I Forgot My Windows 8 Password!

What Are My Options?

We’ll let you know each time.

An illustration showing the ways to recover your Windows 8 password.

Lifewire / Nusha Ashjaee

Seriously, try this, if even just to humor us.

Go toMicrosoft’s Recover Your Accountpage and follow the on-screen prompts.

you could reset a forgotten Windows 8 password online like this only if you’re using a Microsoft account.

How to reset a Windows 8 password in Command Prompt with the net user command

If you have one, this is the time to find it and use it!

Unfortunately, it’s thatif you have onebit that will probably have you moving on to the next idea.

This works only for local accounts.

This process will only work if you jump in to Windows with a local account.

Reset Your PC

TheReset Your PCprocess is very different from just resetting your password.

This process removes all your installed programs, apps,and even all of your saved data.

See our article onHow to Reset Your PC in Windowsfor a full walkthrough of this process.

You’ll need toaccess Advanced Startup Optionsand then chooseTroubleshoot>Reset Your PC.

(The Refresh Your PC option won’t help with password issues.)

You’ll have the option of creating a new local account or Microsoft account.

Performing a clean install accomplishes the same thing as a Reset Your PC.