Windows 10 boasts a suite of security features to keep your PC safe. But what if you need to remove a password or security key? This guide shows how to remove your PIN and other sign-in options from Windows 10.
This guide tackles PINs, face recognition, fingerprint scans, and security keys. Because you cannot delete a password, this guide also walks you through deleting your account from a Windows 10 PC. You can always create another account that doesn’t have an associated password.
Remove a PIN, Face, or Finger
Click the Windows button followed by the gear icon located on the Start Menu’s left edge. This opens the Settings app.
Click on the “Accounts” tile in the following window.
The “Accounts” section opens to “Your Info” by default. Click the “Sign-In Options” entry on the menu followed by “Windows Hello PIN” listed on the right. This entry expands to reveal a “Remove” button. Click it once.
Windows 10 presents a warning. Click the “Remove” button again to confirm.
The steps to remove your face and finger are nearly identical to removing a PIN. Simply choose “Window Hello Face” or “Windows Hello Finger” instead and then follow the above removal steps.
Remove a Security Key
Click the Windows button followed by the gear icon located on the Start Menu’s left edge. This opens the Settings app.
Click on the “Accounts” tile in the following window.
The “Accounts” section opens to “Your Info” by default. Click the “Sign-In Options” entry on the menu followed by “Security Key” listed on the right. This entry expands to reveal a “Manage” button. Click it once.
Insert your Security Key into an open USB port as prompted and touch the key’s flashing icon. Once Windows 10 verifies the key, click the “Reset” button followed by the “Close” button.
Remove Your Account (Administrator)
If you’re trying to remove the sole account from a PC you own, you can’t simply delete it. Instead, you must create a local user account, set it as administrator, log into that account, and then delete your original account. The alternative is to reset the PC.
Click the Windows button followed by the gear icon located on the Start Menu’s left edge. This opens the Settings app.
Click on the “Accounts” tile in the following window.
The “Accounts” section opens to “Your Info” by default. Click the “Family & Other Users” entry on the menu followed by the “+” button next to “Add Someone Else to This PC” listed under “Other Users” on the right.
Click the “I Don’t Have This Person’s Sign-In Information” link in the following window.
Click the “Add a User without a Microsoft Account” option.
Enter a username, password (twice), establish three security questions, and then click the “Next” button.
You can create an account without a password, but this will serve as an administrative account, so not establishing a password is a bad idea unless you’re selling or giving the PC to another individual. Even then, a full reset is the better option.
When complete, you’ll see the new local account listed under “Other Users.” Select the new account and click the “Change Account Type” button.
In the “Change Account Type” pop-up box, select “Administrator” in the drop-down menu and click the “OK” button.
Next, click the Windows button, click on your profile icon, and select the new account in a pop-up menu to log in to Windows 10 using that account.
Click the Windows button followed by the gear icon located on the Start Menu’s left edge. This opens the Settings app.
Click on the “Accounts” tile in the following window.
The “Accounts” section opens to “Your Info” by default. Click the “Family & Other Users” entry on the menu. Select your account on the right listed under “Other Users” to expand its options. Click the “Remove” button.
