How-To Geek
How to Use a PIN Instead of a Password in Windows 8
Entering your full password on a touch screen device can really become a pain in the neck, luckily for us we can link a short 4 digit PIN to our user account and log in with that instead.
Note: PIN codes are nowhere near as safe as using an alphanumeric password, however, they do still have a purpose when you don’t want to enter your 15 character password on a touch screen device.
Creating a PIN
Press the Win + I keyboard combination to bring up the Settings Charm, then click on the Change PC settings link.
This will open up the Modern UI PC Settings app, where you can click on the Users section.
On the right hand side you will see a Create a PIN button, click on it.
Now you will need to verify that you are the owner of this user account by entering your password.
Then you can choose a PIN, remember that it can only contain digits.
Now when you get to the login screen you will have the option to use a PIN.
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Comments (7)
Taylor Gibb is a Microsoft MVP and all round geek, he loves everything from Windows 8 to Windows Server 2012 and even C# and PowerShell. You can also follow him on Google+
- Published 12/3/12
Can I Use both PIN and Picture password?
@Nick
You can click on sign in options on the lock menu the click on the picture icon, and vice versa.
What is the difference between 4 digit password vs PIN
@Nick I believe you can.
@chathuravita A PIN code only contains 4 numerals. A 4 digit password can have letters and special characters in it as well.
I thought I was going to like Windows 8 after using the developers preview, the consumer preview and the the 90 day free trial of the RTM Enterprise version after the release of Windows 8. I purchased a new laptop running Windows 7 after July 31, so it qualified for the $14.99 upgrade. I purchased it, downloaded it, tried to install it and it failed. I tried 4 times and for the first time since I’ve been using Windows, I actually called MS support. They couldn’t even get it to install remotely. I was still on the fence anyway and I’m almost glad it did not work, because now my laptop can continue to run 7 and as far as the $16.08, I’ll try to get a refund and if I can’t, I’ll just reinstall the 90 day Enterprise RTM and count that as a 3 month rental for $14.99. Oh well.
that’s better. when i made my windows live account a few years ago it has a pretty long drawn out password.
Use a picture password instead and be done..