How to Set Up Windows Hello (Fingerprint or Facial Recognition)
The hardware requirements to check first (IR camera, fingerprint reader), and how to set up each method step by step.
Windows Hello lets you sign in with your fingerprint, your face, or a PIN, instead of typing your password every time. Before looking for the option, check whether your machine has the necessary hardware — it's the most common reason for not finding it.
Check this first: facial recognition needs an infrared camera — not just any webcam, even if you have one for video calls. The fingerprint needs a specific physical reader. If your machine doesn't come with either built in, you can buy a compatible USB reader separately, but the option won't appear without that hardware.
Checking what you have available
Settings → Accounts → "Sign-in options". Options your machine doesn't support show up greyed out or don't appear at all — it's not a fault, it just means the corresponding hardware is missing.
Setting up the PIN (mandatory first step)
Before enabling fingerprint or face, Windows asks you to create a PIN — it's the backup method if biometrics fail at some point.
- "Sign-in options" → PIN (Windows Hello) → "Add".
- Confirm your current password.
- Choose a new PIN (minimum 4 digits).
The PIN is tied only to this device — even if someone saw it, it wouldn't work to access your account from another machine, unlike a password.
Setting up the fingerprint
- "Fingerprint recognition (Windows Hello)" → "Set up".
- Place your finger on the sensor several times, from different angles, following the on-screen instructions.
- You can add more than one finger afterwards, with "Add a finger".
Setting up facial recognition
- "Facial recognition (Windows Hello)" → "Set up".
- Look directly at the camera while it scans your face.
- Use the "Improve recognition" option to register your face with and without glasses, if you sometimes wear them.
Tip: both the fingerprint and the face are saved locally on your own device, and are not sent to any external server — this is one of the reasons this biometric information can't be used to access your account from another computer.
Frequently asked questions
Does any webcam work for facial recognition?
No, you specifically need an infrared (IR) camera, different from a normal video-call webcam. If your machine doesn't have one built in, there are compatible external IR cameras you can buy separately.
Is it mandatory to set up a PIN to use Windows Hello?
Yes, the PIN is the mandatory backup method in case the fingerprint or facial recognition fail at some point (for example, if you cut a finger or the camera fails).
Is my fingerprint or face saved on the internet?
No, they are stored locally only on your own device, never sent to an external server or to your Microsoft account in the cloud.