How To Factory Reset Lenovo Laptop Windows 10 Without Password

By / October 24, 2025

Need to wipe a Lenovo laptop and start fresh — but you can’t sign in because you forgot the password (or the previous owner did)? No sweat. In this guide we’ll walk through safe, legal, and manufacturer-approved ways to factory reset most Lenovo laptops running Windows 10 without needing the current Windows password.

I’ll show multiple methods (Novo button, Windows Recovery Environment, bootable USB reinstall, Lenovo recovery tools), explain what each one does, include step-by-step instructions, and flag the important caveats (data loss, BitLocker, activation). By the end you’ll know exactly how to reset your machine, protect your data, and get Windows 10 back to a clean state.

When should you factory reset a Lenovo laptop without a password?

You’d use these methods when:

  • You forgot or lost the Windows password and can’t sign in.

  • You bought a second-hand Lenovo that’s still signed into another account.

  • You’re preparing a device for resale or repurposing and want a clean system.

  • The laptop is unusable due to corruption and a reset is the fastest recovery.

These approaches are for legitimate owners or those with explicit permission to reset the device. If you don’t own the laptop, get authorization first.

2 — Important warnings before you reset (read this first)

  • Factory reset will erase personal files unless you choose the “keep my files” option (which still removes apps/settings). Always assume user data will be lost.

  • BitLocker / disk encryption: If BitLocker or other encryption is on, you’ll need the recovery key to access data after a reset. If you don’t have the key, encrypted data will be unrecoverable.

  • Activation & licenses: A clean reinstall of Windows 10 on the same hardware will usually reactivate automatically. If you had OEM recovery media, use that to restore OEM drivers and bloatware.

  • Proof of ownership: If you intend to get help from Lenovo Support (or service centers), have proof of purchase ready.

  • Secure erase: If you’re giving away the laptop, consider secure erase options for SSDs (TRIM/secure erase) to reduce chance of data recovery.

3 — Do you own this laptop? Legal & ownership check

Before proceeding, confirm you have the right to reset the laptop. If you acquired it used, ask the seller for the password or have them reset it. Resetting without permission may be illegal in some jurisdictions.

If you’re the owner: great — move on. If you’re not sure, contact the seller or Lenovo support.

4 — Method A — Use the Novo (OneKey Recovery) button (easiest for many Lenovo models)

Many Lenovo laptops include a Novo button — a small pinhole or button next to the power jack or on the side. It provides access to a recovery environment and factory restore.

When to use:

  • Laptop is powered off and you can’t sign in.

  • The recovery partition is intact (factory image still present).

Steps (Novo button method)

  1. Turn off the laptop completely (shutdown).

  2. Locate the Novo button — a small circular pinhole or dedicated button labeled Novo/OneKey. (On some models it’s a recessed pinhole; you’ll need a paperclip.)

  3. Press the Novo button once (don’t hold). The laptop will power on and show the Novo Button Menu.

  4. Choose “System Recovery” from the menu (use arrow keys + Enter).

  5. The Lenovo recovery environment will load. Choose “Restore from initial backup” or similar — follow on-screen prompts.

  6. Confirm that you want to restore/factory reset; this will wipe user accounts and data.

  7. Wait for the recovery to finish; the laptop may reboot several times.

  8. Set up Windows as a new user when the process completes.

Notes:

  • If the recovery partition is damaged or removed, Novo won’t restore — proceed to Methods C or D.

  • Different Lenovo models show slightly different menu options; follow prompts.

5 — Method B — Reset from WinRE via the sign-in screen (Shift + Restart)

If you can reach the sign-in screen (even without a password), Windows lets you enter the Windows Recovery Environment and reset the PC.

When to use:

  • You’re at the sign-in screen but don’t have the password.

  • The system boots to Windows UI.

Steps (Reset from sign-in screen)

  1. At the Windows sign-in screen, click the Power icon in the lower-right corner.

  2. Hold the Shift key and click Restart. (This forces a boot into WinRE.)

  3. The PC will restart and show the Choose an option screen.

  4. Select Troubleshoot → Reset this PC.

  5. Choose one of:

    • Remove everything — full factory/reset (recommended if you don’t need files).

    • Keep my files — removes apps/settings but keeps personal files (requires sign-in? May still work from WinRE).

  6. Choose whether to clean the drives (single wipe vs full clean). Full clean is slower but more secure for resale.

  7. Follow the on-screen prompts; Windows will perform the reset and reboot into out-of-box experience (OOBE).

Notes:

  • This method does not require knowing the password.

  • If the sign-in screen won’t appear or Shift+Restart is disabled, try Method C.

6 — Method C — Force WinRE by interrupting boot (three failed boots)

If the sign-in screen is unreachable or Shift+Restart can’t be used, you can force WinRE by interrupting the normal boot process three times in a row. This triggers automatic repair and WinRE options.

Steps (force WinRE)

  1. With the laptop powered on, hold the power button for ~5–10 seconds to force shutdown during Windows boot.

  2. Repeat: Power on, then force shutdown again during the boot sequence. Do this three times.

  3. On the next boot, Windows should launch Preparing Automatic Repair → Advanced options.

  4. Choose Troubleshoot → Reset this PC and follow the same reset steps outlined in Method B.

Notes:

  • This method is a reliable fallback if Shift+Restart isn’t available.

  • Don’t power off while reset is in progress or you risk corruption.

7 — Method D — Reinstall Windows 10 from a bootable USB (clean install)

If the recovery partition is missing or corrupted, a clean reinstall using the official Windows 10 installation media is the most reliable option. This fully reinstalls Windows and removes user accounts.

When to use:

  • Recovery partition is gone or damaged.

  • You prefer a fresh install with the latest Windows image.

What you need:

  • Another working PC to create the USB installer.

  • A USB drive (8 GB or larger).

  • Internet to download the Media Creation Tool.

Steps (clean install from USB)

  1. On a working PC, go to Microsoft’s Windows 10 download page and download the Media Creation Tool.

  2. Run the tool and create installation media on a USB drive (choose correct architecture).

  3. Insert the USB into the Lenovo laptop and power on.

  4. Enter the Boot Menu (usually F12, F9, or F2 on Lenovo — consult model-specific key) or use the Novo button to get to boot options.

  5. Select the USB device to boot from.

  6. When the Windows Setup loads, choose language/time and click Install now.

  7. If asked for a product key, choose I don’t have a product key (Windows will activate automatically later if it was digitally licensed).

  8. Choose Custom: Install Windows only (advanced).

  9. Delete existing partitions on the drive (this removes the old OS and data). Select the unallocated space and click Next.

  10. Windows will install; the system will reboot several times.

  11. Complete the OOBE (out-of-box experience) to set up a new user account.

Notes:

  • Deleting partitions destroys all data — backup first if needed.

  • If the drive is encrypted (BitLocker), you may need the key to access the data sector once unlocked — but a clean install will overwrite partitions.

8 — Method E — Use Lenovo Vantage / Recovery partition tools

Some Lenovo machines ship with proprietary recovery tools (Lenovo Vantage, Lenovo OneKey Recovery, or factory recovery partitions) that may be invoked either from Windows or via the Novo button. These restore the PC to the original factory image including drivers and Lenovo apps.

Steps (Lenovo Vantage / recovery partition)

  1. If you can sign in or access Windows, open Lenovo Vantage (install from Microsoft Store if needed).

  2. In Vantage, search for Recovery/Factory Reset options and follow prompts.

  3. If you don’t have Windows access, use the Novo button (see Method A) to run system recovery.

  4. Follow the on-screen instructions to restore to factory defaults.

Notes:

  • This method preserves OEM support packages and drivers.

  • If the recovery partition was removed (common if disk replaced), use Method D.

9 — Method F — When BitLocker or device encryption is enabled

If the drive is encrypted (BitLocker, device encryption), resetting or reinstalling Windows will usually proceed, but:

  • You cannot access encrypted files without the BitLocker recovery key.

  • During reinstallation you can delete partitions and install Windows fresh — that removes encryption by creating new partitions. The old encrypted data will be inaccessible (and safe from casual recovery if overwritten).

  • If your goal is to recover files, you must provide the BitLocker recovery key (stored in your Microsoft account, printed, or saved to USB/AD/Intune).

How to find the BitLocker key

  • If the laptop used a Microsoft account: log in to account.microsoft.com/devices or account.microsoft.com and check saved recovery keys.

  • For corporate devices: contact your IT department — keys might be in Active Directory or Intune.

  • If you cannot locate the key and need data, professional recovery is unlikely to decrypt the drive.

10 — How to back up data without logging in (safe options)

If you have important files and can’t log in, try these methods before wiping:

  • Boot from a Linux live USB (Ubuntu live) and copy files to an external drive — only works if the Windows drive isn’t encrypted.

  • Remove the drive and connect to another PC as an external drive (USB adapter) to copy files — again, encryption will block access.

  • Use command prompt in WinRE: notepad trick to use File > Open dialog, or use robocopy via WinRE command prompt to copy files to external drive (advanced).

  • Check OneDrive: if the user used OneDrive, files may already be synced online.

If files are encrypted (BitLocker), recovering without the key isn’t feasible.

11 — What “factory reset” actually does — reset vs clean install

Action What it does Result
Reset this PC → Keep my files Removes apps/settings but keeps user files Less destructive
Reset this PC → Remove everything Deletes apps, accounts, settings; reinstalls Windows Factory-like, user data removed
Clean install (USB) Delete partitions and install fresh Windows Most thorough; removes OEM recovery too
Lenovo OneKey recovery Restores OEM factory image (drivers + apps) Restores exactly as shipped

Choose based on whether you need to preserve user files (if possible) or want a fully fresh machine.

12 — After the reset — updates, drivers, Lenovo software, and activation

  1. Complete Windows setup (OOBE) and create your new account.

  2. Connect to the internet and run Windows Update: Settings → Update & Security → Check for updates.

  3. Install Lenovo drivers:

    • Use Lenovo Vantage to install OEM drivers and firmware updates.

    • Alternatively, visit Lenovo’s support site and download drivers for your model.

  4. Reactivate Windows: If Windows was previously activated on this hardware, activation should be automatic (digital license). If not, enter a product key.

  5. Restore files from backup or OneDrive if applicable.

  6. Reinstall your apps and set up security (Windows Hello, PIN, BitLocker if desired).

13 — Troubleshooting: common problems and fixes

  • Recovery partition missing: Use Windows USB installer (Method D).

  • Reset fails or gets stuck: Try a clean install from USB.

  • Boot loop after reset: Recreate installation media and reinstall; check SSD health.

  • No activation after reinstall: Connect to the internet; check digital license linked to Microsoft account; contact Microsoft support.

  • Cannot enter boot menu: Use the Novo button or check your model’s boot key in the manual.

14 — Prevent future lockouts — practical tips

  • Create a local admin account and a secondary account for emergency access.

  • Link your Windows account to a Microsoft account so you can reset passwords online.

  • Save BitLocker recovery keys to your Microsoft account, print them, or store in a safe place.

  • Enable Windows Hello PIN / fingerprint as alternate sign-in.

  • Keep a USB recovery drive handy (Windows → Recovery → Create a recovery drive).

  • Regularly backup important files (OneDrive, external drive, or cloud backup).

15 — Conclusion

Resetting a Lenovo laptop running Windows 10 without the sign-in password is usually straightforward if you follow legitimate manufacturer and Microsoft procedures. The Novo button, WinRE (Shift+Restart), and bootable USB reinstall are the go-to methods — each suited to different situations:

  • Novo button = easiest if the recovery partition exists.

  • Sign-in screen (Shift+Restart) = convenient and fast.

  • Force WinRE = reliable fallback.

  • USB reinstall = surefire method when the recovery partition is gone or corrupted.

Always check for BitLocker or other encryption first and back up any recoverable data before wiping. If in doubt — and especially for corporate devices — contact Lenovo support or your IT department.

16 — FAQs

Q1: Can I factory reset a Lenovo laptop without the Windows password?
Yes. You can use the Novo button, boot into WinRE via Shift+Restart at the sign-in screen, force WinRE by interrupting boot, or perform a clean install from a USB drive.

Q2: Will I lose my files when I reset the laptop?
If you choose Remove everything or perform a clean install, yes — all user files will be deleted. Use backup methods (live USB, external drive) if possible before wiping.

Q3: What if BitLocker is enabled — can I still reset?
You can reset or reinstall Windows, but encrypted files remain inaccessible without the BitLocker recovery key. A clean install will remove the encrypted partitions but make previous encrypted data unrecoverable.

Q4: How do I make a bootable Windows 10 USB?
Use Microsoft’s Media Creation Tool on another PC, choose “Create installation media,” and follow the prompts to make an 8 GB (or larger) USB installer.

Q5: The recovery options aren’t working — what now?
If recovery partition and WinRE aren’t available or fail, perform a clean install from USB (Method D). If hardware issues persist, check drive health or contact Lenovo support.

17 — Key takeaways

  • Novo button and WinRE let you factory reset without a password.

  • Back up any recoverable files first — especially if the drive isn’t encrypted.

  • BitLocker recovery key is critical; without it, encrypted data cannot be recovered.

  • Clean install from USB is the most reliable way to restore a corrupt/missing recovery partition.

  • After reset, run Windows Update and Lenovo Vantage to install drivers and firmware.

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