How to Create, Change, or Remove a Windows 8.1 Password

Windows 8 and 8.1 support local accounts and Microsoft accounts. A local password applies only to that PC; a Microsoft-account password is tied to the online account and cannot simply be left blank. Identify the account type before changing anything.

Support note: Windows 8.1 reached end of support in January 2023. Microsoft no longer provides normal security updates for it, so an internet-connected PC should be moved to a supported operating system. See the Windows 8.1 lifecycle page.

Create a password for a local account

1. Open the Charms bar, select Settings, then Change PC settings.

2. In Windows 8.1, choose Accounts > Sign-in options. In some Windows 8 screens, the equivalent page is named Users.
3. Under Password, select Add or Create a password.

4. Enter and confirm the password. Add a hint that helps you but does not reveal the password itself, then finish the wizard.

Press Windows + L to lock the PC and test the new password while you still have access to the account.

Change an existing password

The quickest path is often Ctrl + Alt + Delete > Change a password. You can also return to PC settings > Accounts > Sign-in options and select Change.

1. Enter the current password.
2. Enter and confirm the new password.
3. Complete the wizard, lock the PC, and test the new password.

For a Microsoft account, the change applies to Microsoft services as well. Keep another signed-in device or current recovery method available before changing it.

Remove a local-account password

Removing the sign-in password allows anyone with physical access to open that account. It does not decrypt a BitLocker-protected drive, and it is not appropriate for a shared, portable, or work-managed PC.

1. Open the Password Change screen and enter the current local password.
2. Leave the new password and confirmation fields blank.
3. Select Next > Finish.

A Microsoft account password cannot be removed this way. To use a passwordless local account, first switch to a local account through account settings, understanding that Microsoft sync and recovery behavior will change.

If you forgot the password

• For a Microsoft account, use Microsoft's official account-recovery process from another trusted device.
• For a local account, use the password-reset disk or security questions if they were configured.
• On a managed PC, contact the administrator. Do not use untrusted password-bypass utilities.

Store new credentials in a reputable password manager; TipsMake compares password-management options. Upgrading the unsupported operating system is more important than adding third-party folder-locking software.