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How to Set Up Windows Hello Face or Fingerprint Login

Instead of typing a password every time, Windows Hello lets you sign in instantly with just your face or fingerprint.

  1. Go to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options

    Open the Settings app, go to "Accounts," and select "Sign-in options."

  2. Choose "Facial recognition (Windows Hello)" or "Fingerprint recognition"

    If your computer has a compatible camera or fingerprint sensor, the matching option appears here.

  3. Set up a PIN first if you have not already

    A PIN must already be registered before you can set up face or fingerprint recognition -- if you do not have one, you will be prompted to create it at this step.

  4. Follow the prompts to register your face or fingerprint

    Look at the camera or place your finger on the sensor a few times as instructed on screen to complete registration.

  5. Why it is worth using

    Instead of typing a long password every time, you can sign in almost instantly with just your face or fingerprint -- and because it is harder to steal or leak than a password, it is a security upgrade as well as a convenience one.

A PIN is always the backup, not a replacement

Windows Hello does not remove your PIN or password -- it sits alongside them, so if face or fingerprint recognition ever fails, you can always fall back to the PIN you registered.

The biometric data never leaves your device

Face and fingerprint data used by Windows Hello is stored and processed locally on a secure part of your device rather than uploaded anywhere, which is part of why it is considered more secure than typed passwords.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if my computer does not have a camera or fingerprint sensor?

Facial recognition requires a compatible infrared camera and fingerprint recognition requires a physical sensor built into the hardware -- if your device does not have either, those options simply will not appear under "Sign-in options."

What happens if face or fingerprint recognition fails to work?

You can always fall back to signing in with the PIN or password you set up alongside it, so you are never completely locked out.