How do I use my fingerprint or a PIN to Login to my Windows PC?


We just enabled Windows Hello for Business for everyone’s Windows PC that is on the domain(network).  So, what does that mean for me?  Windows Hello for Business is a modern, two-factor credential that is the more secure alternative to passwords.  This allows users to sign-in to Windows PC’s using biometrics(fingerprint/Facial Recognition) or a PIN.  One important difference between a password and a Windows Hello PIN/Biometrics is that the PIN/Biometrics is tied to the specific device on which it was set up. That PIN/Biometrics is useless to anyone without that specific hardware. Someone who steals your password can sign in to your account from anywhere, but if they steal your PIN, they'd have to steal your physical device too!

Even you can't use that PIN/Biometrics anywhere except on that specific device. If you want to sign in on multiple devices, you would have to set up Windows Hello on each device.

 

Windows Hello provides many benefits, including:

 

  • It helps to strengthen your protections against credential theft. Because an attacker must have both the device and the biometric info or PIN, it's much more difficult to gain access without the employee's knowledge.

 

  • Employees get a simple authentication method (backed up with a 6 digit PIN) that's always with them, so there's nothing to lose. No more forgetting passwords!  If you wish to still use your network username and password you still have that option.

 

Setting Up Windows Hello Features on Your Windows PC

Windows Hello is a more personal, more secure way to get instant access to your Windows 10 devices using a PIN, facial recognition, or fingerprint. You'll need to set up a PIN as part of setting up fingerprint or facial recognition sign-in, but you can also sign in with just your PIN. These options help make it easier and safer to sign into your PC because your PIN is only associated with one device and it's backed up for recovery with your Microsoft account.

 

**There has already been a group policy that has been pushed to all Windows PC’s that use network access.  You may need to restart your PC to make sure it has been applied before you can change these settings.

   

Set up Windows Hello 

Select the button above to get directly to Settings, or follow these steps to set up Windows Hello:

  1. Select Start  > Settings  > Accounts  > Sign-in options .
  2. Under Manage how you sign in to your device, you'll see three choices to sign in with Windows Hello:
    1. Select Windows Hello Face to set up facial recognition sign-in with your PC's infrared camera or an external infrared camera.
    2. Select Windows Hello Fingerprint to set up sign-in with a fingerprint reader.
    3. Select Windows Hello PIN to set up sign-in with a 6+ Digit PIN.