Use Picture Or Pin Password in Windows 8

Use Picture Or Pin Password in Windows 8 | Windows 8 comes with options to use Windows Live accounts as user accounts on the system, or to use a local account with no ties to the Internet. If security is an issue you have probably selected a secure password for your account log on. That may be inconvenient if you are using a touch based device, especially if it does not come with a full qwertz keyboard.

Microsoft has added two additional password options for Windows users to make the log on more comfortably. The two options are picture password and pin logon.

Both options are available under Control Panel > Users from the Metro UI. This opens a Control Panel applet where the currently logged in user can switch to a picture or pin password.

windows 8 user account password

Either selection there will prompt for the current account password before the configuration options become available.

Picture Password

A picture password basically consists of three gestures on an image that make up the password.

The size, position and directions of the gestures, as well as their order become part of the picture password.

windows 8 picture password

Setting up a picture password makes sense on touch based devices, as it is usually a lot faster to use gestures than to use a digital keyboard to enter the password.

Windows 8 asks you to configure three gestures and repeat them afterwards before the gesture based password will be set. While it is possible to use the mouse for that, it is not the most convenient thing to do. The verdict here is that a picture password can be a solid alternative on touch based devices, but not on desktop PCs or mobile devices without touch capabilities.

Pin Logon

The second password alternative is a pin password. This is basically a four digit number that you need to enter whenever you log on to the system.

windows 8 pin password

This is again an authorization system designed for touch based devices or devices without full physical keyboard. The limitation to four digits makes it less secure than the other password options.

The majority of Windows users will likely still with the default account password on their system. Users who work with touch capable devices on the other hand have two solid alternatives at their disposal to log in faster and more comfortable.

Users always have the option to log on with their standard password instead of the newly configured alternative password. (via)