First things first: don't be embarrassed that you forgot your Windows 8 password. We're told over and over again to make longer and more complicated passwords to help keep our data secure, which makes them harder and harder to remember. Who are we trying to keep out here? Most of these tips work exactly the same way for Windows 10, some work on all versions of Windows and some will apply to any forgotten password.
Even if your Windows 8 password wasn't that difficult to remember — you're human. Everyone forgets things now and then, even important things!
I Forgot My Windows 8 Password! What Are My Options?
Mar 25, 2015 Forgot windows 8 administrator password: Reset with cmd Insert Windows 8 recovery DVD in cd drive. Restart system. System will boot from DVD. You will 'Choose the language' screen. Select your language. Next you will see 'Choose your keyboard layout'. No matter you have Windows password reset disk or not. No matter want to reset User password, Administrator password or Microsoft password you can find a solution in here. Reset/Remove Windows 8.1 Login Password in Local Users and Groups; Option 2. Reset Windows 8.1 password from Command Prompt; Option 3. To Recover Windows 8.1 Password with Administrator Account in.
Fortunately, there are a number of ways to get back in if you forgot your Windows 8 password, all of which we detail below.
Some of these ideas only apply if you log in to Windows 8 using a local account (you log in with a traditional username). Some work only if you're using a Microsoft account (you log in with an email address), and some work for both. We'll let you know each time. However, all of these ideas apply equally to any edition of Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 you may be using.
Reset Your Microsoft Account Password Online
An option you were given when you first bought your computer or installed Windows 8 was to sign up for a Microsoft account or sign in with your existing Microsoft account. One huge benefit of doing that is that it gives you an escape plan if you ever forget your Windows 8 password.
So grab your smartphone, or any other computer, pull open your favorite browser and reset your Microsoft account password for the full tutorial.
You can reset a forgotten Windows 8 password online like this only if you're using a Microsoft account. If you're using a local account, your password is not stored with Microsoft online and so can't be reset by them.
Use That Windows 8 Password Reset Disk You Made
A Windows 8 password reset disk is exactly what it sounds like — it's a floppy disk, or flash drive, that can be used to reset your Windows 8 password if you forget it. If you have one, this is the time to find it and use it!
Unfortunately, it's that if you have one bit that will probably have you moving on to the next idea. A password reset disk is tied to your specific Windows 8 account, meaning that one has to be created from within Windows, back when you actually knew your password. In other words, if you don't already have a Windows 8 password reset disk, your chance to create one is over.
Once you get back into Windows 8 using one of the other ideas below, please create a Windows 8 password reset disk so you can avoid all this trouble next time you forget your password.
Creating, and thus using, a password reset disk is only an option if you log in to Windows 8 using a local account.
Make Educated Guesses at Your Windows 8 Password
Before you roll your eyes at this one, give it a shot. Seriously try this, if even just to humor us. Guessing is probably the first thing you did once you realized you forgot your Windows 8 password, but were they educated guesses or just a few frustrated tries?
Yes, there are several geeky ways to hack yourself back into Windows 8 but before you spend all that time and energy with those, give educated guessing a really good last shot.
Considering that both simple and complex, well-crafted passwords are usually inspired by the things most familiar to us in our lives, think about whether your Windows 8 password could have something to do with:
- Your spouse's, partner's, friend's, or child's birthday
- An aspect of your first, middle, or last name
- A favorite set of numbers
- A fond memory from childhood
- A favorite food or activity
- The phone number you remember when you were a kid
- Where you work or live
- Your pets
- ...Or maybe it's some combination of the above
Those are just a few ideas on how to successfully guess your own password.
Have Another User Change Your Windows 8 Password
If more than one person uses your computer, and at least one of those other people is configured as an administrator, that person can log on with his or her password and change your password for you from the User Accountsapplet in Control Panel.
You can only have an administrator on your computer change your forgotten Windows 8 password if your account is a local account. The other administrator user can have a Microsoft account or a local account, but your account must be a local account to have your password changed this way.
Use This Hack to Reset Your Windows 8 Password
The word 'hack' might be pushing it a little, but there is a free and relatively simple procedure you can follow that allows you to reset your Windows 8 password if you've forgotten it. With this hack, you'll be able to reset your Windows 8 password right from the Windows login screen, without a password reset disk or flash drive, and without any need for third-party software.
You'll have to use Command Prompt and do some things you may have never done before, but follow our instructions closely and you'll get through it fine.
This hack will only work if you log in to Windows 8 with a local account. Several other sites recommend this process for Windows 8 in all cases, but it will not successfully reset your Windows 8 password if you're using a Microsoft account to log in.
Reset or Recover Your Windows Password With One of These Tools
If for whatever reason, the almost-always-work ideas above weren't successful for you, it's time to move on to some more 'traditional' means of hacking into your computer.
A number of software-based hacking tools, called Windows password recovery programs, are available from various companies and software developers. Depending on which program you choose to use, it may actually find and show you your forgotten Windows password, or it may simply reset it, allowing you to log in without a password at all.
We talk about a number of password recovery and reset tools in that list of programs linked above. For the most part, the password recovery programs work for both local and Microsoft account passwords. The password reset tools will only reset your forgotten Windows 8 password if you're logging on with a local account.
Reset Your PC
The Reset Your PC process in Windows 8 is very different than just resetting your password. This process removes all of your installed programs, apps, and even all of your saved data.
In other words, you get to log in to Windows again because your computer is reset back to its initial configuration, just as it was when you bought it or first installed Windows.
To complete the Reset Your PC process, access Advanced Startup Options and then choose Troubleshoot > Reset Your PC.
See our article on How to Reset Your PC in Windows 8 for a full walkthrough of this process.
This is obviously not a great way to get past a forgotten Windows 8 password but if all else fails, this will almost certainly work. You'll have the option of creating a new local account or Microsoft account. If you happen to have a second Microsoft account you do know the password to, you'll have the option of signing in with that.
In very rare cases, where you've both forgotten your Windows 8 password, and Reset Your PC isn't functioning for some reason, you can choose to clean install Windows 8 as long as you have a Windows 8 setup disc or flash drive available. Performing a clean install of Windows 8 accomplishes the same thing as a Reset Your PC.
The ways for Windows 8.1 password reset can be easily handled. No matter you have Windows password reset disk or not. No matter want to reset User password, Administrator password or Microsoft password you can find a solution in here.
- Option 5. Reset Windows 8.1 Logon Password with Windows Password Key Disk (Recommend)
Option 1. Reset/Remove Windows 8.1 Password in Local Users and Groups
You must sign in with an administrative privilege and then reset forgotten password for other user account. Local Users and Groups (lusrmgr.msc) is only available in the 8.1 Pro and Enterprise editions. If that doesn't describe your situation, go for versatile Windows Password Key.
- 1. Press Windows + R keys to open the Run dialog, type lusrmgr.msc, and click 'OK'.
- 2. In the left pane, click 'Users'.
- 3. Right click the local user account that you want to change the password for, and click 'Set Password'. Then click 'Proceed'.
- 4. To change your Windows 8.1 logon password: Type in a new password twice, and click 'OK'.
To remove your Windows 8.1 password: Leave all password fields empty and click 'OK'.
Option 2. Reset Windows 8.1 password from Command Prompt
Here is how to hack administrator password using cmd in windows 8.1 to delete. Make sure that you login into as an administrator.
- 1. Open Power User Tasks Menus and then elevated command prompt.
- 2. Type the command in the format 'net user UserName NewPassword', press Enter. If you want to remove this password, just replace NewPassword with *.
- 3. Close the command prompt.
Option 3. To Recover Windows 8.1 Password with Administrator Account in Control Panel
It is required to sign in as an administrator if you need to change other user password for Windows 8.1 in Control Panel.
- 1. Open the Power User Tasks Menus and then open Control Panel, and click on 'User Account'.
- 2. Click 'Manage another account'.
- 3. If promoted by User Account Control, click 'Yes'.
- 4. Click on a password protected local user account that you want to recover password in Windows 8.1. Click 'Change the password'.
- 5. To reset forgotten Windows 8.1 password: Type in a new password twice, type in an optional password hint if you like.
To remove lost Windows 8.1 password: Leave all password and password hint field empty. - 6. Click 'Change password'.
Above 2 methods is required login as the administrator and then do the rest. If you are the only user on this computer, or you lost the password for administrator, turn to Windows password recovery tool.
Windows 8 Administrator
Option 4. Hack Windows 8.1 Password by Resetting Microsoft Account Password Online
If you use Microsoft account as your Windows 8.1 credentials, you can easily reset your lost Windows 8.1 startup password by following 2 methods.
- 1. Directly go to your Microsoft account settings online from any computer: Click on the link https://account.live.com/summarypage.aspx to sign into your Microsoft 'Account summary' page.
- 2. If you forgot your Microsoft account password, click 'Can't access your account?'.
Type your Microsoft account email address and captcha characters. And click 'Next'.
Select an option for resetting your password: Email me a reset link; Send a code to my phone; I can't use any of these options.
If you can remember Microsoft account password, login into and go to 'Account summary' page then click 'Change password'. - 3. Type in your current Microsoft account password, and type in a new password twice, and click 'Save'.
Option 5. Reset Windows 8.1 Logon Password with Windows Password Key Disk
Windows Password Key is the most reliable software to easy hack forgotten or lost Windows 8.1 password, as well as lower Windows versions. You can create it at any time you need as soon as you need. It can recover Windows 8.1 administrator password, as well as other standard user account passwords.
Follow the short steps. To get started, download this Windows 8.1 password reset tool on another available computer.
- 1. Insert a CD/DVD/USB flash drive on the available computer, and click 'Burn' to burn a Windows 8.1 password reset disk.
- 2. Insert the newly burnt password reset disc to the locked computer. Set BIOS to boot this computer from CD/DVD/USB. It will reboot automatically after you finish settings.
- 3. Follow the wizard to reset lost or forgotten Windows 8.1 password.
Additional: How to Change Login Password in Windows 8.1 when You can Login Windows?
It is a good habit to change Windows 8.1 password on a regular basis to keep your computer secure. Following method is workable to change the current Windows 8.1 password.
- 1. Open 'PC settings' by pressing Windows + I keys and clicking 'Change PC settings'. Click 'Accounts' on the left side.
- 2. Type in your current password, and click on 'Next'.
- 3. To change your local user account password: Type in your new password twice, type in a password hint.
To remove your local user account password: Leave all password and password hint field empty. - 4. Click 'Next' and then click 'Finish'.
Well, this article covers all situations you may encounter about resetting password for Windows 8.1. If you lost your password, try use Windows Password Key.
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