How to Factory Reset Lenovo Laptop without a Password

Forgot your Lenovo laptop/IdeaPad password? Don’t worry! This guide provides four methods to factory reset your Lenovo laptop without a password. However, keep in mind that factory resetting will erase all data, files, and apps on the system drive. That’s why we’ve included a third-party tool that enables you to reset a forgotten Lenovo laptop password without a factory reset, ensuring your media, data, and apps stay safe.

Scroll down to learn how to factory reset a Lenovo laptop without a password (applicable to all models and Windows OS versions).

Factory Reset Lenovo Laptop without Password Via Boot Screen

You can factory reset a Lenovo laptop using the Boot menu by accessing the laptop’s boot menu or advanced startup options during the initial booting stage.

The advanced startup options allow you to perform various system-related tasks, such as resetting the laptop to factory settings, without logging in to the operating system. As a result, you don’t need the password to factory reset the Lenovo laptop when accessing the advanced startup options.

Step 1. Access the Advanced Startup Options menu.

• Turn on the Lenovo laptop.
• As the Lenovo laptop starts to boot up, press and hold the “Shift” key.
• Choose Restart on the login screen. And it will open the Advanced Startup Options menu.

Step 2. On the first Advanced Startup options page, choose “Troubleshoot.” In the Troubleshoot menu, choose “Reset this PC.”

Step 3. You will have two options: “Keep my files” and “Remove everything.” Select “Remove everything” to factory reset the locked Lenovo laptop.

Follow the on-screen instructions to initiate the factory reset on the Lenovo laptop, which will take some time to complete. Once the factory reset is complete, you can set up the Lenovo laptop as if it were new, and you won’t need the password.

Factory Reset Lenovo Laptop without Password Using OneKey Recovery

OneKey Recovery is a pre-installed software tool on Lenovo/Ideapad laptops that allows you to recover the system and create backups in case of system failures or malware infections.

What’s great is you can use OneKey Recovery to factory reset a Lenovo/Ideapad laptop without a password and any technical knowledge. By default, OneKey Recovery stores a hidden partition to store the system image file and the OneKey Recovery system program files.

Note: OneKey Recovery will delete all the data on the particular drive where the operating system is installed (usually the C: drive), including files, applications, and settings. However, the data on other drives or partitions will remain safe.

Step 1. Turn off the Lenovo laptop.

• Press the OneKey Recovery (Novo) button. (It is a small, circular button with a curved arrow icon — you can find it next to the power button or on the side of Lenovo laptops).
• To press the OneKey Recovery button, use a pin or small object. This will turn on the Lenovo laptop and give you access to the OneKey Recovery System.
• You will have several options once the OneKey Recovery System loads; choose “System Recovery.“

Step 2. Choose “Restore from initial backup” on the System Recovery interface. This option allows you to factory reset the Lenovo laptops without a password.

After that, click on Start to initiate the factory reset on Lenovo laptops.

Wait for some time for the factory reset process to complete. The Lenovo laptop will restart automatically once the factory reset is complete. You can follow the on-screen instructions to set up the Lenovo laptop as if it were new — and it will not ask for a password.

Reset Lenovo Laptop without Password Via DVD/USB Bootable Drive

You can also reset a Lenovo laptop without a password using a DVD/USB bootable drive. Specifically, you must create a bootable Windows installation media, boot your Lenovo laptop using it, and perform a factory reset. This method, as mentioned before, does not require a password; however, it will erase all the contents — files, media, and applications — on the primary partition.

Step 1. Create a Bootable Drive.

• Use another computer to create a bootable USB or DVD using the Media Creation Tool (Windows Installation Media). You can download the Media Creation tool from the official Microsoft website.
• After creating the bootable USB or DVD drive, insert it into the locked Lenovo laptop you want to reset.

Step 2. Turn on the locked Lenovo laptop.

• Press the Boot Menu key (usually F12, F9, or F2) to access the Boot Menu. Remember that the key for accessing the Boot Menu varies depending on the Lenovo laptop model. You can conduct a quick Google search to determine the correct key for your Lenovo laptop model.

• Use the arrow keys to modify the boot device order in the Boot Menu. Make sure to prioritize the inserted bootable USB or DVD drive (first in line). This will enable the locked Lenovo laptop to boot from the connected USB or DVD drive.

Step 3. Choose the language, time, currency, format, and keyboard input method on the Windows Setup Screen. And then choose “Next.”

Step 3. Choose “Repair your computer” from the bottom-left corner on the Install Windows screen.

On the Choose an option screen, choose “Troubleshoot.“

Step 4. In the Troubleshoot menu, choose “Reset this PC.”

On the next screen, you will see two options: choose “Remove everything” to perform a factory reset on the locked Lenovo laptop.

Confirm the reset and follow the on-screen instructions. The factory reset process on the Lenovo laptop will take some time. After the reset, you can set up the Lenovo laptop by following the on-screen instructions.

Pro Tip: Remove the Lenovo Laptop Password

All the above-mentioned methods allow you to address forgotten passwords by performing a factory reset on your Lenovo laptop. However, these approaches will erase all files, media, and applications stored on the system drive. Alternatively, there is a method to reset forgotten passwords on Lenovo laptops without a factory reset.

This involves using a third-party Windows password reset tool like PassFab 4WinKey, which allows you to reset or remove passwords (admin, standard, domain, etc.) from the Lenovo laptop without a factory reset.

>> Get PassFab 4WinKey <<

Step 1. Download and install PassFab 4WinKey on another computer (not the locked one).

Click on “Start” to download the ISO file. Wait for the process to complete.

Step 2. Create a bootable USB or CD/DVD.

• Insert the USB or CD/DVD into the computer on which PassFab 4WinKey is installed.
• Choose the inserted disk. And click “Next” to create the bootable media. Wait for the process to complete. Eject the USB or CD/DVD after the process is complete.

Step 3. Boot the locked Lenovo laptop using the bootable media.

Change the boot priority and select the inserted disk as the first boot option. Restart the Lenovo laptop.

Step 4. Reset, Remove, Delete, or Create Windows Account Login Password.

• After the Lenovo Laptop restarts, choose the Windows system.
• On the next page, choose — Reset or Remove Password. Select the user account whose password you want to reset or remove on the Lenovo laptop.
• Click Next to proceed.

That’s how PassFab 4WinKey allows you to reset or remove your Lenovo laptop passwords without a factory reset.

Frequently Asked Questions About Lenovo Laptop Resetting

Will Lenovo OneKey Recovery delete my files?

Yes and No. When you use Lenovo OneKey Recovery, the files on the system drive (usually the C: drive) will be erased. However, the media present on other drives will remain safe.

What will happen when I reset my Lenovo laptop to factory settings?

Performing a factory reset on a Lenovo laptop erases all the data, applications, and configurations installed on the Windows system. And restore the Lenovo laptop to its original state.

How can I reset or remove the forgotten password on the Lenovo laptop/IdeaPad?

You can use a Windows password reset tool like Windows Password Recovery. Follow the steps in the guide to reset or remove the Lenovo laptop password.

How can I create a new password on a Lenovo laptop after performing a factory reset?

To create a new password on a Lenovo laptop (running on Windows 8, 10, & 11) after performing a factory reset, follow these simple steps:

1. Open Control Panel.
2. Select User Account (on Windows 11 & 10). Or,  User Accounts and Family Safety (on Windows 8).
3. Under the User Account menu, choose “Make changes to my account in PC settings.”
4. Select “Sign-in options.”
5. Under the password area, choose “Add.”
6. Type in the new password in the first two fields. Type in a password hint.
7. Select “Finish.”

There you go! That’s how to create a new password on the Lenovo laptop.

Conclusion

Contrary to popular opinion, forgetting your Lenovo laptop password is not a serious issue. You can factory reset your Lenovo laptop without a password and regain access to your device by employing one of the methods provided in this guide.

Remember that a factory reset on your Lenovo laptop will delete all data on the system drive. If you do not want that — consider using a third-party tool like PassFab 4WinKey to reset your password without losing your precious files, media, and applications.

All in all, whichever method you choose, you’ll quickly regain control of your Lenovo laptop.