Windows 8 introduces a new way
to log into your computer using picture passwords. Picture passwords
are designed to be used with touchscreen PCs and tablets so you do not
have to type in characters. Instead you choose a picture, draw a
combination of three gestures on the picture that become your
“password,” and then save those combinations with that picture. You use
those gestures to gain access to your computer, much like what happens
when you type in a password on your keyboard.
Creating a picture password
You set up a picture password through
the Users area in PC Settings. Click Create A Picture Password to
display the Create A Picture Password dialog. Figure 1 shows the Create A Picture Password dialog box. Type your user password
and click OK to verify your password. You’re now ready to select a
picture and set up gestures to create the picture password.
Click Choose Picture and select a picture you want to use. Click Open to see the How’s This Look? screen. Figure 2
shows an example of a picture that can be used for setting a picture
password. You can now move the picture around until you see the view of
the picture you want to use in your Picture Password. Once you
establish that position, click Use This Picture.
It’s time to draw the gestures to create the
combination you want to use for the password. You can draw any
combination of these three gestures: taps, circles, and straight lines.
Figure 3 shows the screen for setting up your gestures. You’ll want to remember the following when you set up the gestures:
- Position of the gestures
- Size of the gestures
- Direction of the gestures
- Order in which you make the gestures
For example, on the flag picture, the following are suggested gestures:
- Draw a circle around three stars on the flag
- Tap the lowest white strip
- Draw a straight line from the top-right corner of the blue border down to the bottom of the lower red stripe
As you draw each gesture, Windows does
two things. First, it shows each gesture using a white outline arrow
(for straight lines), a white circle outline for circles, and a white
dot for taps. Second, it shows the sequence of each gesture as 1, 2, or
3.
If you make a mistake, click Start Over and restart the gestures.
After you complete the gestures once, you must
confirm them before they are saved. Simply repeat your three gestures.
If you forget one, click Start Over and redraw the gestures, and be
sure to remember your gestures this time.
When you successfully redraw the gestures in
their correct order, click the Finish button. You will return to the
Users screen of PC Settings.
Testing your picture password
Once you create a picture
password, it’s a good idea to test it soon to reinforce the gestures to
memory. To do this, return to the Windows Start screen and sign out.
Sign back into your account, this time using the gestures on the
picture that displays. After you draw the correct gestures of your
picture password, you are presented with the Windows Start screen.
