Change from a local account to a Microsoft account
Troubleshoot sign in issues
Error: We can't sign in to your account
Protect your account
Sign-in options and account protection
Change or reset a password
Create a password reset disk
Reset a local account password
Lock Windows automatically
Windows Hello
Configure Windows Hello
Go passwordless with your Microsoft account
Enhanced Sign-in Security
Change or reset your PIN
Troubleshoot Windows Hello
Passkeys
Overview
Save passkeys
Use passkeys
Manage passkeys
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
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This article describes the sign in, sign out, lock, and switch user account actions in Windows. Select the dropdowns to learn more.
Signing in to Windows refers to the process of verifying your identity to gain access to your Windows device.This process helps protect your personal information and settings from unauthorized access.
When you sign in, you may use a password, PIN, or biometric data like a fingerprint or facial recognition if you have Windows Hello set up.
Power onyour device. If it’s already on, make sure you’re at the sign-in screen.
Choose your accountif prompted. If you’re the only user, your account should be selected by default.
Enter your passwordor PIN if you have one set up. If you’re using a Microsoft account, make sure you’re using the password for that account.
If you haveWindows Helloset up, you can use facial recognition, fingerprint, or a PIN instead of your password for a quicker and more secure sign-in.
Once you’ve entered your credentials, pressEnteror click the sign-in arrow to access your Windows desktop.
If you’re having trouble signing in, you can reset your password or PIN from the sign-in screen. Look for the I forgot my password or I forgot my PINlinks to start the reset process.
For problems with Windows Hello, seeTroubleshoot problems with Windows Hello
For a local account, follow the instructions in Reset your Windows local account password
For help with your PIN, see Reset your PIN when you aren't signed in to Windows
Signing out of Windows is the process of closing your session and ensuring that your account is no longer active on the device. This helps maintain the security and privacy of your account, as it prevents others from accessing your personal files, applications, and settings.
When you sign out, any open applications are closed, and unsaved work may be lost. It’s always a good practice to save your work before signing out.
To sign out of Windows, select Start, select your user picture or the Accounts icon, and select Sign out.
Locking your Windows device allows you to quickly secure your device while keeping your applications and files open in the background. When you lock your device, anyone trying to access it must enter your password, PIN, or use biometric authentication if you have Windows Hello set up. This is useful if you need to step away from your device but don’t want to close everything you’re working on.
To lock your Windows device, you can:
Press + Lkeys on your keyboard
Alternatively, select Start, select your user picture or the Accounts icon, and selectLock
Switching accounts in Windows allows you to move between different user accounts on the same device without signing out completely. This can be useful if multiple people use the same device, or if you have separate accounts for work and personal use.
To switch user, you can:
Select Start , and select the account name icon (or picture) of the user account you want to switch to.This will take you to the sign-in screen for the selected account, where you can enter the credentials for that account to access it
Select Start, select your user picture or the Accounts icon, and select Switch user.This will take you to the sign-in screen, where you can selectOther userand enter the credentials for another user account. This option might not be available on all devices' configurations
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The Administrator account is the first account that is created during the Windows installation. The Administrator account has full control of the files, directories, services, and other resources on the local device. The Administrator account can create other local users, assign user rights, and assign permissions.
A user account allows you to sign in to Windows 10. By default, your computer already has one user account, which you were required to create when setting up Windows for the first time. But if you plan to share your computer, you can create a separate user account for each member of your home or office.
The easiest way to determine who has access to a particular Windows machine is to go into computer management (compmgmt.msc) and look in Local Users and Groups. Check the Administrators group and the Remote Desktop Users group to see who belongs to these.
Standard User accounts are for everyday computing. Administrator accounts provide the most control over a computer, and should only be used when necessary. Guest accounts are intended primarily for people who need temporary use of a computer.
Enter net user administrator /active:yes on the Administrator: Command Prompt window and press Enter. Please note that there is a space between "administrator" and "/active:yes". Click the Windows icon and the Account icon, then click Administrator to log in with your Super Administrator account.
A standard user account should be used for everyday home tasks, such as editing photos and browsing the web. An administrator account is a user that has complete control of the computer and can make changes that affect other users of the computer. Like installing programs and accessing all files on a computer.
Only you can access personal documents and media files that you store in it unless you explicitly share a folder of documents or a single document with other people in your organization for reviewing or co-editing.
Step 2 – Right-click the folder or file and click “Properties” in the context menu. Step 3 – Switch to “Security” tab and click “Advanced”. Step 4 – In the “Permissions” tab, you can see the permissions held by users over a particular file or folder.
The most important privileged accounts in your environment are admin accounts with unrestricted access to virtually any and every asset. These are typically domain administrator accounts and are the highest value to a threat actor.
Administrator: Administrator accounts are special accounts that are used for making changes to system settings or managing other people's accounts. They have full access to every setting on the computer.
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