Windows 11 uses your account’s sign-in method on the lock screen, so there’s no separate lock screen password. To require one, open Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options. Add a Password or set up a PIN (Windows Hello). Then set If you’ve been away, when should Windows require you to sign in again? to Every Time. Press Windows + L to lock the screen whenever you step away.
If you sign in with a Microsoft account, you already have a password. You only need to make sure Windows asks for it when the screen wakes up.
Applies to: Windows 11. Checked against Microsoft Support on September 24, 2026.
Add a password or PIN
- Select Start > Settings, or press Windows + I.
- Select Accounts, then Sign-in options.
- Choose a sign-in method:
- Password: select Password, then Add. Enter a password, confirm it, add a password hint, and select Next > Finish. This option appears on local accounts that don’t have a password yet.
- PIN (Windows Hello): select PIN (Windows Hello), then Set up, and follow the prompts. A PIN is quicker to type and only works on this PC, so it’s safer than a password that someone could use elsewhere.
- Face or fingerprint: if your PC has a Windows Hello camera or fingerprint reader, select Facial recognition (Windows Hello) or Fingerprint recognition (Windows Hello) and select Set up. You’ll need a PIN first.
Choose a password that’s hard to guess, and don’t use the same one as your email. Write it down somewhere safe, away from the PC.
Ask for the password every time
- On the same Sign-in options page, scroll to Additional settings.
- Next to If you’ve been away, when should Windows require you to sign in again?, choose Every Time.
Now Windows asks for your password or PIN whenever the screen wakes up from sleep, not just after a restart. If this setting is missing or grayed out, set up a PIN or password first.
Choose a strong password or PIN
- Password: use at least 12 characters. A short phrase of unrelated words, such as three or four words with a number, is easier to remember than a random string and still hard to guess. Don’t reuse a password from another site.
- PIN: Windows asks for at least 4 digits, but 6 or more is better. Avoid birthdays and patterns like 1234 or 2580. When you set it up, you can check Include letters and symbols to make the PIN stronger.
Sign in with your face or fingerprint
If your PC has a Windows Hello camera or a fingerprint reader, you can unlock it without typing anything. On the Sign-in options page, select Facial recognition (Windows Hello) or Fingerprint recognition (Windows Hello), then Set up, and follow the steps. You need a PIN first, because Windows uses it as the backup if the camera or reader can’t recognize you.
If those options say they aren’t available, your PC doesn’t have a compatible camera or reader. A USB fingerprint reader that supports Windows Hello is an inexpensive way to add one.
Hide the password option for extra security
If you use a Microsoft account and have set up a PIN or Windows Hello, you can stop the lock screen from offering the account password at all. On the Sign-in options page, under Additional settings, turn on For improved security, only allow Windows Hello sign-in for Microsoft accounts on this device. Someone who learns your Microsoft account password then can’t use it to unlock this PC.
Lock your PC
- Press Windows + L.
- Or select Start, select your account picture, and choose Lock.
- Or press Ctrl + Alt + Delete and select Lock.
Lock it automatically
- When you walk away: turn on Dynamic lock under Additional settings on the Sign-in options page. Pair your phone with the PC over Bluetooth first. Windows locks shortly after the phone goes out of range.
- After the screen turns off: set a screen timeout in Settings > System > Power & battery. With Every Time set above, you’ll need to sign in when the screen comes back on. See how to change the screen timeout in Windows 11.
- With a screen saver: select Start, type
screen saver, and open Change screen saver. Choose a screen saver, set Wait to a few minutes, and check On resume, display logon screen.
For more on timing, see how to change the screen lock time on Windows 11.
If Windows still doesn’t ask for a password
- Check automatic sign-in. Press Windows + R, type
netplwiz, and press Enter. If Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer is there, make sure it’s checked. - Check the sleep setting. Make sure If you’ve been away isn’t set to Never.
- Work or school PC: your organization may control these settings. Ask your IT support team.
If you forget your password
- Microsoft account: select I forgot my password on the sign-in screen, or reset it from any device at account.live.com/password/reset.
- Local account: select Reset password on the sign-in screen and answer your security questions.
- PIN: select I forgot my PIN on the sign-in screen and follow the steps. To change a PIN you know, see how to change your PIN on Windows 11.
Frequently asked questions
Is a PIN as safe as a password?
Yes, in most cases it’s safer. A Windows Hello PIN only works on the PC you set it up on, so if someone learns it, they can’t use it to sign in to your Microsoft account from somewhere else.
Can I remove the password later?
With a local account, you can change the password to a blank one in Sign-in options > Password > Change. That leaves the PC open to anyone, so it isn’t recommended. A Microsoft account always has a password.
How do I let someone else use my PC without my password?
Give them their own account. Open Settings > Accounts > Other users and select Add account. They get their own desktop and files, and your account stays locked.
Does a lock screen password protect my files if the PC is stolen?
It stops someone signing in, but it doesn’t encrypt the drive. Turn on Device encryption in Settings > Privacy & security if your PC supports it, or BitLocker on Windows 11 Pro.
Using Windows 10? See how to change your PIN in Windows 10.
To change an existing password, see how to change your password in Windows 11. Microsoft’s guide is Windows sign-in options and account protection. More help is on our Windows 11 Help & Guides page.
Related: How to set a PIN in Windows 11.
Related: how to turn off the password on Windows 11.
Related: lock your PC screen with a password in Windows 10.
Related: set a password on a Windows 11 HP laptop.
Related: how to disable the lock screen in Windows 11.
Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.
His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.