Keeping your Windows sign-in safe is more than just picking a good password. It means securing how the password is used, stored, and protected at every step. The techniques below use advanced capabilities built into Windows 10 and 11, explained in simple steps for beginners.
What makes a password strong on Windows?
– Use length over complexity. Create a long passphrase of 14 or more characters. Four or five random words separated by dashes or spaces are easy to remember and hard to guess.
– Avoid reuse. Use a unique password for your Windows account that you do not use anywhere else.
– Keep it private. Do not store it in plain text files like Notepad on your desktop.
Should you use a PIN or a password for sign-in?
Yes. A Windows Hello PIN is generally safer than a traditional password on the device itself.
– A PIN is device-specific, so it only unlocks that one PC.
– On PCs with a TPM chip, the PIN is protected in hardware, which makes it resistant to many attacks.
How to set a strong Windows Hello PIN
Windows 11
1) Open Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options.
2) Under PIN (Windows Hello), select Set up or Change.
3) Check Include letters and symbols to allow a longer, mixed PIN.
4) Enter a 8–12+ character PIN. Avoid birthdays or obvious patterns.
Windows 10
1) Open Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options.
2) Under Windows Hello PIN, select Add or Change.
3) Enable letters and symbols if offered, then set a long PIN.
How do you encrypt your PC so a stolen device stays locked down?
BitLocker or Device Encryption protects your files even if someone removes your drive and tries to read it elsewhere.
Windows 11/10 Home (Device encryption on supported hardware)
1) Go to Settings > Privacy & security > Device encryption.
2) Turn On. Save the recovery key to a USB drive and print a copy for a safe place.
Windows 11/10 Pro and higher (BitLocker)
1) Type Manage BitLocker in Start and open it.
2) Select Turn on BitLocker for your system drive.
3) Save the recovery key to a USB drive and print a copy. Do not save it only in your email.
4) Choose Encrypt used disk space only for speed on new PCs or Encrypt entire drive for used PCs.
Add a BitLocker startup PIN for stronger protection (Pro and higher)
1) Press Windows+R, type gpedit.msc, press Enter.
2) Go to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > BitLocker Drive Encryption > Operating System Drives.
3) Open Require additional authentication at startup and set it to Enabled, then check Allow BitLocker without a compatible TPM (requires a password or a startup key on a USB flash drive) only if you do not have a TPM. On TPM systems, enable Use TPM with PIN.
4) Return to Manage BitLocker and select Set PIN.
How do you protect the sign-in screen from spoofing and leakage?
Require Ctrl+Alt+Delete before sign-in
– This prevents fake sign-in screens from capturing passwords.
Windows 11/10
1) Press Windows+R, type netplwiz, press Enter.
2) Open the Advanced tab, check Require users to press Ctrl+Alt+Delete.
Hide the last signed-in username
Windows 11/10 Pro
1) Press Windows+R, type secpol.msc, press Enter.
2) Security Settings > Local Policies > Security Options.
3) Set Interactive logon: Do not display last user name to Enabled.
Windows Home (Registry)
1) Press Windows+R, type regedit, press Enter.
2) Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System.
3) Create or set DWORD DontDisplayLastUserName = 1.
Remove the password reveal eye icon
Windows Home and Pro (Registry)
1) Open regedit and go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CredUI.
2) Create DWORD DisablePasswordReveal = 1.
How do you stop password guessing on your PC?
Set account lockout so repeated wrong attempts trigger a temporary lock.
Windows 11/10 Pro
1) Press Windows+R, type secpol.msc, press Enter.
2) Security Settings > Account Policies > Account Lockout Policy.
3) Set Account lockout threshold = 10 invalid logon attempts.
4) Set Account lockout duration = 15 minutes.
5) Set Reset account lockout counter after = 15 minutes.
Windows 11/10 Home (Command Prompt as Administrator)
1) Right-click Start > Windows Terminal (Admin).
2) Run:
net accounts /lockoutthreshold:10
net accounts /lockoutduration:15
net accounts /lockoutwindow:15
How do you protect stored passwords and credentials?
Clean up old passwords in Credential Manager
1) Open Control Panel > User Accounts > Credential Manager.
2) Check Web Credentials and Windows Credentials.
3) Remove entries you no longer use, especially old network shares and apps.
Turn on Local Security Authority (LSA) protection to guard credentials in memory
Windows 11 (22H2 and later)
1) Open Windows Security > Device security.
2) Select Core isolation details.
3) Turn on Local Security Authority protection, then restart.
Windows 10 and earlier Windows 11 builds (Registry)
1) Open regedit and go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Lsa.
2) Create DWORD RunAsPPL = 1 and optionally RunAsPPLBoot = 1, then restart.
Strengthen browser password protection
– Microsoft Edge: Settings > Profiles > Passwords > toggle Require device password to reveal passwords to On.
– Remove unknown extensions that may steal credentials: Edge Settings > Extensions.
How do you lock your PC quickly and reliably?
– Lock instantly with Windows+L whenever you step away.
– Require sign-in on wake: Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options > If you’ve been away, when should Windows require you to sign in again > When PC wakes from sleep.
– Set short screen-off and sleep timers: Settings > System > Power & battery > Screen and sleep.
– Enable Dynamic Lock to auto-lock when you walk away:
1) Pair your phone via Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Add device.
2) Go to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options > Dynamic Lock and check Allow Windows to automatically lock your device when you’re away.
How do security keys and passkeys help on Windows?
A FIDO2 security key adds phishing-resistant sign-in to your Microsoft account and many websites.
Add a security key in Windows 11/10
1) Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options > Security Key > Manage.
2) Insert your USB/NFC key and follow the prompts to create a PIN for the key and register it with your account.
Turn on two-step verification for your Microsoft account
1) Go to account.microsoft.com > Security > Advanced security options.
2) Turn on Two-step verification and add Microsoft Authenticator and a hardware security key.
How do you handle recovery keys and password files safely?
– Store BitLocker recovery keys offline on a USB drive in a safe place and keep a printed copy.
– Do not email recovery keys to yourself or save them in cloud notes without encryption.
– Securely destroy unneeded password files or exported lists using a shredder tool.
How can Glary Utilities help with password hygiene on Windows?
Glary Utilities is a helpful privacy companion alongside Windows’ built-in security. It does not replace Windows sign-in or encryption, but it strengthens the surrounding privacy so your passwords are less likely to leak.
Practical uses
– Shred sensitive files such as old password lists and BitLocker key printouts
Steps: Install and open Glary Utilities > Advanced Tools > Privacy & Security > File Shredder. Add the files and choose a multi-pass method for stronger erasure, then shred.
– Wipe free space so deleted password files cannot be recovered
Steps: Advanced Tools > Privacy & Security > Disk Wiper. Select the drive and perform a free-space wipe.
– Erase traces that might expose logins on shared PCs
Steps: 1-Click Maintenance or Advanced Tools > Privacy & Security > Tracks Eraser. Select browsers and applications. Review items labeled Saved passwords and exclude them if you still need them, then erase the rest (cookies, cache, autofill data).
– Clean clipboard remnants that could include copied passwords
Steps: Advanced Tools > Privacy & Security > Tracks Eraser. Check Clipboard and clear it regularly.
– Audit startup entries to spot password-stealing programs
Steps: Advanced Tools > System Tools > Startup Manager. Disable unknown or unnecessary items. This reduces the risk of keyloggers autostarting with Windows.
What about shared or family PCs?
– Use separate standard accounts for each person: Settings > Accounts > Family & other users > Add account.
– Turn off automatic sign-in: Press Windows+R, type netplwiz, press Enter, uncheck Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer only if it was incorrectly set to auto-login. Then apply and set your password again.
How do you protect Remote Desktop and network sign-ins?
– Turn on Network Level Authentication for Remote Desktop:
Settings > System > Remote Desktop > Require devices to use Network Level Authentication.
– Use strong passwords and the same account lockout policies shown earlier to block brute-force attempts against local accounts.
How do you check for suspicious sign-in activity?
– Review local failures
1) Press Windows+X > Event Viewer.
2) Windows Logs > Security.
3) Filter Current Log for Event ID 4625 to view failed logons.
– Review Microsoft account activity
1) Visit account.microsoft.com > Security > Review recent activity to check for unfamiliar sign-ins.
Quick checklist for beginners using advanced techniques
– Use a long, unique passphrase for your Windows account.
– Add a Windows Hello PIN and enable letters and symbols for a stronger PIN.
– Encrypt your device with Device Encryption or BitLocker and save recovery keys offline.
– Require Ctrl+Alt+Delete, hide the last signed-in username, and remove the password reveal icon.
– Set account lockout to stop guessing.
– Turn on LSA protection and clean old credentials in Credential Manager.
– Lock quickly with Windows+L, enable Dynamic Lock, and set short sleep timers.
– Add a FIDO2 security key and enable two-step verification for your Microsoft account.
– Use Glary Utilities to shred sensitive files, wipe free space, erase traces, clear clipboard, and review startup items.
– Keep firmware protections in place: Secure Boot on, and a UEFI firmware password where available.
What about firmware-level protections?
– Enable Secure Boot: Settings > System > Recovery > Advanced startup > Restart now > Troubleshoot > Advanced options > UEFI Firmware Settings > Restart. In firmware, ensure Secure Boot is Enabled.
– Set a UEFI/BIOS administrator password to prevent unauthorized boot changes.
– Disable boot from external media for everyday use so attackers cannot bypass Windows with a USB stick.