Forgot Windows login user name

Who is this Blog for?

This blog will show you only to recover local computer user names available incase you have forgotten what username you used (As stupid as it sounds, it is not uncommon! and when it happens, its a really shitty feeling!).

This blog assumes you do remember a password, you are just not sure what the username was. It also assumes you have no one else but yourself to blame. If you do have a System Administrator then its best you contact that person. However if there is no other person it is safe to assume your account name had administrative privilages. If you do not find your username in the given steps, chances are you are using a computer setup by an administrator who may have another account that can still help you.

Forgot Windows UserName Context

Recently I had a very strange but scary encounter. While connecting to another display device, I messed up my Login Default User. As a result, on restart Windows prompted me to enter the USERNAME and PASSWORD. As strange as it may seem, I was so used to typing only the password I forgot the Username, which is typically <DOMAIN>\<LOCAL NAME>.


Knowing your local domain: It is worth noting that the <DOMAIN> name can be found @ the login prompt also when you try to login and are not successful normally. Windows does hint that much to you by stating your username will be something like DOMAIN\local user

Alternatives to Password recovery

Maybe this is such a stupid use case there is no official way to handle this and on the threads I saw they center around password recovery. I saw some threads on SAFE MODE and Password recovery but even SAFE MODE prompts you for your password. There are some tools like Windows Password Key, however they rely you to burn an image onto a DVD or Flash Drive (which is painful for the lazy). Thankfully being lazy does push you harder in other directions.

Recovery steps

Luckily, you DO NOT have to go through a more elaborate; password recovery phase, and can follow these simple steps without any deviation.
DISCLAIMER: This was tried and tested on Windows 7 so I cannot guarantee it works exactly as follows on any other version.

1. Reboot your computer and ensure F8 is pressed before you see the windows Logo
2. A command screen (black with stuff written in plain text) SHOULD appear with some options.
3. Select Repair your computer. Note: You may be told or tempted to try other options, but none is simpler than using this for our purpose.
4. Let it boot. It will prompt you for a language. Select US or anything that suits your comfort and carry on.
5. The following screen is what you are waiting for, a Dialog with a Drop down of usernames and a Password box
   This is particularly useful in 2 ways:
   1. It shows you the user names in a drop down
   2. It also allows you to atleast test the password *you think you know* to the username *you think you know*. This way, if you are not sure which username you have the password to, you can try one against each to validate. On clicking "OK" it will only allow you to the next step if you got the combination right. If you get the successful combination exist the process. Do not bother with any subsequent steps.
   Note: In the unfortunate scneario, you do not get it right then you need to go for a Full recover your password scenario. There are plenty of blogs online for that. Since you are here I hope that is not the case to start with.
6. Reboot your computer normally, and your memory loss issues should be taken care of by using your username and password that you have re-discovered in the previous step.