How to set a password in Windows 10

In this step-by-step instruction on how to set a password in Windows 10 to be prompted when you turn on (log in), wake up from sleep, or lock. By default, when installing Windows 10, the user is prompted for a password, which is later used to log in. Also, a password is required when using a Microsoft account. However, for a local account, it can be left blank (leave it blank), and for a Microsoft account, you can disable the password prompt when logging into Windows 10 or set a PIN instead of a password (however, this can also be done when using a local account).

Next, we will consider several options for the situation and ways to set a password to enter Windows 10 (through the system) in each of them. You can also set a password in the BIOS or UEFI (you will be prompted before logging in) or install BitLocker encryption on the system drive with the operating system (which will also lead to the inability to turn on the system without knowing the password) . These two methods are more complicated, but when you use them (especially in the second case), a stranger will not be able to reset your Windows 10 password.

Important Note: If your Windows 10 account uses an account called "Administrator" (not only with administrator rights, but with this name), which does not have a password (and sometimes you see a message that some application cannot be started using the account of built-in administrator), then the correct course of action in your case would be: create a new Windows 10 user and grant him administrator rights, transfer important data from the system folders (desktop, documents, etc.) to the folders of the new one user, and then disable the built-in account, which was written about in the Windows 10 material built-in administrator account.

Set a password for a local account

If your system uses a local Windows 10 account, but you do not have a password (for example, you did not set it when installing the system or it was not present when upgrading from a previous version of the operating system), you can set a password for the user of several simple ways.

Add an account password in Settings

1. Go to Start - Settings (gear icon on the left side of the start menu).
2. Select Accounts and then Login Options.
3. In the "Password" section, if it is absent, you will see a message stating that "Your account does not have a password" (if it is not specified, but it is proposed to change the password, the next section of this instruction will suit you). 
4. Click "Add", enter a new password, repeat it, and enter a password hint that you understand, but cannot help strangers. And click «Next». 

After that, the password will be set and you will be prompted the next time you log into Windows 10, wake up from sleep or when the computer is locked, which can be done with the Win + L keys (where Win is the with the operating system logo on the keyboard), or via the Start menu - click the user icon on the left - «Block».

A quick way to put a password to log in to Windows 10

If you are using a local account and have not yet set a password for it, you can use the following simple method to configure it in the latest versions of Windows 10:

1. Press Ctrl + Alt + Delete keys
2. In the menu that appears, select "Change password"
3. In the next window, do not fill in the "Old password" field (if it is not there), set a new password and confirm it.
4. Click the arrow to the right of the password confirmation field.

Done, now the login password for your user will be set.

Set an account password using the command line

There is another way to set a password for a local Windows 10 account: using the command prompt. For this

1. Run the command line as administrator (right-click on the "Start" button and select the desired menu item).
2. At the command prompt, type net users and hit Enter. You will see a list of active and inactive users. Pay attention to the username for which the password will be set.
3. Enter the command

   network user user password

   Where username is the value of item 2 and password is the desired password to log into Windows 10) and press Enter. 

Done, just like in the previous method, you only need to lock the system or log out of Windows 10 to be prompted for a password.

How to enable Windows 10 password if your request has been disabled

In cases where you are using a Microsoft account, or when using a local account, you already have a password, but it is not prompted, it can be assumed that the password prompt when logging in to Windows 10 has been disabled in the setting.

To turn it back on, follow these steps:

1. Press the keys Win + R on your keyboard, type Control userpasswords2 and press Enter. 
2. In the User Account Control window, select your username and check the "Require username and password" box and click "OK". You will also need to enter your current password to confirm. Attention: a separate instruction on what to do if there is no item Require username and password.
3. Also, if you have disabled the password prompt when you wake up from sleep and want to enable it, go to Settings - Accounts - Login Options and, on the right, in the "Login Required" section, select "When the computer wakes up from sleep mode '.

Also, pay attention to the following nuances: the latest versions of Windows 10, during installation and update, may ask you to set a PIN and use it to log in instead of a password. This is where the instruction How to remove PIN from Windows 10 can come in handy.

Video instruction

That's it, when you log into Windows 10 in the future, you will need to log in. If something doesn't work or your case differs from those described, please describe it in the comments, I'll try to help. You may also be interested in: How to change the Windows 10 password, How to put a password in a Windows 10, 8 and Windows 7 folder.