The program automatically detects the Windows SAM registry file or Active Directory database. If you use a rare RAID controller, click to point to your storage drivers. Select the locked user account from the populated list. Click the Reset Password button.

PCUnlocker is a specialized utility designed to bypass or reset lost Windows passwords. Unlike standard password reset tools that run within the OS, PCUnlocker functions as a bootable media (WinPE or UEFI). Version 3.8.0 Enterprise Edition is targeted primarily at business environments, supporting active directory servers and RAID configurations, though it functions equally well for home power users.

| Feature | PCUnlocker 3.8.0 Ent | Offline NT Password Editor (Free) | Hiren’s BootCD PE | Lazesoft Recovery | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | Paid (Enterprise) | Free | Free | Freemium | | Domain Controller Support | ✅ Full | ❌ Breaks AD | ⚠️ Limited | ❌ | | BitLocker Unlock | ✅ Yes (recovery key) | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | | EFS Certificate Preservation | ✅ Yes | ❌ Destroys EFS | ❌ Destroys EFS | ⚠️ Unclear | | UI Difficulty | Easy (GUI) | Hard (Command line) | Medium (GUI) | Easy (GUI) |

Users may struggle with BIOS/UEFI settings to change the boot order for the USB/CD. At approximately

Once the PCUnlocker GUI loads into memory, follow these steps:

PCUnlocker is a paid tool, but you can download a free trial to evaluate it. The trial version allows you to download and prepare the bootable media, boot into the tool, and view all user accounts on your system. However, the actual . To perform the actual password reset, you must purchase a license for the Standard, Professional, or Enterprise edition. A paid license grants full access to all the advanced features detailed earlier in this guide.

Full support for both legacy BIOS and modern Secure Boot UEFI architectures. It includes both 32-bit and 64-bit WinPE boot images.

Includes built-in drivers to detect complex storage configurations and RAID controllers.

Unlock locked-out accounts or re-enable disabled local accounts.