"I forgot my computer password Windows 8." is a far too common mistake – especially for people who tend to change their password frequently. No matter how you've lost the password, Windows 8 doesn't provide any official method to retrieve the lost password and you have no other way but to unlock Windows 8 when you forgot password Windows 8.

Before you start worrying, let me tell you that bypassing the Windows 8 password is easier than you think if you use the right methods. A few proven methods of how to get rid of password on Windows 8 are listed below, let’s read them up.

Method Precondition Operation Difficulty
Using PassFab 4Winkey 1. Only need a USB/CD/DVD
2. Doesn’t cause any data loss.
★★
Reset your Windows 1. Will remove all the data on your computer. ★★★
Using a Installation Disk 1. Need to have a Windows 8 system CD (you can create it through Windows 8.1 Disc Image ISO File ).
2. Doesn’t cause any data loss
★★★★
Using a Password Reset Disk 1. Need a USB to create a password reset disk.
2. Cannot create a reset disk using CD or DVD media.
3. If you are already locked out of your system, you are not able to use this process.
4. Doesn’t cause any data loss.
★★★★

Method 1: How to Unlock Windows 8.1/8 with Video & Steps | PassFab 4WinKey

When it comes to the issue of unocking Windows 8.1, no method or tool is as effective as PassFab 4WinKey. This powerful, multi-featured, software is specifically designed to help users reset Windows password with just a few clicks.

Being tagged as the Number 1 Windows password recovery program, 4WinKey offers the most intuitive and user-friendly procedure to remove and reset local and admin passwords at super-quick speed. You can watch this video to clear up any confusion in steps.

  • Step 1: Once downloaded and installed, launch 4WinKey on an accessible computer and choose your flash drive and hit [Next].

    forgotten laptop password Windows 8 – launch
  • Step 2: On the pop-up tab, click on [Next] to confirm that all the data on the flash drive will be removed. Wait until the programs burns the drive.

    unlock Windows 8.1 – wipe data
  • Step 3: Now, connect this burned drive to the locked computer and restart it. When it does, press [F12] or any shortcut key combination to enter into the Boot menu. Here, select your flash drive using the arrow keys and hit Enter. Then save and exit the menu.

    how to unlock Windows 8 – boot from drive
  • Step 4: On the 4WinKey interface, select the [Remove Account Password] option and the account you want to remove password and then, hit [Next].

    how to unlock laptop password Windows 8 – remove password
  • The program will take hardly a few minutes to remove the password and when it’s done, click on Reboot to restart your PC and start using it.

    how to unlock laptop password Windows 8 – successfully removed

    Hopefully, it will help you get answer to how to unlock a windows 8 computer.

Method 2: Windows 8 Lockout by Resetting Your Computer

Many users have claimed that resetting the computer can help to solve the problem of how to change computer password Windows 8/8.1. This method is simple and straightforward, but it will remove all the data on your computer. Having said that, follow the below steps to reset the Windows 8 laptop or PC password:

  • Turn on your computer and wait until the login screen appears. Then, long press the “shift” button and Restart it.

    Windows 8 password lockout - Windows-8-login-screen
  • Your PC will restart and take you to the Troubleshooting interface. Here, hit on the Troubleshoot option.

    Windows 8.1 forgot password - troubleshoot-reset-password
  • A new interface will appear. Here, hit on the Reset your PC option and then click Next. It will restart and start the resetting process.
  • Click on "Just Remove My Files" on the "Reset Your PC" page and hit Reset. Wait until the system removes Windows 8 password.

    Windows 8 forgot password - reset-your-pc

Method 3: Unlocking Windows 8.1/8 Password via Installation Disk

Another popular method of unlocking computer when you forgot password Windows 8 is by using installation disk. Unlike the methods explained above, this method is complicated and takes sufficient time to complete the unlocking process.The best thing about this method – if it works – is that it doesn’t cause any data loss. Have a look at it yourself:

This method involves downloading third-party tools on an accessible computer to create a Windows 8 installation disk by burning a Windows 8 ISO file to a flash drive. You can try to download Rufus Tool to create a installation disk.

  • After installation, connect this flash drive to the locked computer and restart it. Press F12 repeatedly soon it restarts to enter the Boot menu.
  • Now, highlight and select USB-HDD using the arrow keys and hit Enter to boot your computer from flash drive.

    unlocker Windows 8 - boot-from-usb
  • On the Windows Setup, press Shift + F10 keys to bring Command Prompt window and enter the below two commands one by one and hit Enter after typing each:

    move c:\Windows\system32\utilman.exe c:\
    copy c:\Windows\system32\cmd.exe c:\Windows\system32\utilman.exe
    Note: You need to replace “c” with the drive letter of your OS like “d” or “f.”
    Windows 8 forgot password - run-commands
  • After that, remove the flash drive and restart your PC. Use the command "wpeutil reboot" to do so.
  • When it restarts, click on the Ease of Access icon in the lower-right corner to bring the Command Prompt. Here, type the command: "net user <username> <password>" and hit Enter to reset Windows 8 password.

    how to unlock pc password Windows 8 - reset-admin-password-cmd
  • Users are recommended to put back the Utility Manager to stop unauthorized users from changing the Windows 8 password. For that:
    • Restart your computer from the installation disk (step 2).
    • Use Shift + F10 keys to bring the Command Prompt.
    • Enter the command “copy c:\utilman.exe c:\Windows\system32\utilman.exe” and hit Enter. Then, type Yes to confirm your action and hit Enter.

      how to unlock a Windows 8 computer - put-back-utility-manager
  • Finally, restart your computer and set a new Windows 8 password.

Given the tech-savvy nature of this method, we don’t recommend using it.

Method 4: Windows 8 Lockout with Password Reset Disk

It’s another proven method about how to reset password on Windows 8 – though a bit complicated. Here’s how use it:

  • Firstly, you need to create a Password Reset Disk.
  • After that, open you computer and type in a wrong password and click [Enter]. Click [OK] when you receive a hint of [Password is Incorrect]. how to unlock a Windows 8 computer-incorrect-password
  • Then connect the Password Reset Disk to your locked computer and hit on [Reset password] as shown in the figure. how to unlock a Windows 8 computer-incorrect-password
  • Then, follow the onscreen instructions to reset the Windows 8 password.

Conclusion

To wrap it up, this article has provided a comprehensive guideline on how to unlock Windows 8 without password. You can fall back on all the methods discussed and rest assured, one of the will get the job done for you.

Install PassFab 4WinKey to remove the Windows 8 password safely and without any technical hassle.