Windows 11 offers a variety of login options, from PINs and passwords to fingerprint and facial recognition. But if you are looking for a personalized login experience, you can set up a picture password on Windows 11 using your favorite image and a series of taps and gestures. It’s one of the most fun yet a secure alternative to traditional passwords and PINs. Ready to give it a try? Let’s get started creating your picture password.
What Is a Picture Password and How Does It Work?
A picture password is a fun and secure way to log into your account using your favorite image and a series of taps and gestures. During setup, you select a picture and define the specific taps or gestures you’ll use. To log in, simply repeat those gestures in the same order and locations on the image.
Before You Begin
- You require your user account password to create a picture password.
- Make sure you have the image you want to use for the picture password ready and on the local disk.
Set Up Picture Password in Windows 11
- Use “Windows key + I” to open Settings.
- Go to the “Accounts” > “Sign-in Options” page.
- Click “Picture password” and then click “Add“.
- Type your user account password and click “OK“.
- Click the “Choose picture” button.
- Select the image and click “Open“.
- Click the “Use this picture” button.
- Draw three gestures or taps on the picture.
- Redraw the same gestures/taps when prompted for confirmation.
- Click the “Finish” button.
- With that, you’ve set up a picture password in Windows 11.
Detailed Steps (With Screenshots)
As always, open the Settings app in Windows 11 by pressing the “Windows key + I” keyboard shortcut. Once it opens, go to the “Accounts” tab on the sidebar and then click “Sign-in Options” on the right page. This is where you can manage all the sign-in methods and additional settings.

Here, click the “Picture password” option and then click the “Add” button.

Now, to make sure it’s you, Windows asks for your user account password or PIN. Type it and click the “OK” button to continue.

To start the setup process, click the “Choose picture” button.

In the Browse window, find and select the image you want to set as the picture password and click the “Open” button.

Click the “Use this picture” button to continue.

Now, Windows asks you to draw three gestures or taps. You can use any combination of circles, lines, and taps. Just remember the size, position, direction, and order of the gestures/taps.

When asked for confirmation, draw the same gestures & taps in the same size, position, direction, and order.

With that, you are done creating the picture password. Click the “Finish” to close the wizard.

From now on, you can use the newly created picture password to quickly log into your system.
Log In Using Picture Password in Windows 11
To use a picture password to log into your account in Windows, follow these steps:
- Click on the lock screen to display the picture password.
- Draw the gestures or taps in the same size, position, direction, and order as you defined during the setup.
- You will be logged in automatically.

Wrapping Up — Enjoy a Personalized and Secure Login with Picture Password
In conclusion, if you are looking for a fun yet secure way to log into your system then a picture password is the way to go. Setting it up and using it is just as easy as any other login method. So, do give it a try and see how it works for you. Remember, you’ll always have access to other login methods like your password and PIN. If you forget your picture password gestures, simply click “Sign-in options” on the login screen and choose an alternate method.
That is all. If you have any questions or need help, comment below. I’ll be happy to help.