How to Reset Windows 8 Password Without Logging In: Free Tools and Workarounds

I'm using Windows 8.1 with two local accounts—one main and another I set up later. Forgot the password for my main account and been stuck using the other one. Tried resetting it, but it asks for a flash drive backup, which I don’t have. Found this solution here:

[The reset password needs a password reset drive (like a USB) you made earlier as a backup. Only someone with that drive (which you should keep safe) can get into your PC. If you didn’t make one, you can’t use that option. But you can reset it using another account on the computer. If there’s no Administrator account, boot into Safe Mode to use the Built-in Administrator account. From there, you can reset your account’s password.

Press Image+I to open the Settings charm menu.

Click the Power Options icon, hold Shift, and click Restart. Keep holding Shift till it says it’s restarting.

On the first screen, pick Troubleshoot, then Advanced Options. Choose Startup Settings and hit Restart.

Next screen, press 4 for Safe Mode. In Safe Mode, use the built-in Administrator account for recovery. Don’t use this account for anything else, or it won’t work when you need it.

At login, click the Arrow Icon and pick the Administrator account. Once Safe Mode loads, press Image+W, go to Control Panel / User Accounts. Click Manage another account, select the account you wanna make Administrator or reset its password. When done, restart normally.]

I followed this, but in Safe Mode, when I clicked manage another account, a box popped up asking for the MAIN ACCOUNT PASSWORD—the one I don’t know! Closed it, restarted, and I’m back to square one. I’m thinking of trying something like Renee PassNow, since it sounds like it can reset passwords without needing the original one. Anyone tried that or got other ideas?

"What to do if you forget your Windows 8/8.1 password"

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/what-do-forget-windows-password#1TC=windows-8

If you forgot your Windows password, here’s some ways to fix it:

• If your PC’s on a domain, ask your system admin to reset it.


• If it’s a Microsoft account, reset it online. Check the Reset your password page for more info.


• If it’s a local account, try your password hint to remember it.

If those don’t work and you still can’t sign in:

• For Windows 8.1, you might need to reinstall Windows.


• For Windows RT 8.1, contact your PC’s manufacturer.

There’s also tools like Renee PassNow that can help reset local account passwords with a bootable USB, which might be worth a shot if you’re stuck.

Microsoft doesn’t allow help in these Forums for bypassing or "cracking" lost passwords._

Here’s the Microsoft policy on that:

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-security/keeping-passwords-secure-microsoft-policy-on/39f56ef0-5d68-41ad-9daa-6e6019c25d37

In reply to Bill Smithers's post

Thanks for the tips, but I really need to bypass or "crack" my password. If Microsoft doesn’t allow that, I understand. I’m looking into Renee PassNow now, since it seems like it can reset my local account password without needing the original one. Thanks anyway! :D

The domain admin password isn’t working?

I’ve used this one on 8 (local):
Offline Windows Password & Registry Editor
Of course, if it’s a business machine you could just reimage it too.

AR-Beekeeper:
The domain admin password doesn’t work?
Sounds like he disjoined it from the domain and forgot the local admin account to login and rejoin it to the domain.

The above will make you lose access to encrypted files, encrypted email messages, and stored passwords for Internet Explorer and network resources.

Bryan Doe:
I’ve used this one on 8 (local):
Offline Windows Password & Registry Editor
Of course, if it’s a business machine you could just reimage it too.
This is the same as boot hiren. not applicable to windows 8

Alan M.:
AR-Beekeeper:
The domain admin password doesn’t work?
Sounds like he disjoined it from the domain and forgot the local admin account to login and rejoin it to the domain.
No sir, this is an old laptop. someone will use it now and we will join it to the domain.

omelskitotsaada:
Bryan Doe:
I’ve used this one on 8 (local):
Offline Windows Password & Registry Editor
Of course, if it’s a business machine you could just reimage it too.
This is the same as boot hiren. not applicable to windows 8
Hiren’s has an older version of it, the current one works with 8; as I said I’ve used it for that.
That said, if it’s an old laptop I’d agree with just wiping it. I’m not joining old non-domain machines to my domain without a refresh.

I’ve only used the CD .iso, but the site has directions for doing it:

I would guess using a smaller flash drive, formatted fat32, may help. Or just use a CD and connect an optical USB drive if you have to.

omelskitotsaada:
Bryan Doe:
I’ve used this one on 8 (local):
Offline Windows Password & Registry Editor
Of course, if it’s a business machine you could just reimage it too.
This is the same as boot hiren. not applicable to windows 8
Hiren’s has an older version of it, the current one works with 8; as I said I’ve used it for that.
That said, if it’s an old laptop I’d agree with just wiping it. I’m not joining old non-domain machines to my domain without a refresh.