Set up a Picture Password in Windows 8

Setting a Picture Password for the login screen is one of the interesting new features available in Windows 8. Instead of having to remember a long complicated password or pin, all you have to do is draw a picture which is much easier for the majority of people to remember. You simply pick a picture and you can draw patterns. Since Windows XP and Windows 7 does not have this feature, it uses text/number character. This method allows a particular user to login into his Windows 8 account with the help of pictures. Basically you need to select a picture and perform three patterns with respect to the picture that you can remember. The steps to follow for setting a picture password for the login screen are:

Step 1: Whether you are on the Metro UI or desktop, move the mouse cursor to the right side until the search and settings menu bar (called Charms Bar) appears, then click on the Setting icon:

Step 2: After clicking on the Setting icon, click on More PC Settings.

 

Step 3: It will show you the general setting of your computer. Now select Users and there you see an option to create a new picture password on the right hand side.

 

Step 4: Enter your Login password before setting up your picture password. If the Windows 8 account does not have a password, then you need to create a password before you proceed to set up a picture password. Enter the Password and click OK. Once you have a normal password, then only you can set up a picture password.

 

Step 5: Now you will be asked for selecting the picture for the picture password. Please navigate to the folder where you have the pictures and select the picture that you want to use for the picture password:

 

Step 6: Start setting up the gestures; you need to draw 3 gestures on the picture, either circles, straight lines, and/or taps.

 

Step 7: Then you need to repeat the process again to confirm. Once the pattern is confirmed, the picture password is saved and set as your password for the next time you log on.

 

Some of the useful resources are:

• Password Policy/Strength ASP.NET MVC Validator
• Windows Explorer in C#
• Windows 8: How to Power Off Your PC