User Guide

Choose when a password is required

You can choose when a password is required to sign in to Surface. Here’s how:

1. Open the Settings charm, and tap or click Change PC settings >Accounts > Sign-in options.

2. Under Password policy, choose an item from the list:

 Microsoft account. Choose a time frame or Always require a password.

 Local account. Choose a time frame, Always require a password, or Never require a

password.

The Password policy setting may not be available if you’ve added a work email account to the Mail app, or joined

a network domain.

Other sign in options

Two more sign-in options are available to you: PIN and picture password. (These sign-in options may not be

available if you’ve added a work email account or joined a network domain.)

Create a PIN

Instead of typing a password, you can sign in quickly with a four-digit PIN. Here’s how:

1. Open the Settings charm, and tap or click Change PC settings > Accounts > Sign-in options.

2. Under PIN, tap or click Add.

3. Enter your current password and choose OK.

4. Enter 4 numbers for your PIN.

Now you can quickly sign in using your four-digit PIN.

Create a picture password

To find out how to create a picture password, see Personalize your PC on Windows.com.