Windows 10: Passwordless Microsoft Account

I recently turned off the password on my Microsoft Account to improve security. However, now it always requires me to confirm the login using the Microsoft Authenticator app. I would prefer to use my PIN when logging in on my Windows 11 computer. Is there any way to prioritize this so I can use a PIN and not have to always open my phone for Authenticator App.Also, I see the backup in the cloud was turned off in the Authenticator app. I assume that means If I switch phones and had to reinstall the authenticator app, I might have some difficulty. How do I log into the authenticator app again aft

:)

 

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.

 

do i still need two factor authentication with passwordless account

Do I still need two factor authentication with a passwordless account? It seems redundant considering the Authenticator is performing both functions. As you roll out the new passwordless account feature, perhaps it would be best to also turn off 2FA. What am I missing?

It also seems like a "Product" that could be listed in the topics selection could be for "Microsoft Account" questions. This question I have is not really Windows related, yet there is no better option. Just a suggestion.

 

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