How to remove a password when starting up the computer

Question

How to remove a password when starting up the computer

Ed Berlad 140

I just installed a new SSD drive and started a fresh Win 10 Pro for my wife and I to use. I tried to remove our password on start up. Now I have multiple errors and warnings and was wondering how to correct it all. When it starts up we get a screen with my name and under says " We are unable to connect right now. please check your network and try again later." So I click on okay and get a new screen which allows me to use a pin to sign in, but has two choices one works and the other doesn't. I would like to remove it all since it's just my wife and I using the computer for emails, shopping and info.Win Prob #2.jpg

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Answer 1

EmilyS726 264.9K Independent Advisor

Hello,

To remove password requirement, the standard method is here:

First, go to Settings > Accounts > Sign in options, Look for "For improved security, only allow Windows Hello Sign-in for Microsoft accounts on this device (Recommended). " Make sure it is turned OFF.
Type netplwiz in the search on the taskbar and press enter, select your user, if the "user must enter a username and password to use this computer" box is NOT checked, please check it , click Apply. Then uncheck the box and click Apply. This will bring up a pop up window.
On this pop up window, this is where most mistakes happen. Very important, erase the username that's prefilled. Username should be your entire email address for your Microsoft account. Password is your Microsoft account's password. Any typo here can prevent it from working. Then click OK. And back to the netplwiz page, click OK.
Restart the computer now and try it.

If it still doesn't work, please describe the issue, there are a few odd scenarios where the standard method may not work and require further review, but let's begin with the above first, and depending on the behavior, we will adjust.

Also, on the sign in page, make sure your internet is connected - check the wifi icon on the lower right on sign in page. If you still get the internet issue, try a different internet source, such as your phone hotspot for now, see if it makes any difference.

Ed Berlad 140 Reputation points

2026-03-09T13:32:02.2066667+00:00

Good morning Emily,

I went to sign in options and can't find "For improved security". Win Prob #4.jpg This what I see. So I did try to follow the next steps and didn't work.

Thamks,

Ed
EmilyS726 264.9K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-03-09T13:34:38.6133333+00:00

Ed, when you launch netplwiz, do you see this checkbox "user must enter a username and password to use this computer"?
Ed Berlad 140 Reputation points

2026-03-09T13:42:12.2666667+00:00

Yes, I do the only user listed is Nana & Papa
EmilyS726 264.9K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-03-09T13:44:00.53+00:00

In netplwiz, are these users local user, or are they listed with email addresses format?

You said it still didn't work, is it because it still asked for internet, or did the behavior change?
Ed Berlad 140 Reputation points

2026-03-09T13:47:03.9466667+00:00

I'm sorry, This is a Win 10 Pro OS which might be different? I just don't want to have to start all over!
EmilyS726 264.9K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-03-09T13:50:36.46+00:00

No, you don't need to start over. I am not worried about that part.

Since you do have the checkbox in netplwiz, we don't need to worry about the Windows Hello sign in option recommendation anymore. The reason I mentioned that is - it must come off so that the checkbox in netplwiz would become available, but since it is already available, that step is no longer relevant.

Now I am trying to figure out why it still doesn't work.

So, in netplwiz, you said it says Nana and Papa. They are not listed as email format right? Just the words Nana and Papa only, right?

You also said it didn't work, I need to know, what's not working, any detail description about the behavior is necessary for me to troubleshoot further.
Ed Berlad 140 Reputation points

2026-03-09T13:51:49.5366667+00:00

Emily, I'm now getting " The user name or password is incorrect. Try again.
EmilyS726 264.9K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-03-09T13:53:03.34+00:00

Can you share a screenshot of your netplwiz screen?
Ed Berlad 140 Reputation points

2026-03-09T13:58:48.82+00:00

So when I get the message " The user name or password is incorrect". I click okay and then get a screen showing a box with our email address and looking for a password.
EmilyS726 264.9K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-03-09T14:01:00.2+00:00

Ed, I really need to see what's listed in netplwiz window.. I've been asking that a few times now.. can you please provide. Thank you.
Ed Berlad 140 Reputation points

2026-03-09T14:13:38.8766667+00:00
So I just shut down to take notes on everything:

It shows the the body Icon with Nana & Papa under and below that says " The user name or password is incorrect. Try again. below has an okay.

I click okay I then get the body Icon with Nana & Papa under with a box showing our email address with another box below asking for the password.

Over on the bottom left i have two Icons with Nana & Papa om them. The lower is highlighted and when I click on the second one it then asks me for the pin and allows me to sign in.
EmilyS726 264.9K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-03-09T14:17:53.4966667+00:00

Ed, I am not sure if you see my messages above, I've been asking to see what's listed in netplwiz a few times now and I never got a clear answer on that.

Please hold down Windows + R keys, type in netplwiz and press enter, then take a screenshot of the netplwiz window and share.
Ed Berlad 140 Reputation points

2026-03-09T14:18:06.1733333+00:00

I'm sorry I didn't see you asked for a pictureWin Prob #5.PNG
EmilyS726 264.9K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-03-09T14:22:14.5933333+00:00

Thank you. So in your netplwiz it shows your user as local user only. But logging in wants your email address. That means there is some set up mismatch somewhere.

Can you go to Windows Settings > Accounts > Your info, take a screenshot of this entire page, and share please. I need to review it there.
Ed Berlad 140 Reputation points

2026-03-09T14:25:18.7533333+00:00

Her you go! Win Prob #6.PNG
EmilyS726 264.9K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-03-09T14:32:22.31+00:00

Thank you. This is helpful. So you do indeed use local user only.

We will need to adjust our original instruction a bit as that was meant for those using Microsoft account. There's also a minor issue with your username containing special character and spaces.

Type netplwiz in the search to launch it again.

Double click on Nana & Papa, then in the username box, key in nanapapa instead. Click OK. restart the computer.

Launch netplwiz again after restart, check the box "user must enter a username and password to use this computer". Click Apply.

Then uncheck it, and click Apply.

Now, in the pop up window, for username field, put in nanapapa, then the password. Restart the computer, and see if it works this time.
Ed Berlad 140 Reputation points

2026-03-09T14:45:53.3+00:00

Emily! You did it! It worked! Thank you so much. It was driving me crazy. thanks for sticking with me and helping us! Have a great day, stay healthy and safe
EmilyS726 264.9K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-03-09T15:31:59.3766667+00:00

You are welcome. I am glad it worked :)

If all is good, feel free to mark the answer for this thread, or let me know if you need anything else from me.

Have a great rest of your day as well.
EmilyS726 264.9K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-03-09T15:44:27.96+00:00

Ed, I am afraid you marked the wrong one as the answer.

Answer 2

To remove passwords and Microsoft account sign-in prompts and simplify startup for shared home use, adjust both the account type and the sign-in requirements.

Switch from Microsoft account to a local account (per user)
1. Open Start > Settings > Accounts > Your info.
2. If the account is a Microsoft account, select Sign in with a local account instead.
3. Follow the prompts to create a local account (username and password). Sign out and sign back in with the new local account.
4. Repeat for the second user if needed.
Turn off password/PIN requirement on wake and sign-in
1. Open Start > Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options.
2. Under Additional settings (Windows 11) or Require sign-in (Windows 10), set it so Windows does not require sign-in again after you’ve been away.
3. If using a Surface or similar device, the same options are under Start > Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options, then adjust If you've been away, when should Windows require you to sign in again? to a relaxed option.
Remove Windows Hello PIN/biometrics if not wanted
1. Go to Start > Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options.
2. Under Ways to sign in, select PIN (Windows Hello) and choose to Remove the PIN.
3. Do the same for Facial recognition or Fingerprint if they are configured and not needed.
Disable password on wake from sleep/hibernate (if it still asks)
1. Open Control Panel > Power Options.
2. Select Require a password on wake up.
3. On Define power buttons and turn on password protection, under Password protection on wakeup, select Don’t require a password and save changes.

After these changes, sign out and restart. The Microsoft account network error should disappear once using local accounts, and the system should no longer prompt for PIN/password at startup or wake, subject to the settings above.

References: