How to fix
Password Protect Windows 10 PC
on Windows

My parents keep checking my computer and that thing more than annoys me. Actually, I know that they are trying to protect me from various cyber threats because I’m a teenager. However, even though I don’t have anything to hide, I would like them to ask my permission to check my Facebook, Skype, email and other conversations. Could you please guys tell me, how could I password protect my PC? I‘m using Windows 10.

If you are using a PC or laptop for your own needs only, it’s always advisable to password protect it. You don’t have to be a professor, teacher, lawyer, or a person holding other administrative positions to store important documents on the system. Each person has personal files, including documents, videos, photos, banking credentials, etc. that should not be viewed or used by other people. Therefore, experts highly recommend password protecting the PC. In Windows 10 OS, there are various means of protecting separate files or folders. However, to save your time and ensure that no one will enter your Windows 10 desktop without your permission, we are going to explain how to password protect Windows 10 OS.

Password protect Local User Account

1. Press Windows key + I to open Settings.
2. Open Account and select Sign-In options.
3. Click Password and select Add. If your Local User Account is not password protected, you will receive a “You must add a password before you can use the other sign-in options” alert.
4. To create a password, click Add button.
5. When the Create a password screen opens, type in a strong password in a New password box and repeat it in the Re-enter password box.
6. Click Next and Finish.

Use Microsoft Account instead of Local User Account

If you have a Microsoft account, use it instead Local User Account. Even if you don’t have the account, you can easily sign up for a Microsoft account. Please refer to this page for more information.

1. When you are signed in with the Local User Account, press Windows key + I to open Settings.
2. Open Accounts and click Your info.
3. Select Sign in with a Microsoft account instead link.
4. Enter your Microsoft account email address and password.
5. Click Next to proceed.
6. Then you will be asked to enter the password of the current Local User Account. Enter the password and press Next.
7. Finally, click Finish button.

Disable Automatic Login

1. Press Windows key + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
2. Click Yes on the UAC to proceed.
3. Use the left pane to navigate to the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon key.
4. Find the DefaultUserName entry, right-click on it, and check if your Microsoft account or local user account name is appearing under Value data box.
5. Then locate the DefaultPassword key. If such a key does not exist, right-click on an empty space, select New -> String Value.
6. Name it as DefaultPassword.
7. Open the Value data box and enter your password in it.
8. Click OK.
9. Finally, to enable automatic login, find the AutoAdminLogon on the right pane.
10. Click it and change its value from 0 to 1.

Ask for password upon wake up and after the screen saver

People often opt for making the Windows 10 login automatic. We must agree that entering a password each time after waking up the system from sleep is a bit irritating, but if you want to keep the data stored on your PC protected, you should disable automatic login and remain calm when Windows 10 asks to type in a password.

1. Press Widows key + I to open Settings.
2. Click Accounts and select Sign-in options.
3. Find the If you have been away, when should Windows require you to sign in again? option under Require sign in section.
4. Select when your PC should wake up from sleep. Once the time will be set, the system will start requiring a password upon wake up.
5. Once done, go back to the main window of the Settings app and select Personalization.
6. Open Lock screen and select Screen Saver settings.
7. Finally, mark the On resume, display logon screen button and click Apply to save the changes.