lost admin access and wrong account showing on Windows sign-in

daisy-lynn palumbo 0 Reputation points
2026-08-30T17:54:21.9566667+00:00

like i said i used to sign in with my pin on my laptop on the lock screen/sign-on and then i noticed that its not my usual email that i sign into but i was able to sign in on it.so then tryed signing in to my correct email and it would not take my password or pin.its like someone highjacked my crudentials under this other name i am signing into. its not even an email its a part of a left over account of mine . but i have not used that account in very long time. it was mostly photos and some files i dont even remember.and the most diturbing part is i am owner/admin. but now have not admin. power and cant even uninstall old or bad programs my hands are tied i cant do anything.please help me ive been trying to report this now for weeks but something always happens and i cant. so if you cant help me please foward this to someone who can. Thank You I Appreciate it very much.

Sincerely Mod removed PII at Mod removed ******@hotmail.com

ps i am just a beginner on computer please dont make answer to technical.

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Windows Hello, lock screen and sign-in
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  1. Ian-T 10,695 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-08-31T03:36:32.7133333+00:00

    Hi @daisy-lynn palumbo

    Welcome to Microsoft Q&A forumI’m sorry you’re dealing with this. Seeing an old account name does not necessarily mean someone has stolen your credentials. The Windows PIN belongs to a particular user profile on that computer and is different from your Microsoft account password.

    Please try these simple checks:

    1. Restart the laptop.
    2. On the sign-in screen, look in the lower-left corner for your usual account. If it is not shown, select Other user, if available, and enter the email address and password for the correct account.
    3. Once signed in, open Start > Settings > Accounts > Your info. Tell us the account name shown there and whether it says Administrator or Standard user. Do not post your email address.
    4. If you cannot use the correct password, try Sign-in options > I forgot my PIN.

    Please do not delete accounts, reinstall Windows, or remove files yet. Also, please note that this is a public support forum, so we cannot access the laptop, change its administrator, or forward the case internally.

    Hope this helps, please feel free to let me know if you need any further assistance

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