Windows Server 2016 password is a critical aspect of your networks security. As an administrator, it is your responsibility to secure the network to the best of your ability. But what if you are unable to do your job just because you forgot the password for your Windows Server? fortunately, there are several tools available to help reset the password for any Windows Server version including Server 2016.

Before we proceed with showcasing two ways to reset a Windows Server 2016 password, you need to be aware that not all password reset tools are created alike. There are several products out there that could end up compromising your data in several ways. In some cases, data may be deleted; in other cases, they may be corrupted in some way. These two methods described below will not touch your data, so you can rest assured that your users' information and all the data on your network is 100% safe.

So now, let's have a look at the two of the best ways to reset your Windows Server 2016 password:

• Method 1: Windows Server Installation DVD
• Method 2: TunesBro WinGeeker Ultimate

Method 1: Reset Local Admin Password Server 2016 with Installation DVD

If the original Windows Server installation disk is available, you can use this method to reset your administrator password. There is a little bit of command line work involved but it is fairly straightforward, so even if you have to pass on these instructions to a non-technical person to execute, it is okay to do that.

Step 1. Boot your server from the installation disk, and press the Shift + F10 keys when you are on the setup screen so you can access the Command Prompt.

Step 2. Now execute the following commands at the Command Prompt:

d:
cd Windows\System32
ren Utilman.exe Utilman.exe.original
copy cmd.exe Utilman.exe
shutdown -r -t 0

Step 3. You will now be able to see the log on screen after the computer reboots. To access the Command Prompt once again from this page, hold down the Windows + U keys. You can also get there by pressing the Ease of Access icon.

Step 4. At the Command Prompt, execute the following line:

net user Administrator new_password

Step 5. Replace the phrase new_password with a new administrator password. This command will now reset your admin password.

Step 6. You should now be able to access your Windows Server with the new password. However, once you login, you will need to rename the utilman.exe.original file to the previous utilman.exe.

Method 2. How to Reset Windows Server 2016 Password with TunesBro WinGeeker

Another foolproof way to reset your Windows Server 2016 password is to use a purpose-built utility like TunesBro WinGeeker Ultimate. This powerful software has been extensively tested on more than 1600 different brands and models of PCs, laptops and tablets. Even prior to the release, the utility was extensively tested in the beta stage.

The software is capable of resetting up to five different types of Windows passwords, including administrator, user, guest, Server admin and Microsoft account. It is fully compatible with Windows versions starting from XP all the way up to the latest update for Windows 10. One of the most attractive features of this software is that it has 95% recovery rate so far. Not only that, but it is simple enough for any novice computer user to use to reset a Windows Server admin password.

 

The process is now complete, so you can remove the bootable media and restart your server, and you should be able to get in without requiring a password.

Summary

Both these processes are fairly simple, and you can use either method to recover your Windows machine password. However, if you use the second method, then the next time the password is lost or forgotten, you will already have the password reset disk prepared and ready to use. Once the password has been reset, we recommend that you create a new, unique and strong password to protect your server from unauthorised access.