Set Up Picture Password in Windows 11

This post shows students and new users how to add picture passwords to Windows 11 accounts so a user can sign in by highlighting parts of an image that are important to them and that they remember.

Windows 11 allows you to sign in with your picture. You can use any picture and a set of gestures you draw upon it to log in to your PC. You’re allowed three gestures to draw on the picture and create unique patterns.

You can create patterns on the picture using your mouse, touchpad, or finger on a touchscreen to create a combination of circles, straight lines, and taps. Once the patterns are selected, you can log in when you correctly guess the correct patterns.

You can create a picture password for your local and Microsoft accounts.

The steps below will show you how to set it up and use it in Windows 11.

When you want to set up a picture password in Windows 11, follow the steps below:

How to setup picture password in Windows 11

Picture password is a feature that allows you to sign in to your PC with your pictures. You don’t remember complex passwords anymore. Simply guess the correct patterns on an image to sign in to your PC.

Windows 11 has a centralized location for the majority of its settings. Everything can be done, from system configurations to creating new users and updating Windows from its System Settings pane.

To get to System Settings, you can use the Windows key + I shortcut or click on Start ==> Settings, as shown in the image below:

Alternatively, you can use the search box on the taskbar and search for Settings. Then select to open it.

Windows Settings pane should look similar to the image below. In Windows Settings, click Accounts, and select Sign-in options on the right pane of your screen, shown in the image below.

Select Picture password to expand on the Sign-in options settings pane and click Add as highlighted below.

When you click Add above, it will prompt you to confirm your password.

After confirming your password, click the left link to Choose a picture to use.

Browse and select the picture you want to use. Then on the top right, click the link that reads “Use this picture,” as highlighted below.

Now you can draw three gestures on the picture. You can use a combination of circles, straight lines, and taps. You must remember the gestures’ size, position, and direction.

When you successfully draw and confirm patterns, Windows should accept your unique patterns as your password. For this post, I drew three circles over both eyes and nose.

Click Finish to complete the setup.

The next time you want to sign in to Windows, you must confirm the correct patterns.

That should do it!

Conclusion:

• Using a picture password in Windows 11 provides a convenient and secure way to sign in to your device.
• The process involves selecting a personal image and creating three unique gestures that are easy for you to remember.
• Once set up, picture passwords eliminate the need for complex alphanumeric passwords.
• This feature is available for both local and Microsoft accounts, enhancing user accessibility and personalization.
• Remember to choose an image and gestures that are meaningful to you for easier recall during login.

Frequently Asked Questions