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Learn how to add or update a password to protect your Windows computer
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- Windows 10 |
- Windows 11 |
- Using a BIOS Password |
- Video |
- Expert Q&A |
- Tips |
- Warnings
Want to protect your Windows desktop or laptop with a password? If you're using Windows 10 or 11, your PC will usually require a password by default. If it doesn't, you can easily change your settings to require a password. You can also password-protect the BIOS to prevent anyone from booting up your PC without the password. This wikiHow article will teach you simple ways to protect your Windows computer with a password.
How to Add or Update a Windows Password
- Press the Windows key on your keyboard.
- Click on the Settings icon, which looks like a cogwheel.
- Click Accounts .
- Select Sign-in options .
- Expand the Password option.
- Click Change to change your password, or Add to add one.
Steps
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Open the Settings App . You can do this by pressing the Windows key and clicking the cogwheel icon in the bottom-left corner.
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Click Accounts . The option has an icon of a person next to it.Advertisement
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Click the Sign-in options tab. It's the third option down in the left-hand sidebar.
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Under "Password", click Change . If your computer does not have a password, then the button will say "Add."
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Choose a strong password. If your computer already has a password, you will have to enter it into the "Old password" box.
- Confirm the password by typing it again.
- Type a password hint (don't make it your password), which will come up if you enter the wrong password when you log in. The password hint might jog your memory if you forget your password.
EXPERT TIPTechnology SpecialistBrandon Phipps is a Technology Specialist based in Bakersfield, CA. He is the owner of Second Star Technologies and specializes in Managed IT Services for small and mid-sized businesses in Bakersfield, CA. With over 23 years of experience, he offers expert cloud computing, cybersecurity, and network management solutions. Brandon is a committed community member and coach who leads and innovates in tech and sports coaching. His dedication to local businesses and communities is evident in his hands-on, tailored approach to IT solutions.Secure your digital life with online password best practices. Choose a long, easy-to-remember passphrase as your password. You should also avoid using the same password for multiple services or websites.
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Click Next , then Finish . Your computer now has a password that must be entered whenever anybody tries to log in.
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Press Ctrl + L to easily lock your computer. When you lock your computer in this way, you won't be signed out, and the computer won't go to sleep, but it will make it so you have to enter the password to get into the computer.
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Open your Settings. Click the gear icon in the Start menu, or press Windows key + i .
- If you don't want somebody to use your Windows PC when you step away, lock your screen by pressing Ctrl + Alt + Del and selecting Lock .
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Click Accounts . It's on the left panel.
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Scroll down and click Sign-in options . It's the second option under "Account settings."
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Select a sign-in option. On Windows 11, you can sign in with facial recognition or your fingerprint (if supported by your computer), or choose a PIN or security key. To use a password, select PIN .
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Click Set up . You'll see this under "PIN."
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Follow the on-screen instructions to create your PIN. Once your PIN is accepted, you'll need to enter it each time you log in to Windows.
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Press Ctrl + L to easily lock your computer. When you lock your computer in this way, you won't be signed out, and the computer won't go to sleep, but it will make it so you have to enter the password to get into the computer.
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Understand what a BIOS password is. A BIOS password is an extremely strong password that locks up the hardware and makes the computer completely unusable. There are two different kinds of BIOS passwords, a User password, and a Supervisor password, their differences are listed below:
- Supervisor password: This password only locks the BIOS configuration menu. You might want to at least set this password and make sure that your hard drive is the first boot device since it will prevent someone from removing your Windows password with a password reset disk.
- User password: This password locks down your whole computer. When you start your computer, the first thing that will come up will be a box asking you to enter this password. You have to enter this password before the computer will start.
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Open the BIOS. You have to press a button when you see the computer logo at startup to enter the BIOS. The button you press varies by computer manufacturer; below are some of the more common ones:
- Dell: F2
- HP: F10
- Lenovo: F1
- Asus: Del
- If these buttons don't work, or if you have a different model, you can search online for the correct way to access your BIOS.
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Navigate to the Security tab. The tabs will be shown near the top, and you will typically use the left and right arrow keys to change the tab selection.
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Decide what password you want to use. Review the differences between the two passwords above and decide which one you want to set or if you want to set both of them.
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Enter the password that you want to set. Make sure that you remember this password, as it can be difficult to reset it if you forget.
- You might want to write the password down on a piece of paper and then lock the paper in a safe so that if you ever do forget it, you can still get access to your computer.
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Head over the Exit tab. Once there, select the option to save your changes and exit or reset. Once you do that, the BIOS password will be set.
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Expert Q&A
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QuestionWhy would I password protect my home computer?Luigi Oppido is the Owner and Operator of Pleasure Point Computers in Santa Cruz, California. Luigi has over 25 years of experience in general computer repair, data recovery, virus removal, and upgrades. He is also the host of the Computer Man Show! broadcasted on KSQD covering central California for over two years.Even if you don't think anyone else is going to use your computer, you never know. What if someone breaks into your home and steals it? If it isn't password-protected, whoever has your computer will have access to all of your personal information.
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QuestionDo I need to sing in every time I use my computer?Luigi Oppido is the Owner and Operator of Pleasure Point Computers in Santa Cruz, California. Luigi has over 25 years of experience in general computer repair, data recovery, virus removal, and upgrades. He is also the host of the Computer Man Show! broadcasted on KSQD covering central California for over two years.If you enable the password protection, yes. It shouldn't take you more than a few seconds to enter your password, though. It's worth it for a little peace of mind.
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QuestionHow do I lock my computer?Community AnswerPress Windows key + L, and your computer is locked.
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Tips
- Some of the tabs and options in the BIOS might have different titles than those used in this article; if you can't find any options with the exact name used in the article, try to select one close to the options listed here.Thanks
- Windows passwords are known to be weak. To make sure that your computer stays secure, you should try to enable BitLocker, which encrypts your drive, making it difficult to access your data without the password.Thanks
- Consider changing your password every now and then to keep your password safe from hackers.Thanks
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Warnings
- BIOS passwords are extremely difficult to remove if you forget them. You should write down the password and keep it somewhere safe so you won't get locked out of your computer.
- If you forgot your BIOS password and don't have it written down (or if you lost the paper), then How to Reset a BIOS Password might be able to help you.
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