Getting locked out of your HP laptop can feel like hitting a brick wall, especially when you’re staring at the login screen and can’t remember your password. Whether you’re prepping the laptop for resale or
just trying to start fresh after being locked out, resetting without the password becomes the fastest way forward. In this guide I’ll help you on how to factory reset HP laptop without password.
Use HP Recovery Manager via Boot Menu
If your HP laptop still has its recovery partition intact, this method is one of the fastest ways to reset the device without needing a password. It works by triggering HP’s built-in Recovery Manager through a simple key combination at startup. This bypasses the need to log in and takes you directly to the recovery interface. From there, you can choose to perform a full factory reset or troubleshoot specific issues. It’s especially useful if you’re locked out or preparing the laptop for resale. Just a few clicks, and your system will be restored to its original state. Here’s how to factory reset HP laptop without password:
Step 1: Turn off your HP laptop completely.
Step 2: Hold down the Windows key and the B key together, then press the power button. Let go of the power button when you see the HP logo, but keep holding Windows + B until the system beeps or takes you to a recovery screen.
Step 3: Select “Troubleshoot” and then “Recovery Manager.”
Step 4: After Selecting the Recovery Options, go back to Troubleshoot and Click “Reset This PC”. Follow on screen instructions to reset your laptop.
This method works because it bypasses the operating system entirely and connects to the recovery partition at the hardware level. If your HP laptop is from before 2018, you may need to use the F11 key instead of Windows + B when powering on.
Perform a Cloud Reset Using the HP Cloud Recovery Tool
Sometimes, the recovery partition is missing or corrupted, especially if the laptop has changed hands or the hard drive was replaced. In those cases, your best bet is to use HP’s official Cloud Recovery Tool to build a fresh system from another PC.This method does take longer, but it guarantees a clean install with no leftover user data or settings. Here are some step by step instruction on how to hp laptop factory reset without password using cloud recovery tool:
Step 1: On a different computer, go to the Microsoft store or HP’s website and download the HP Cloud Recovery Tool.
Step 2: Plug in a 32GB or larger USB drive and launch the tool(run as administrator).
Step 3: Let the tool create the recovery USB.
Step 4: Insert the USB into your locked HP laptop and boot from it. To do this, turn on the laptop and press Esc, then F9 to select the USB drive as the boot source.
Step 5: Follow the prompts to fully reset the device. Choose the option to remove all files for the cleanest install.
This option is perfect if you’re seeing recovery errors or if F11/Recovery Manager doesn’t launch. Just be prepared, it can take 3–4 hours for the entire process, including setup.
Remove Microsoft Account Lock After Reset
A full factory reset will erase your data, but it won’t always unlink the device from the previous Microsoft account. If you’re seeing a “Verify your identity” prompt or stuck at a login you can’t bypass, you’ll need to take a few extra steps. This is especially common if you’ve purchased the laptop second-hand or if you're using Microsoft accounts to log in. Here are some step-by-step instructions on how to remove microsoft account lock after reset
Step 1: During initial setup after the reset, enter a fake email like no@thankyou.com when prompted for a Microsoft login.
Step 2: Go to “Accounts” in Settings then click “Access work or school.”
This is where any linked accounts are listed.
Step 3: Disconnect the old Microsoft account if it appears. Click on the profile and choose “Disconnect.”
Step 4: Go to System Settings, then to Activation, finally click on “Troubleshoot”.
This step prevents your reset HP laptop from becoming locked again later and avoids frustrating “This device is linked to another account” messages. You can also explore registry edits if needed, but for most people, this method works just fine.
WPS Office – A Clean Productivity Suite Post-Reset
After restoring your HP laptop, you probably want to reinstall the basics without overwhelming your system. WPS Office is one tool I’ve used repeatedly on fresh installs because it doesn’t slow things down. It’s free, lightweight, and includes all the essentials without needing multiple apps. I installed WPS Office on an older HP laptop after doing a reset for a friend, and it ran smoothly right from the start. It didn’t require any subscriptions or additional setup, just opened in the browser or Android app with everything I needed. Here are some tools that help right away:
Writer: Used this to jot down post-repair notes and organize files from the reset. It autosaves to the cloud and opens DOCX files instantly.
Spreadsheet: Handy for tracking repair timelines or documenting steps for others. The built-in formulas helped simplify tasks.
Presentation: Pulled together a slide deck for a class using screenshots from the reset process.
PDF: Opened and merged warranty files, how-to screenshots, and other documents into a single PDF. Annotating was easy.
AI Resume Assistant: Helped tweak a resume for a client using just basic prompts.
Grammar Check: Cleaned up some rough notes I’d drafted during the repair.
AI Slides Creator: Took my list of bullet points and gave me a usable presentation draft in seconds.
PDF Summary Tool: Pulled key insights from long support documents so I could focus on just the relevant parts.
WPS Office doesn’t pretend to replace every app, but it fits nicely in a system that just went through a reset. Especially if your device has minimal RAM or you're trying to avoid heavy software installs, it’s a reliable productivity option that doesn’t require much from your system.
FAQs
Q1: Will a factory reset remove viruses from my HP laptop?
Yes, especially if you choose “Remove everything” and then select “Clean the drive.” This ensures that all user data is wiped and reformatted.
Q2: What if the F11 key or HP Recovery Manager doesn’t launch?
Use the Cloud Recovery Tool method covered in Part 2. It works even if the recovery partition is missing or damaged.
Q3: Does resetting the laptop bypass BitLocker encryption?
No. If BitLocker is enabled, you’ll still need the 48-digit recovery key. Without it, the drive remains inaccessible.
Q4: Can I get files back after a factory reset if I didn’t back them up?
Not easily. You’d need to remove the drive and use a recovery service, which isn’t guaranteed. Always backup before resetting if you can.
