How to force reset the Active Directory Domain Administrator password

Learn how to force reset the Active Directory Domain Administrator Password. In this example, I show you how to force reset the Domain Administrator password by booting into the Windows Server installation media, replacing the On-screen Keyboard exe with the PowerShell exe, and then using PowerShell to reset the password.

[jonathanmcneill]

Thank you! This just saved me a couple days of rebuild!

[yourboyreo]

Thank you I bought 2 used pcs for really cheap because they were from a college but I spent 3 hours trying to just get into the computer

[jaswindersinghbajwa]

Thanks, I was so sad that I got locked after configuring LAPS password on the domain instead of But after login now, the display texts has become very tiny... Any idea how I can resolve it

[creepybananas]

do you need the reset key at the start because I thought you could get into the recovery mode without the key?

[papijelly]

Does anyone know of an efficient way of checking what accounts or computers or services are using my domain admin account on my environment. I went to Change this password but I'm worried that other things might be using the account and now start to raise flags all over the place. Anyone got any pointers here?

[yogisugiharto]

Hi Danny,
How if I rename cmd.exe rather than WindowsPowershell instead? Would it work the same way or no ?
Thankyou

[zbridgjpxupzm]

I have a Windows 10 client that is joined a AD domain and set up with static IP.
Now, the AD server does not exist anymore. The client is stuck with static IP and I can not enable DHCP or change anything because it asks for administrator password.
Does this video apply in this case or is there an easier way?
many thanks!

[kemics]

doesnt work, powershell opens and then closes immediately again

[AndreiB]

So if I do this, can I then delete everything on a ssd and freshly install windows for a regular user, not a domain? Or what do I need to do. The ssd doesn't show when I boot from Windows installation USB even after getting the right drivers so I can't delete everything and install windows normally for a regular user.

[tusharchaula]

I want to do factory reset but always got stuck in undoing changes. Pls help

[AnthonyWilliamsk]

will this work on a dell server r630 also?
or would that be different

[LaPoubelle]

What versions of windows server does this work on?

[arizonareallyhot]

When I try to assign the volume it stays it’s not free to be assigned

[HarukaLouki]

Hi, That was a great instruction. I have a few question.

Is command prompt method work 100% sure from bootable usb? Cuz I am dealing with Poweredge 815 server and there has an administrator lock. I tried to force shutdown 3 times to get automatic window repair mode. When I get into command prompt from there, it asked me administrator password to get access to Cmd.

[athwari]

Thanks, is it safe to just disabled the active directory built-in administrator account and rely only on the domain admin account?

[alifsyahmi]

it says my password is incorrect, I have followed all the instruction, can you help me

[poisonedsezar]

hello!!thanks for the video!! but how do i delete the old domain once we break the password??

[elianaoblitas]

And when i do this steps the information inside won’t disappear?