Here’s how to set up a Windows login password

By Konrad Krawczyk December 14, 2013

pilot testing drivers licenses internet rolls two us states password — Image used with permission by copyright holder

If you have nosy friends and family or you just have sensitive stuff on your PC that you want to secure when not at your desk, the best way to ensure that your stuff will stay locked down is by setting up a password within Windows. Buried within Control Panel, adding a Windows Password will require anyone who powers on your PC to enter a password before they can access your desktop, and everything contained beyond it. It’s easy to pull off too. We’ll show you how.

How to add a password to your Windows login

First, open the Start menu and click Control Panel on the left. Alternatively, hold the Windows key and press R. Then type in “control panel” sans quotes and press Enter. From there, scroll down and click on the User Accounts button.

Towards the top-middle section of the User Accounts window, there should be a button labeled “Create a password for your account”. Click on it, and fill out the “New password” and “Confirm new password” with your password of choice. Below that, fill out the “Type a password hint” field with something that’ll help you remember the code in the event that it ever skips your mind. Once done, click on the “Create password” button.

Annnnnd you’re done! If you need some tips on how to create an airtight password, just check out this guide, which will help you do so.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Konrad Krawczyk

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Konrad covers desktops, laptops, tablets, sports tech and subjects in between for Digital Trends. Prior to joining DT, he…

Computing

How to find your Windows 11 product key

Windows 11 on a tablet.

Your Windows 11 product key is an important piece of information for your PC. One can think of this long batch of characters as the golden ticket to your Windows 11 experience. And not only does a product key give you access to the full breadth of your PC’s features, but it’s also a digital gatekeeper that won’t let you in if you didn’t properly pay for Windows 11.

Computing

How to remove a login password on Windows 11

A padlock surrounded by keys.

Your password is the first line of defense for your Windows 11 PC, as it protects your files and your important information from being accessed by unauthorized users. But there are some instances where you might want to remove a login password in Windows.

One such instance is when you’re sharing a PC with someone and don’t necessarily have anything that’s private on your system. Though we don’t recommend it, removing the password can also mean faster logins to your PC.

Computing

Windows 11 tips and tricks: 8 hidden settings you need to try

Windows 11 on a tablet.

Windows 11 has been around for quite a while now. The operating system isn't as new as when it first came out in 2021, but many people are still updating it for the first time from Windows 10. Yet whether you're new to Windows 11 or have been using it since launch, there are a few things that you still might want to tweak to get a better experience. Microsoft doesn't have all these settings upfront, but we're here to surface them for you.
Move the Taskbar and Start Menu to the left

One of the biggest differences between Windows 10 and Windows 11 is the location of the Taskbar and Start Menu. On Windows 10, the Taskbar and Start Menu are positioned to the left of the screen. Windows 11, though, changes that by moving both to the center. If this annoys you, then you can easily change it back.