Windows 10: Sign-in to Windows 10 with password-less accounts

Microsoft introduced an option in the most recent Windows 10 Home Insider Build to sign-in to Windows with password-less accounts.

Today, we’re announcing support for setting up and signing in to Windows with a phone number account, without having to create, or deal with the hassle of a password!
​

Passwords are certainly one of the Achilles Heels of account security; a recent study of leaked passwords in 2018 showed that Internet users still use pretty much the same insecure passwords that they used five years ago.

Weak passwords are not only the user's fault; companies shy away from imposing too restrictive password setting rules.

Users who sign up for a Microsoft Account need to assign a password to it. While it is theoretically possible to create a local Windows account without a password and even configure Windows for automatic login, all Windows accounts that are Microsoft Accounts require a password as well; this may change with Windows 10 version 1903 as Microsoft introduced a new option to recent Insider Builds.

Password Less sign-in




One option that Windows 10 users have in the future is to sign-in to Windows using different means. Authentication is still required considering that it identifies whether the user is authorized to sign-in.

Instead of using a password to set up an account on a Windows device, users may create an account using a mobile phone if they have linked it to a Microsoft Account.

Windows would send a SMS code to the linked device which the user would then use to sign-in and create the account. The user would then have to use another sign-in method to access the account going forward.

Microsoft notes that the user may use Facial, Fingerprint, or PIN identification to sign-in to the account.

The process may take away the need to set up an account password but it does not do away with the authentication process itself. Depending on the device, all that is available is PIN authentication.

Windows 10 users may assign a PIN to an account to sign-in to the account; a PIN may even be a requirement if you create a new account on a Windows 10 device.

Right now, it is necessary to create a password-less phone number account in a mobile application such as Word. Users just need to type the phone number and follow instructions to create such an account.

On Windows 10, users would have to add the account under Settings > Accounts > Family & other Users > Add someone else to this PC to add the "new" account to the device.

The phone number account should be selectable during sign-in or user switching at this point in time. The user would have to select "sign-in options" and there Sign-in on the PIN tile. This launches the Windows Hello setup to set up one of the required authentication options for the account.

Closing Words


Setup is not straightforward at this point in time; some might say it is complicated. A regular account is required at this point in time to set up Windows on a device. Consecutive accounts can be password-less provided that the user has a mobile device and linked it to a Microsoft Account.

The user would still have to remember a PIN and use it to sign in if Face or Fingerprint authentication is not available on the device.

It remains to be seen if the process is optimized in future builds.

Now You: What is your take on password-less sign-ins?

Ghacks needs you. You can find out how to support us here or support the site directly by becoming a Patreon. Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post Sign-in to Windows 10 with password-less accounts appeared first on gHacks Technology News.

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Windows 10 Tweaks

As you may already know, Windows 10 (as well as Windows 8) allow you to log in with a valid Microsoft account, instead of creating a local account that only works on your machine. However, you may prefer to keep a local account for privacy reasons. If you do, though, some Windows 10 features—like Cortana—may not work. Despite the default behavior, the Windows 10 Store is not one of them. You can still log in to your Microsoft account for just the Store without switching to a full Microsoft account. The process, however, is not terribly obvious. To do so, follow these steps:

• Launch the Store from your Start menu.
• Click the user icon next to the search box.
• Click “Sign-in” from the menu that appears.
• Choose “Microsoft account” and log in like normal.
• When the “Make it yours” box appears do not enter your password. Instead, click “Sign in to just this app instead.”

from Lifehacker

 

Password to sign in

Hi Rosa,

We appreciate your interest in Windows 10.

Before proceeding, we need to know whether you are using Microsoft/Local account to sign in to Windows 10.

If you are using Microsoft account to login to Windows 10, there is no option to disable the password and sign in to Windows 10 directly without entering password.

Step 1:

If you are using Local account to login to Windows 10, you can disable the password and sign in to Windows 10 directly without entering password. Follow the below steps if you use Local account.

• 
  Press Windows + I keys to open
  settings menu.
  
• 
  Click on Accounts.
  
• 
  Click on Sign in options.
  
• 
  Click on Change under Change your account password.
  
• 
  Enter your current password and leave the other two files for new password as empty and close the windows by clicking on
  OK button.
  
• 
  Sign out and try to sign in again and check.
  

Step 2:

You may also create the 4 digit PIN which will reduce your time to enter full password. Follow the below steps.

• 
  Press Windows + I keys to open
  settings menu.
  
• 
  Click on Accounts.
  
• 
  Click on Sign in options.
  
• 
  Click on Add under PIN.
  
• 
  Follow the onscreen instructions to create Pin.
  
• 
  Sign out and try to sign in again using PIN as your Sign in option.
  

I hope the above information helps. Kindly let us know if you need any further assistance with Windows. We are glad to assist you.

Thank you.

 

Signing into Windows 10 password error...

Hi,

Thank you for posting your query in Microsoft Community.

I understand your concern and will assist you to resolve this issue.

You may follow the steps provided below and check if it helps to resolve the issue.

If you are using Microsoft account to login to Windows 10, there is no option to disable the password and sign in to Windows 10 directly without entering password.

Step 1:

If you are using Local account to login to Windows 10, you can disable the password and sign in to Windows 10 directly without entering password. Follow the below steps if you use Local account.

• Press Windows + I keys to open
  settings menu.
• Click on Accounts.
• Click on Sign in options.
• Click on Change under Change your account password.
• Enter your current password and leave the other two files for new password as empty and close the windows by clicking on
  OK button.
• Sign out and try to sign in again and check.

Step 2:

You may also create the 4 digit PIN which will reduce your time to enter full password. Follow the below steps.

• Press Windows + I keys to open
  settings menu.
• Click on Accounts.
• Click on Sign in options.
• Click on Add under
  PIN.
• Follow the onscreen instructions to create Pin.
• Sign out and try to sign in again using PIN as your Sign in option.

Forgotten password and other sign-in problems please follow the link below .

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-live/account-reset-password-forgot-faq

Hope this information was helpful and do let us know if you need further assistance. We will be glad to assist