You can put the kibosh on your password in Windows, but a couple of issues pop up if you do.
Typing your password each time you want to sign into Windows can be a hassle, especially if that password is lengthy or otherwise complex. My Windows password is notably long and complex, so it’s not something I’d relish having to type every time. Instead, Microsoft lets you establish an alternative method of authentication via its Windows Hello technology. You can set up a PIN, a fingerprint scan, a facial scan, or a physical security key, and turn to any or all of those factors to sign into Windows 10 or 11. You can take Windows Hello a step further by eliminating the password sign-in option on the Windows login screen so that it doesn’t even appear. The main limitation here is that this capability works only with Microsoft accounts, so you can’t use it with a local account or an account with your organization. But why remove the password sign-in option in the first place? Mostly for security reasons. Not having the password field available could deter someone who steals or otherwise acquires your password and aims to use it to physically log into your PC. However, there are a couple of bumps in the road if you jettison the password sign-in this way. Let’s see how this all plays out. First, you’ll want to set up your alternative authentication method or methods. In Windows 10 or 11, go to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options. To use any of the Windows Hello options, you’ll need to first set up a PIN if you haven’t already done so. Click the option for Windows Hello (PIN) in Windows 10 or PIN (Windows Hello) in Windows 11 and then select Add or Set up. You’ll want to create a numerical PIN with at least four digits. To devise a longer and more complex PIN, check the box for Include letters and numbers and select the link for PIN requirements. Follow the guidelines to cook up the right PIN. When done, click OK (Figure 1). Now you can set up the other available methods for additional security, notably the biometric ones.
