How to change the password on a laptop

Laptops store confidential materials that must be protected from unauthorized persons. The solution to this problem is to set a strong password. Further in the article, read about how to change the encoding requested at startup on various operating systems and in the BIOS, as well as how to block access to the desktop.

How to change the login password on a laptop

Let's look at the features of replacing it in various operating systems. Please note that in the login settings it is better to uncheck the box next to the recommendation to load the welcome page. This is an additional guarantee of device safety. If there is only one owner of the product, then there will be no problems with the change. In the list of accounts, select the user for whom the password will be changed. For these actions to take effect, the laptop must be rebooted.

It is worth noting that modifications of computer technology are constantly undergoing changes and many methods are becoming obsolete. Despite this, the safety of the material should not be neglected, so it is necessary to constantly be aware of new products in the field of IT technologies.

Reference. To be sure to learn the password, write it down on a sheet of paper and put it in a secluded place, inaccessible to others.

Windows XP

Changing the combination is easy using the control panel.This is a convenient, fast and understandable technique.

• Through Start, go to the control panel and enter the combination in the user accounts section.
• The code word should be written down 2 times. This is done in order to upload unreliable data.
• The command line can also help. It is called via start and the execute command. Next, enter cmd, after which another command line will pop up.

After your shift, be sure to remember the hint: it will help in situations where the owner has forgotten the encryption he came up with. It’s better not to use standard options like your birthday or your mother’s maiden name. The fact is that information of this kind is not so difficult to obtain with the help of modern technologies. Select confidential information that is known to a limited circle. You should also not use the usual combinations of letters and numbers as a password.

For greater reliability, it should include both uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and punctuation marks. After all, the more reliable and complex the combination is invented, the more reliably the device is protected from ill-wishers.

Windows 7

It doesn't take much time to protect your laptop from outside interference. In general, the change is similar to the principle used in the previous version, however, there are still some differences. Also, through Start you need to get to the control panel, and then to user accounts. To change your data, you need to find the “change your password” column. Next, you will be able to create and save a new password. Let's study possible ways to replace the password in the seventh version of the OS:

• A special key combination allows you to open a menu in which you can change your password. Typically in all systems this is Ctrl+Alt+Del. The changes made must be saved.
• Launch Start and click on the “Run” section. In the pop-up line, enter control userpasswords. Next, a window will open where it is easy to manage accounts and assign codes to multiple owners.

Attention. In the “Hint” paragraph, it is not advisable to make a very simple and predictable hint. For example, using the phrase “birthday”, cracking the encoding will not take much effort.

Windows 8

This modification is significantly different from the previous one, and the principle of password reset is not left aside in it. Follow a certain sequence of actions:

• Drag the mouse marker down the right corner of the display.
• After a couple of seconds, the control panel should appear. Once clicked, the options open.
• Opening the “Settings” section is also easy when opening the gadget, when starting the system. In the “Metro” section, select the pointer down and find the desired section.
• Next, you should go to product settings and select accounts.
• Changes can be made in the Login Options section. First, the system will require you to write down your old password, then a new one and create a kind of cheat sheet.
• At the end of the process, you should reboot the device.

Windows 10

Let's look at options for changing the password for this version. There are several ways:

• One of the simplest and fastest methods is to use “login parameters”. On your keyboard, find “Win” and click on the logo on the left side of the screen. In the window that opens, we find “login parameters”, where in addition to changing the password, you can also set up a PIN code and a graphic password.
• More experienced users can use the command line. It must be loaded as administrator. This can be done by writing “command line” in the search bar, and then right-clicking on it.Next, enter your username and password. This phrase needs to be corrected. It is important to enter reliable verified data. If the name has spaces, then quotes are used. If everything is done correctly and error-free, then a message will appear indicating that the command was completed successfully.
• Through Start, we find the “computer management” program and go sequentially to the following folders: service, local users and groups, users. Then right-click on the desired username and change the settings.

How to lock your desktop

The desktop is blocked if several employees are working on the device at once or if there are strangers in the office. Also, quick locking will help if the device needs to be left unattended. Use simple button combinations:

• Win-L.
• Ctrl-Alt-Del (point to lock).
• Click on blocking a specific account through the start menu.

You can unlock the workspace by simply entering a new password. For the Linux system the scheme is similar. There are special hotkeys for MacBooks that are easy to find in the instructions:

• Ctrl - Shift - Eject.
• Ctrl - Shift - Power.

To unlock, you must enter the encrypted word. If it is lost, you should reset the settings. Microsoft will require you to restore your system. During the process, you may need a flash drive or a utility with an operating system from the manufacturer. However, using the proposed recommendations, you don’t have to resort to such drastic measures.

Changing the BIOS password

The most secure password is the one used when starting the laptop. Without a secret phrase, it is impossible to log in and turn on the gadget. Please observe the following instructions:

• Using a combination of F8, Del and F2, open the BIOS.
• Go to the “Security” section.
• In the window that opens, select the replacement item, which can be written in English.
• Next, you must enter the previous encoding.
• Then compose and enter a new combination.
• Confirm your actions with the enter key.

Important. Resetting the secret encoding in the BIOS is done using a button in the device itself. You can try to remove the round battery from the board.

Every laptop user is faced with the need to change their password. After all, no matter how complex and reliable the access code is, it needs to be replaced periodically. We hope that this article will be useful and help you understand the issue of data protection.