Taking ownership of my mothers computer that I inherieted

Question

Taking ownership of my mothers computer that I inherieted

Tonya Turner 0

I inherierited my moms laptop when she passed. How can I remove her information and include my information?

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Answer 1

Ian-T 11,810 Microsoft External Staff Moderator

Hi @Tonya Turner

The safest approach is to reset the laptop and set it up as a new computer. Before doing so, save any files you are legally entitled to keep, because the reset will erase the existing accounts and personal information.

In Windows 11, open Settings > System > Recovery > Reset PC, then choose Remove everything. In Windows 10, open Settings > Update & Security > Recovery > Get started, then choose Remove everything. Follow the prompts, and when Windows restarts, complete the setup using your own Microsoft account. Microsoft recommends backing up anything important first and having the BitLocker recovery key available if the device is encrypted. Reset your PC

Please do not simply rename or reuse your mother’s Windows account, as that could leave personal data and account connections on the computer.

I hope this helps, feel free to let me know if you need any further help.

Ian-T 11,810 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-09-15T00:21:59.67+00:00

Hi @Tonya Turner

Have you had an opportunity to review the answer shared earlier?

Any update you can provide would be greatly appreciated.