Windows 10: how do I sign into other computers with a passwordless account

I posted this same question two years ago, and if there is an answer, I don't see it. The Microsoft account I use to sign into all my computers is passwordless. The computers are all on the same home network. Other computers show up in Windows Explorer, but when I try to access files on them, I get a sign-in dialog box that requires a password. It does not allow any other sign-in method. What can I do about this?

:)

 

Passwordless Sign-in for MS account

On my desktop running Win10, 22H2, OS build 19045.2364 I'm the admin of the local account with no user accts.

While I was reading one of Shawn's excellent tutorial's:
Enable or Disable Passwordless Sign-in for Microsoft Accounts in Windows 10,
I was hoping to find where to disable Passwordless Sign-in for MS accounts.

I have it enabled because the sign-in screen into my Microsoft account lists "other sign-in options" (or something to those words). I also verified in the registry and netplwiz that its enabled.

When selecting other sign-in options, a security key that I set up, first of all, disappeared all by itself recently. The security key is only one of two sign-in options for Passwordless sign-in that I ever set up. The other option was a Windows Hello PIN which I had up until this year but its no longer an option after I removed it myself.

So where the problem comes in is after the authentication option using a security key is re-added, it ends up disappearing after about 24 hours later. When that happens, it leaves zero Passwordless Sign-in options to use (Windows Hello PIN was removed by myself in June). But Passwordless Sign-In will still remain enabled even though I can't sign-in Passwordless with any options. I'm left with signing in by using 2-step verification processes that I've had.

Perhaps this is grasping at straws. I was thinking if there's a switch to disable Passwordless Sign-in to Microsoft Accounts that's turned off first, maybe then the security key can successfully be re-added permanently.

 

Passwordless Sign-in for MS account

Thanks Denis. Shawn was helpful in answering my question about whether or not disabling Passwordless Sign-In in Settings would help resolve this odd behavior recently with a FIDO2 security key.

I've already reached out to Microsoft's Accounts department and also Yubico Support. They've both been unable to provide the needed help I've been seeking.

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There're several peculiarities that I've recently noticed when attempting to sign-in Passwordless using my FIDO2 Microsoft compliant security key. If "Sign-In Options" is selected first (which was what I had always selected first prior to this recent behavior), there is now a different prompt window which have different options to select. The screen message now reads: Use your Passkey for login.microsoft.com. The options that're given are also new where they say either to select: "External security key or built-in sensor", OR "a different device"

Prior to this behavior it used to be that at the Microsoft sign-in screen, there was a link to click that read something to the effect: "sign-in with a security key or Hello PIN". After clicking that link, you would choose to select PIN or a security key, and then after selecting security key, you were prompted to insert key, enter the PIN, and touch the flashing light on the key.

I could be wrong but changes may have been implemented by Microsoft. A Yubico support person sent me a screen shot of the same steps after selecting "Sign-in Options' at the sign-in screen that I'm now seeing. The link is now missing to click on to sign-in with a security key or PIN. So after selecting "Sign-In Options" now, you have to choose either "External security key or built-in sensor", OR "a different device".

In my case though after clicking external security key or built-in sensor, I'll be prompted to insert the security key in the USB port, and following the remaining prompts, but then instead of being signed-in, an error occurs:

Then after receiving the error, the security key will be removed as a verification option that had been set up in the advanced security settings.

After performing some testing at the Microsoft sign-in screen, I added my Microsoft account email address first, and then on the following screen I selected "sign-in option". I found that after choosing these steps I was prompted to insert the key into the USB port, enter the PIN, and touch the key. This successfully signed me in to my account without an error.

This isn't the solution I was seeking after but it does allow the use of Passwordless sign-in however with my key in both Edge and Firefox. I've not tested other browsers.

 

Disable autologin with multiple passwordless accounts

Hi, I have a home PC with these accounts:

• 1 local admin account with password
  
• 3 local standard accounts without password for family members
  

What I want:

• a login screen at each startup, which lets you choose a family member account
  

What actually happens:

• windows lets you choose for the first time, but then after turning off from a passwordless account and then turning back on, it autologins with that last used account (undesired in case other family member is at the computer)
  

What I tried based on quick research:

1. change HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\PasswordLess\Device “DevicePasswordLessBuildVersion” from “2” to “0”
   
2. start netplwiz
   
3. check that "Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer" is already checked
   
4. change the registry back to default
   

Best regards,

Muller