ZKBioTime / BioTime
Reset Admin Password
Forgot your ZKBioTime administrator password? Follow this step-by-step guide to create a new superuser account via the command line. Works for BioTime 8.5 and 9.5.
System Requirements
Before you begin, make sure you have the following ready on your BioTime server.
Python is already included with BioTime installation. You do not need to install Python separately. The init.bat script sets up the correct Python path automatically.
Password Reset Procedure
Follow these 4 simple steps to reset your ZKBioTime administrator password.
Steps Overview
Open Command Prompt as Administrator
Navigate to the ZKBioTime installation directory on your server. The default paths are:
C:\BioTime\ # BioTime 9.5
Open Command Prompt (CMD) as Administrator. You can do this by:
- Press Win + R, type
cmd, then press Ctrl + Shift + Enter - Or right-click on Command Prompt and select "Run as administrator"
- Then navigate to the BioTime folder using the
cdcommand
Initialize the BioTime Environment
Run the initialization script to set up the BioTime Python environment. This is mandatory before running any management commands.
Important: Use call init.bat (with call), not just init.bat. The call keyword ensures the Command Prompt stays open after executing the script.
Create a New Superuser Account
Execute the Django management command to create a new superuser account with full administrative privileges.
If the username "admin" already exists, the system will ask if you want to change the password for the existing user. Type Y (Yes) to proceed with the password change.
Enter Your New Credentials
The system will prompt you for the following information:
Password Best Practices
- Minimum 8 characters
- Include uppercase and lowercase letters
- Include numbers and special characters (!@#$%)
- Store it securely - you cannot recover it without this procedure
Password Reset Complete!
You can now log in to ZKBioTime with your new credentials. Open your browser and navigate to http://your-server-ip:8081 (default port). The superuser account has full administrative access to the BioTime system.
Complete Command Summary
Here is the full terminal session with all commands in sequence:
Important Notes
Remember your new password! Store it securely. There is no "forgot password" link on the BioTime login page. The only recovery method is this command-line procedure.
Full Admin Access: The superuser account has complete administrative access to all features of ZKBioTime including employee management, device management, attendance reports, and system settings.
No Data Loss: This procedure does NOT delete any data. All employees, attendance records, devices, and configurations remain intact. Only the admin password is changed.
Remote Access: If you have RDP (Remote Desktop) access to the BioTime server, you can perform this password reset remotely by connecting via RDP and opening Command Prompt on the server.
Troubleshooting
If something goes wrong during the password reset, check these common issues.
"python" is not recognized as a command
This means init.bat was not run first, or it failed. Make sure you ran call init.bat successfully before the createsuperuser command. Also verify you are in the correct BioTime installation directory.
Database connection error
The BioTime database service (bio-pgsql) must be running. Open the BioTime Platform Service Console and ensure all services are started before running the createsuperuser command.
init.bat file not found
Confirm you are in the correct installation directory. The init.bat file should be in the root of the BioTime folder (e.g., C:\ZKBioTime\init.bat). Try dir init.bat to verify it exists.
Permission denied / Access denied
You must run Command Prompt as Administrator. Right-click on CMD and select "Run as administrator", or press Ctrl + Shift + Enter when launching it.
Default ZKBioTime Credentials
If you have not changed the default password, try these credentials first before performing a reset.
Security Warning: The default password admin123 is widely known. If your BioTime is accessible from the internet or any network, change the admin password immediately to prevent unauthorized access.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to the most common questions about ZKBioTime password reset.
Open Command Prompt as Administrator in the BioTime installation directory. Run call init.bat to initialize the environment, then run python manage.py createsuperuser to create a new admin account with a new password. This works for BioTime 8.5 and 9.5.
The default ZKBioTime login credentials are Username: admin and Password: admin123. If you changed the password and forgot it, use the command-line method described above to reset it.
BioTime does not have a "forgot password" button on the login page. To recover access, you must use the command line on the server: open CMD in the BioTime folder, run call init.bat, then python manage.py createsuperuser. Enter a new username and password.
The call init.bat command initializes the BioTime Python environment. It sets up the correct PATH variables, activates the bundled Python installation, and prepares the system so you can run Django management commands like python manage.py createsuperuser.
No! Resetting the password using python manage.py createsuperuser does NOT delete any data. All employees, attendance records, devices, and configurations remain intact. Only the admin password is changed.
Yes, if you have Remote Desktop (RDP) access to the BioTime server, you can perform the password reset remotely. Connect via RDP, open Command Prompt on the server, and follow the same steps.
If the command fails: 1) Make sure you ran call init.bat first. 2) Verify you are in the correct BioTime installation directory. 3) Ensure the database service (bio-pgsql) is running. 4) Check that CMD is running as Administrator. 5) Try the exact installation path (e.g. C:\ZKBioTime).
If you can still log in to ZKBioTime: go to Personnel > Administrator, select the admin account, and change the password from the interface. If you are locked out, the command-line method is the only way.
Yes, the call init.bat and python manage.py createsuperuser method works for both ZKBioTime 8.5 and BioTime 9.5. The procedure is identical for both versions as they share the same Django-based architecture.
Pour reinitialiser le mot de passe administrateur ZKBioTime : 1) Ouvrez l'invite de commandes (CMD) en tant qu'administrateur dans le dossier d'installation BioTime. 2) Tapez call init.bat et appuyez sur Entree. 3) Tapez python manage.py createsuperuser. 4) Saisissez le nom d'utilisateur, l'email et le nouveau mot de passe. Le mot de passe par defaut est admin / admin123.
Still Need Help?
If you're unable to reset your password or encounter errors, our technical team can assist you remotely.