Microsoft brings Windows Hello to Microsoft Accounts

Nov 21, 2018 12:25 GMT  ·  By
Setting up Windows Hello for Microsoft Edge authentication to Microsoft services
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   Setting up Windows Hello for Microsoft Edge authentication to Microsoft services

As the world’s largest software company, Microsoft has been one of the pioneers of a world without passwords, providing users with a series of alternatives, including facial and fingerprint scanning.

Called Windows Hello, the biometric authentication tool developed by Microsoft was launched in 2015 and was even offered on the company’s Windows phones.

Lumia 950 XL, for example, which debuted in late 2015, was one of the first phones with such features, and as we know already, facial recognition is now becoming a common security system on high-end phones running Android and iOS.

Since then, however, Windows Hello received occasional updates, and Microsoft has constantly pushed for more users to embrace it. The latest-generation laptops all come with some sort of authentication system, and with a recent update, the software giant pushes its efforts even further.

Microsoft is bringing Windows Hello to the Microsoft Account, which means that you can log in to your favorite Microsoft services on the web without using a password.

For instance, if you want to browse your files stored in the cloud and log in to OneDrive, you no longer have to provide your password, but only have your face scanned by Windows Hello.

Needless to say, this feature needs to be configured because it’s not enabled by default. And before everything, here’s what you’re going to need:  

Windows 10 version 1809 (October 2018 Update)
Windows Hello-capable device with fingerprint reader or facial recognition
Microsoft-compatible security key (Yubico or Feitian)
Microsoft Edge browser
Basically, Windows Hello can only be used to authenticate to Microsoft services on Windows 10 version 1809 when Microsoft Edge browser is being used.

To enable this new feature, you must first sign in to your Microsoft Account on this official Microsoft page. On your account dashboard, you need to follow the next path:

Security > More security options > Sign in (if necessary) > Windows Hello and security keys > Manage your sign-in methods If you aren’t running the latest Windows 10 and Microsoft Edge versions, or in case your computer isn’t compatible with Windows Hello (e.g. does not have the necessary hardware), you should see a message reading: Your browser or operating system does not support this Next, you need to set up a security key and follow the wizard to configure your key – you need to choose between USB and NFC. You’ll also be prompted to insert your key and tap it, then create a backup PIN, input a name for the key, and then save the settings.
Setting up Windows Hello for Microsoft Edge authentication to Microsoft services

The next time you want to sign in to a Microsoft service, instead of providing your password, click the option that reads Use Windows Hello or security key.

If the feature has been configured correctly, Windows Hello should then be enabled to scan your face or the security key should be used to perform a check and let you sign in.

As an alternative, I also recommend you to set up the official Microsoft Authenticator app for Android and iOS. After you configure your account within the app, every time you attempt log in to a Microsoft service from a new browser or computer, you are prompted to approve the authentication on your mobile device, all without providing your password.

This is a solution that comes in handy particularly to those who don’t have a Windows Hello-capable computer but instead keep their mobile phone around most of the time.

And of course, if you just want to use the old-fashioned password method, just make sure you choose a more complex password and you enable two-factor authentication.

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Setting up Windows Hello for Microsoft Edge authentication to Microsoft services
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