What can I do if I forgot my Windows password?
- Document ID: 4009254
- Posted Date: 2016-07-11
- Last Updated: 2016-07-11
- Distribution: View Public Website
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If you've forgotten your Windows password, there are several ways to retrieve or reset it. The available options depend on the version of Windows your computer is using.
Windows 8.1 or Windows 8
Reset your password onlineIf you're using a Microsoft account, you can reset your password online. For more info, go to the Microsoft account password reset webpageUse an administrator accountHave someone with an administrator account on the PC sign in and change your password for you. (If you have an administrator account and remember the administrator password, you can do this yourself.)Perform a system resetIf you can't use one of the two previous methods, you'll need to perform a system reset. Please see the following article for more information.How To: Understanding System Restore, Refresh, Reset, and, Recovery options in Windows 8 + Video
For more info about changing or resetting passwords if you know your password, see the following article:
How To: Changing your password - Windows 8
Windows 7
Use a password reset disk
You can reset your password by using a password reset disk (if you have one). For more information, see Create a password reset disk or Reset your Windows password.
Use an administrator accountHave someone with an administrator account on the PC sign in and change your password for you. (If you have an administrator account and remember the administrator password, you can do this yourself.)Use third-party utility
There is a third-party utility that can reset the password of accounts in Windows. Please note that the link below is not maintained by Toshiba. It could change or become invalid in the future. The utility is not officially endorsed by Toshiba. Use it at your own risk.
Offline Windows Password & Registry Editor
Perform recovery
If you forget the administrator password, don't have a password reset disk or another login account with administrator priviledges, and don't want to use a third-party utility, you won't be able to reset the password.
Performing a system recovery will return your computer to factory default conditions, allowing you to access Windows again. For more information, see the following articles:
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