Microsoft is eradicating the choice to arrange new image passwords in Windows 11. Customers who have already got an image password can hold utilizing it, however whether it is eliminated or disabled, it can’t be arrange once more.
The change comes with the July 2026 safety replace for Home windows 11. Microsoft recommends switching to a Home windows Hey PIN, facial recognition, or fingerprint recognition. This alteration solely impacts new enrollments. Current image passwords nonetheless work for now.
Why Microsoft Is Eradicating Image Passwords
Image passwords have been first launched in Home windows 8. They let customers unlock a PC by making gestures or faucets on a picture, like tapping the eyes of a smiley face and swiping throughout the mouth. The characteristic stayed in Home windows 10 and Home windows 11.
Image passwords used three forms of gestures: circles, straight strains, and faucets. Home windows Central says the characteristic was meant to focus on the contact options of Home windows 8, however it’s not as safe as a passkey or a powerful password.
Microsoft is shifting away from conventional passwords and recommends utilizing a PIN, facial recognition, or fingerprint to check in to Home windows 11. Passkeys are sometimes advised as essentially the most safe possibility, however you can not use a passkey to log in to a Home windows 11 PC but.
Image passwords have some identified safety weaknesses. Folks usually select gestures round apparent elements of the picture, making it simpler for attackers to guess the sample. Smudges on the display screen may give away the place somebody touches most frequently. Neowin pointed to a 2013 analysis paper that highlighted these dangers.
What Microsoft Says and What Customers Ought to Do
Microsoft shared the next in a help doc: “To assist improve safety, image password is not accessible for brand spanking new enrollment. Customers who’ve already configured an image password can proceed to make use of it to check in to Home windows.
If an image password is eliminated, disabled, or not beforehand configured, it can’t be arrange once more. We advocate utilizing Home windows Hey PIN, facial recognition, or fingerprint recognition the place accessible.”
If you’re affected by this alteration, there are some things to bear in mind:
- Hold your present image password if you wish to proceed utilizing it. For those who take away or disable it, you won’t be able to set it up once more.
- Arrange a Home windows Hey PIN, facial recognition, or fingerprint recognition as a substitute, as Microsoft suggests. Do that earlier than eradicating your image password.
- Be sure you have the July 2026 safety replace put in, since this alteration comes with that replace.
The tip of latest image password enrollment comes with the July 2026 safety replace, now rolling out to Home windows 11. Current image passwords will hold working except you take away or disable them.
Microsoft has not stated if it should ultimately flip off present image passwords, so if you happen to depend on the characteristic, deal with your present setup as your final.
