Share via

How to set up a Password for Windows 11

Anonymous
2023-11-28T21:04:46+00:00

I've looked at a bunch of answers and guides and can't find anything suitable. I have a computer on a LAN running W11. It is signed into with a PIN or facial recognition. But that doesn't help be log into it over the LAN for file sharing. It needs a password.

One poster adamantly claims that it has one. But I didn't set one up, so I don't know what it is. As nearly as I can determine, it is my MS account password. When I uncheck the box requiring Windows Hello login, I can indeed log into it using my MS account password. But that still doesn't help me log in from another computer. I need a local password.

I try to switch to a local password, but it wants an account name and when I give it the name of the only account on the computer, it says that is already being used (duh!!!) and won't let me assign a password to it.

Good grief, life used to be simple before all this super security stuff. Before one had to have a Microsoft account in order to even install Windows. Before everything got linked together in "the cloud". I don't even want all my browser favorites shared between computers, since I use them for different purposes. Nor do I need all passwords shared between computers. I just want to access this computer from another computer on my LAN and I need a local password to do that.

How do I get out of this Microsoft hell and return to a simpler life? (Other than switching to Linux. I already have two Linux computers, but I have a lot of programs I need to use that only run on Windows).

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Accounts, profiles, and login

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments

8 answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2024-10-11T19:49:22+00:00
    1. Go to settings
    2. click "Accounts"
    3. Click "sign in options" under "Password"

    Use the prompts to set up "sign in using password instead"

    3 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2024-04-23T18:14:43+00:00

    This is a mind boggling disconnect.

    Signing into your own computer over the network for purposes of File and Printer Sharing and Remote Desktop is a basic feature especially for private families and prosumer individuals. Everybody else has a domain controller locally or in the cloud which provides the suitable authentication methods for those scenario's not involving families and prosumer individuals.

    It shouldn't and didn't require advanced features. And adding a local account is not a solution, it might very annoyingly do so for File and Printer Sharing - since it requires managing a seconds set of passwords for family members. But it certainly doesn't for Remote Desktop.

    What do you expect? That I buy Windows Server and spend days setting up a domain controller in my family??? Or did Microsoft intend that I go back years reducing the security of my Microsoft Account online by getting myself a password which I haven't had for years?

    Can we get some reality here? Fine to get rid of NTLM but where is the modern secure alternative?

    3 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2024-11-16T23:17:36+00:00

    ChatGPT helped me figure this out.

    On Windows 11 machines, go to Setting > Account > Sign-in Options and then scroll down to where it says "For improved security, only allow Windows Hello sign-in for Microsoft...." and turn it off.

    That should allow you to sign in with your Microsoft login on the lock screen,

    Cheers,

    2 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2024-02-08T00:16:56+00:00

    I'm going crazy too, have you found a solution?

    2 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  5. Anonymous
    2023-11-29T08:57:45+00:00

    Hello ,

    Good to see you in Microsoft Community.

    Unfortunately, this forum is mainly for families and individuals for basic technical support of the system or software, since the question you are asking involves advanced features, which has exceeded the scope of support of our forum, it is more suitable for publishing on Microsoft Learn - Windows 10 Network(microsoft.com) & Microsoft Learn - Windows-11(microsoft.com), you can click on "Ask a question", there are experts who can provide more professional solutions in that place. 

    A similar anomaly does exist if your current user account is switching between a local account and a Microsoft account. You can then refer to the tips below:

    1. Create a new local account and configure a password, then add the user to the list of users allowed to access in the advanced sharing options, and then use the account password to access on a separate computer. Create a local user or administrator account in Windows - Microsoft Support
    2. Set the network of two devices on the same LAN to Private network. Make a Wi-Fi network public or private in Windows - Microsoft Support

    I won't be able to help you, but I'll leave that question open in case one of our amazing volunteers has ideas for you.

    Best Regards,

    Mosken_L - MSFT | Microsoft Community Support Specialist

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments