Windows password recovery tools are used to recuperate or reset lost user and administrator passwords used to visit to Windows operating systems.
Password recovery tools are typically called “password cracker” tools because they are in some cases used to “crack” passwords by hackers. Lawfully cracking or unlocking your own Windows password is certainly a legitimate practice!
If you have questions or concerns, see our Windows Password Recovery Programs FAQ. We also have an easy-to-read comparison of these programs that should help.
Keep in mind: A Windows password recovery program is just one of a number of methods to discover a lost Windows password.
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Below you’ll find the best totally free Windows password recovery programs available, the majority of which work for Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP passwords:
1. Ophcrack
What We Like
- Easy to use; passwords are recuperated instantly.
- Does not require setup; it ranges from a disc or flash drive.
- You do not have to understand anything about the initial password.
What We Don’t Like
- Does not split Windows 10 passwords.
- Can’t split passwords 14+ characters in length.
- You need to boot to the media to run the program.
- The file size is rather large.
The Ophcrack Windows password cracker is without a doubt the best freeware Windows password recovery tool readily available. It’s quick and easy sufficient for a very first time Windows password cracker with a basic understanding of Windows.
With Ophcrack, you do not require any access to Windows to be able to recuperate your lost passwords. From another computer, visit the site, download the free ISO image, burn it to a CD or flash drive, and then boot from it.
The Ophcrack program begins, finds the Windows user accounts, and proceeds to recuperate (crack) the passwords– all automatically.
In a test on a Windows 8 PC, Ophcrack recuperated the 8-character password (mixed letters and numbers) to my administrator account in 3 minutes and 29 seconds.
Ophcrack supports Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP. Though I attempted Ophcrack versus 3 extremely easy Windows 10 passwords, not one of them were discovered.
2. Offline NT Password & Registry Editor
What We Like
- Deletes the password completely.
- You do not have to set up anything to the computer.
- Works rapidly.
- Works on Windows 10 down through Windows XP.
What We Don’t Like
- Should boot to the disc or flash drive to run the program.
- Works from the command line, so whatever is text.
Offline NT Password & Registry Editor (ONTP&RE) works in a different way than most password recovery programs because it removes your Windows password rather of recovering it. You can think about it as more of a Windows password tool.
Like Ophcrack, you boot from a burned disc or flash drive developed with the Offline NT Password & Registry Editor ISO file. After running the program, you can log in to your Windows account without going into a password at all, and after that, naturally, make a new password if that’s what you want.
If you like this “password deleting” strategy then I highly suggest this program. It needs some apparently challenging command line work but I have a full walkthrough available. In other words: you can do this!
I’ve evaluated Offline NT Password & Registry Editor on 64-bit & 32-bit variations of Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP PCs, and it reset the passwords immediately without an issue. It ought to deal with Windows 2000 and Windows NT running systems too.
3.Kon-Boot
What We Like
- One of the most convenient ways to reset a password.
- No requirement to set up the software application to the computer’s hard disk.
- Smaller download than the majority of bootable password reset tools.
What We Don’t Like
- Does not deal with Windows 10 or Windows 8.
- Doesn’t deal with 64-bit operating systems.
- You have to put the software on a disc to use it.
Kon-Boot is yet another complimentary password reset program, similar to ONTP&RE. Simply burn the program to a disc or USB drive, boot from it, and you’re off.
Kon-Boot works differently than the two password reset tools above, so if you have issues utilizing them, provide Kon-Boot a try. It’s really, extremely easy to use and probably the fastest password reset, and certainly password recovery tool, readily available.
Sadly, Kon-Boot 1.0 does not work with 64-bit versions of Windows, nor any version of Windows 8 or Windows 10.
I used Kon-Boot v1.0 to effectively erase the password on a Windows Vista PC and after that also on a Windows XP PC.
A business variation of Kon-Boot supposedly deals with 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows 10/8, however I have not attempted it myself.
4. Cain & Abel
What We Like
- You can install it in minutes.
- More advanced than comparable password recovery tools.
- Consists of lots of other beneficial tools.
What We Don’t Like
- Needs access to a Windows account.
- Officially works with Windows XP and older OSs just.
- Hasn’t been upgraded in a long time.
- You require extra files (not included) in order to recuperate passwords.
Cain & Abel is a totally free, fast and effective Windows password recovery tool.
Unlike Ophcrack and other popular Windows password hacking programs, Cain & Abel needs access to Windows under an administrator account. Due to this reality, Cain & Abel is an important resource to recuperate passwords to accounts besides the one you’re utilizing.
Add that to the truth that Cain & Abel is a bit more complicated to use than other password recovery apps and you have what is, in my book, a pretty sophisticated tool. Inspect it out if you believe it might be beneficial to you.
Cain & Abel was able to recover the 10-character password to the Windows XP “Administrator” account in 10 seconds. While it just officially supports Windows XP, 2000, and NT, some users have actually had luck getting it to operate in Windows Vista and Windows 7.
I’ve tried it with Windows 10, 8, 7, and Vista, and was not successful each time.
5. LCP
What We Like
- Installs rapidly.
- You don’t need to fret about putting the program on a disc.
What We Don’t Like
- Doesn’t deal with newer operating systems.
- The software application no longer gets updated.
- Must have access to Windows to use it.
LCP is yet another free password recovery software application tool for Windows.
Like Cain & Abel, LCP is a basic Windows program you download from LCPSoft’s site and install inside of Windows, meaning you’ll require access to a user account on the computer system.
LCP can be a little frightening to those brand-new to Windows password recovery tools, so some prior knowledge is very helpful to avoid even bigger issues with your PC.
I haven’t had the ability to get LCP to work for me in Windows XP, the latest version of Windows it supports. Please let me understand if you’ve effectively used LCP and wants to share your experiences.
6. Trinity Rescue Kit
What We Like
- Can erase Windows passwords.
- Lets you make a new password for a user account.
- You don’t require access to a user account to reset passwords.
What We Don’t Like
- Requirements to be booted from before Windows starts.
- Doesn’t have a regular, visual user interface.
Trinity Rescue Kit requires to be booted from a disc or USB stay with work. It consists of several tools, one of which is for password recovery.
You can use Trinity Rescue Kit to clear a password completely, making it blank, or to set a custom-made one.
Some of you might find this program tough to use because there isn’t a graphical interface. However, even if you’re not used to a command line interface, most of the required keystrokes are simply numbers for picking different choices for resetting a password.
Trinity Rescue Kit need to work with Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista, and XP.
Note: The password resetting tool in Trinity Rescue Kit, called winpass, is really simply an automated script for the chntpw tool, which is what Offline NT Password & Registry Editor, noted above, is based upon. If you tried that password tool and it didn’t work, Trinity Rescue Kit probably won’t either.
7. John the Ripper
What We Like
- The program is 100 percent totally free.
- Small download size.
- Runs quickly and from within Windows.
What We Don’t Like
- Hasn’t been updated given that 2013.
- The required wordlists aren’t totally free.
- Works from the command line.
- You require Windows access to use it.
John the Ripper is a popular totally free password recovery tool that can be used to discover Windows account passwords.
While the password recovery application itself is complimentary, the wordlists used by John the Ripper to find passwords, do cost and are required for the software application to work.
I’m informed there are totally free word list alternatives that deal with John the Ripper, which is why this Windows password recovery tool is still listed as free. Nevertheless, I have not evaluated any of them.
John the Ripper is operated at the command line, that makes it a password cracking tool reserved for the really sophisticated user.
In theory, John the Ripper should support all popular versions of Windows like Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista, and XP.
Windows Password Recovery Tools Aren’t Necessary If You’re Proactive!
These Windows password recovery tools are excellent if you require them, however there’s a much easier method to access your account if you forget your password– a password reset disk!
A password reset disk is a special disk you can place in your PC during the logon process that will allow you to change your Windows password without knowing your existing password. You will require to develop this disk prior to you lose access to your account!
