Guide: Factory Reset Lenovo Thinkpad on Windows 10 without Password

What to do before you factory reset Lenovo laptop?

When you use Lenovo Thinkpad laptop for a long time, you might meet issues like a messed-up operating system, computer viruses, error messages, or constant system crashes. Resetting your laptop to its factory settings can be a lifesaver in such situations. However, if there’s no password and you can’t login the account?Now, let's explore how to factory reset Lenovo Thinkpad Windows 10 without password.

Before diving into the reset, make sure you've backed up all your personal files onto an external hard drive or a USB flash drive. This reset process wipes out everything on your laptop, so safeguard your important documents, cherished photos, and any apps you've installed.AOMEI Backupper Standard is a freebie that allows you to create system/disk/partition backup as required and restore the backups when you need.

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How-to-do: Lenovo Thinkpad factory reset without password

How to reset Lenovo laptop without password? Resetting your Lenovo ThinkPad laptop to factory settings without a password can be achieved through several methods. Below are five different ways to accomplish this:

Way 1. Factory reset Lenovo laptop from boot screen

If your Lenovo laptop is booting normally and reaches the Windows password login interface, you can access the advanced boot options to factory reset your Windows 10 system. Here's how:

Step 1. While on the Windows 10 login screen, click the Power button. Then, simultaneously press the Shift key and click Restart.

Step 2. On the Choose an option screen, select Troubleshoot.

Step 3. In the Troubleshoot menu, choose Reset this PC.

Step 4. On the Reset this PC page, you'll encounter two options – Keep my files and Remove everything. Since you don't have your admin password, select Remove everything. Otherwise, if you choose Keep my files, you'll still be prompted to enter your Windows 10 admin password after resetting.

Step 5. Next, pick between Cloud download or Local reinstall based on your preference and requirements.

Step 6. Then, you'll need to select either Just remove my files or Full clean the drive. If you plan to sell or give away your Lenovo laptop, it's advisable to choose Fully clean the drive.

Step 7. Finally, click on Reset. Your PC will initiate the reset process to factory settings. Simply keep your Lenovo laptop powered on and wait for the reset to finish.

Step 8. Once the reset is complete, follow the on-screen instructions to set up your Lenovo laptop anew.

Way 2. Factory reset Lenovo laptop via Lenovo Onekey Recovery

AccessingLenovo OneKey Recovery using the Novo button to factory reset Lenovo Thinkpad Windows 10 without password, follow these steps:

Step 1. Power off your Lenovo laptop. If it doesn't power off normally, remove the battery, then reconnect it.

Step 2. Connect the power source to your Lenovo laptop. Press and hold the NOVO key for about 5 seconds. This key is typically located on the right or left side of the laptop or near the power button on the keyboard.

Step 3. Once the Novo Button Menu appears, use the down arrow key to select the System Recovery option, then press Enter to enter the recovery environment.

Step 4. In OneKey Recovery mode, choose Restore from initial backup, then click Next.

Step 5. Click Start, and confirm by clicking Yes to begin the restoration process when prompted.

Step 6. Wait for the system recovery process to finish, then follow the on-screen instructions to configure your Lenovo laptop's Windows settings.

By following these steps, you'll be able to access Lenovo OneKey Recovery using the Novo button and restore your laptop to its factory settings if needed.

Way 3. Factory reset Lenovo laptop via USB bootable drive

To reset your Lenovo laptop to a factory-fresh state using a Windows 10 USB drive, follow these steps:

Step 1. Create Microsoft's media creation tool or obtain a Windows 10 ISO file on any working computer.

Step 2. Insert the Windows 10 USB drive into your Lenovo laptop. Start the PC and access its boot menu or BIOS menu to set it to boot from the USB.

Step 3. Once your Lenovo laptop boots up and displays the Windows Setup screen, select your language and keyboard preferences, then click Next.

Step 4. On the next page, click Install Now.

Step 5. When prompted to activate Windows, click I don’t have a product key.

Step 6. Choose your Windows edition and click Next.

Step 7. Accept the Microsoft software license agreement, then click Next.

Step 8. Select the Custom: Install Windows only (advanced)option. Since you don’t have your admin password, this option is necessary.

Step 9. Choose the drive partition where you want to install Windows, then click Next. Windows will erase the selected drive partition and install a fresh copy of Windows on your computer.

Step 10. Follow the remaining instructions on the screen, and your Lenovo laptop will be restored to a brand-new state, just like when it was first factory-set.

By following these steps, you'll be able to reset your Lenovo laptop to its factory settings using a Windows 10 USB drive.

Way 4. Factory reset Lenovo laptop use AOMEI OneKey Recovery

In addition to the default tools, some users opt for reliable third-party software like AOMEI OneKey Recovery to safeguard their computers. It doesn't initially include a factory image, but you can create a one-click system backup when you first install it. This software also lets you schedule system backups on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis, ensuring that changes between previous and upcoming backups are preserved.

Once you've set up these backups, resetting a Lenovo Thinkpad to factory settings in Windows 11, 10, 8, or 7—or returning it to a previous state with all its contents—is a breeze. This method even works if you've utilized all the available disk space or altered the disk allocation for the system drive. Furthermore, AOMEI OneKey Recovery is compatible with various computer brands, including Lenovo, Dell, HP, and ASUS.

Now download AOMEI OneKey Recovery, I'll show you how to use it ad below:

Step 1. Boot your computer and choose AOMEI OneKey Recovery in the Windows boot menu. Then your computer will boot into the Windows PE recovery environment.

Step 2. After Windows PE recovery environment starts, AOMEI OneKey Recovery will automatically pop up. Click Yes to confirm that you need to restore the system.

Step 2. Tick the first option if you were backup to AOMEI OneKey Recovery partition. Then, click Next.

▶Tip: If you create Lenovo OneKey Recovery to new hard drive or other external devices, you need to tick the second option. Please remember to connect the disk containing the image to your computer in advance.

Step 3. Confirm the system will be overwritten and you want to restore your computer to factory settings. Then, click Start Restore to execute this process.

In sum

In Sum, these methods offer various options to factory reset Lenovo Thinkpad Windows 10 without password. You can factory reset PC via Boot menu, Reset this PC option, USB bootable drive, Lenovo Onekey Recovery and AOMEI Onekey Recovery. Choose the method that best suits your preferences and needs, ensuring a hassle-free reset experience. Remember to back up your important data before proceeding with any reset method to avoid data loss.

To seek a safer way, AOMEI Backupper Standard is an all-in-one tool that can meets users’backup and recovery needs. You can even restore your computer from different hardware via its Universal Restore utility. Now try the method by yourself!