14 DAY TRIAL // Windows 10 version 2004, or the May 2020 Update, is just around the corner, and for many this is the highly-anticipated release that they originally expected in the fall of 2019.
And this is because the previous update, officially known as Windows 10 November 2019 Update, didn’t come with anything else that small improvements here and there, as the focus wasn’t on new features, but on refinements under the hood.
So Windows 10 version 2004 is the one bringing so many changes, including some aimed at the passwordless experience in the operating system.
As many Microsoft watchers know already, the Redmond-based software giant is one of the biggest companies pushing for a world without passwords. And this is because Windows Hello, the company’s biometric authentication system, has already reached its maturity, so right now, it can be enabled on a pretty big number of devices out there.
One thing that’s worth mentioning every time we discuss Windows Hello in Windows 10 is that this biometric system requires dedicated hardware, such as a special camera. So without this hardware, using Windows Hello is impossible.
But when it’s activated, Windows Hello can power the passwordless world that Microsoft is insisting so hard for, and the upcoming Windows 10 version 2004 is the company’s next step in this direction.
More specifically, Windows 10 May 2020 Update will come with a new toggle that allows making the device passwordless, and what it does is enable Windows Hello sign-in for absolutely all Microsoft accounts configured on the device.
This means passwords and PINs are no longer required to log into the device, as Windows Hello will be the preferred method for accessing the desktop.
Of course, this feature would only show up if Windows Hello is available in the first place, so if the necessary hardware isn’t detected, then it won’t be offered in the Settings app.
“For improved security and a more seamless sign-in experience, you can now enable passwordless sign-in for Microsoft accounts on your Windows 10 device by going to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options, and selecting ‘On’ under ‘Make your device passwordless’. This will strengthen your device sign-in by switching all Microsoft accounts on your device to modern multifactor authentication with Windows Hello Face, Fingerprint, or PIN, and eliminating passwords from Windows,” Microsoft explains.
Giving up on passwords is considered by many the right way to go given the number of breaches happening lately, as systems like Windows Hello, which enable facial recognition and fingerprint scanning on devices, reduce the likelihood of someone getting access to user data.
Windows Hello has also evolved a lot to become faster and more reliable, so right now it just makes sense to enable it on supported devices. As long-time Microsoft users probably remember, Windows Hello was one of the first facial recognition systems offered on a mobile phone, as Microsoft equipped the Lumia 950 and 950 XL with this biometric feature to allow for easy unlocking.
Of course, we all know how Windows 10 Mobile eventually failed, but Windows Hello on a mobile phone showed that Microsoft was so ahead of its time in the smartphone business.
Apple, for example, is now pushing hard for Face ID facial recognition on the iPhone after previously debuting it on the iPhone X. But on the other hand, Microsoft was among the first to go for this approach, and this shows just how advanced Windows Hello is right now.
At the end of the day, Windows 10 version 2004 is a natural step going forward, and Windows Hello being the recommended alternative to the traditional password is something that just makes sense.
Windows 10 version 2004 will officially launch this month.