Up until now you probably been using a password to sign in to your Windows 10 device. However, if you use a tablet or touchscreen laptop, typing a password can be difficult, instead, you should use a picture password.
Picture password has been around since Windows 8.x, and it’s a new secondary method of authentication that let you choose a picture and draw gestures to create a password to unlock your device without having to use a PIN or a complicated password.
Using gestures on a picture to sign in to Windows 10 is more secure than a password in a number of ways. The most important difference is that picture password is tied to a device, so it only works if someone has physical access to the tablet or laptop. This means no one can access your device remotely like it would be possible if someone steals your password.
In addition, if you use a Microsoft account to sign in on multiple devices with the same password, and someone figures out your picture password, only one device would be compromised.
In this guide, you’ll learn the steps to create a picture password to quickly and securely sign in to your Windows 10 account.
How to create a picture password on Windows 10
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Open Settings.
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Click on Accounts.
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Click On Sign-in options.
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Under Picture password, click the Add button.
Picture password settings -
Enter your current password to verify that you’re who you say you are.
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Click Choose picture to select a picture you want to use as a password.
Choose picture option -
Drag the image to the position you want and click Use this picture.
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Set up your gestures three times. Here you must draw three gestures on a picture, including taps, straight lines, and circles.
Drawing gestures to set up picture password -
Click Finish to complete the task.
You can now sign out of your Windows 10 account and try to sign back in using the new gestures on the picture you chose.
Although a picture password can be somewhat more secure than a traditional password, remember that you can’t create a picture password without first setting up a password.
To change your picture password, follow the same steps mentioned above, but on step 4, click the Change button. Enter your current password, click Use this picture, and follow the on-screen steps.
If you forgot your gestures, you can always click the Replay button in settings page.
To remove your picture password, follow the same steps, but on step 4, click the Remove button.
Would you use a picture password on your tablet or laptop? Let us know in the comments below.
Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 14 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 20 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].