE image from https://www.hirensbootcd.org/

Download the HBCD_PE .iso image

Download the RUFUS app "Rufus - Create bootable USB drives the easy way"

It is used to 'burn' the HBCD .iso image onto a USB key.

Select "DOWNLOAD"

Select the latest release.  At time of writing, it was rufus-4.15.exe (standard)

There may be some different scenarios that will allow this image to be successfully burned onto your USB key, You may need a couple of different attempts.

The Hiren's BootCD site has some other instructions that you may need to follow USB Booting | Hiren's BootCD PE

This is a warning, read it, verify the ISO is downloaded from the official Hirens BootCD site then select YES upon confirmation.

NOTE:

BACK UP YOUR USB KEY DATA.
THIS PROCEEDURE WILL DELETE ANY EXISTING DATA ON THE KEY.

MAKE SURE THE PROPER USB DEVICE IS SELECTED TO FORMAT!! 

Once RUFUS has successfully created the key, you can insert that key into the USB slot of the Windows 11 computer that has the lost password.

RESTART the computer

Press the key for your MB to select a boot device.  This is system dependent so find the sequence for the machine in question.

The system tested on used "F12" to select to boot device/order and allowed selection of the image created by the RUFUS system on the USB key.

If successfull selecting the key, and the system is booting the HIRENS BOOTCD image, a boot screen similar to the following will be presented:

The spinning "Windows" image will be presented

Eventually you will be presented with a HIRENS desktop

Select WINDOWS in the corner

    ->SECURITY

        ->PASSWORDS

            ->NT PASSWORD EDIT

You'll be presented with the Password Edit application

Select "OPEN"

Select the account you want to reset from the list.  This example uses the account "ENCODER"

Select "CHANGE PASSWORD"

Set your new password and select "OK"

Save your changes and reboot your computer.

You should now be able to log in with the updated password.