Timeline – John Ryland – SiGNAL My BiZHUB

John Ryland posted an update

3 months ago (edited)

Windows 10 Question

We have had this problem with two Windows 10 PC’s that we have supplied to the grease plant and lab in Algeria.

Before shipment or while we have been on-site, we have been able to use them on their default accounts with no password, but after a while, when we return to the UK, they suddenly find that the computer starts demanding a password before they can log back in – see pictures emailed from Algeria below.

Any ideas? We think it could be something to do with an historic Windows 10 update that took away the ability to log in without a password, but we’re not 100% certain.

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2 Comments
- Gareth Turner (edited)
  
  @suzannedriver @rebecca365 – this seems like a question for you?
  
  3 months ago
- Stuart Morrison
  
  I did some googling and asked Chat GPT and these were the findings.
  
  This is a surprisingly common Windows 10 behavior, and there are a few likely causes.
  Here are the most probable reasons a “no-password” account suddenly starts prompting for one:
  
  1. A Microsoft account is being silently attached
  
  Even if you originally created a local account with no password, Windows 10 (especially after updates) can:
  
  Prompt the user to “Sign in with Microsoft”
  Convert the local account into a Microsoft account
  Enforce a password once that happens
  
  How to check:
  Go to Settings → Accounts → Your info
  If you see an email address, it’s now a Microsoft account
  
  Fix:
  Click “Sign in with a local account instead”
  Then remove the password in Sign-in options
  
  2. Device / Group Policy is enforcing a password – If the customer’s network uses:
  
  Azure AD
  Local domain
  Intune / MDM
  Group Policy Objects
  
  …Windows could be receiving a policy that disallows blank passwords.
  
  In particular, this policy does it:
  Accounts: Limit local account use of blank passwords to console logon only
  
  If this switches on, Windows suddenly asks for a password.
  
  How to check (Pro/Enterprise):
  Press Win+R → secpol.msc
  Go to Local Policies → Security Options
  
  Look for: “Accounts: Limit local account use of blank passwords to console logon only”
  
  If it’s enabled, that’s your cause.
  
  3. Auto-login got turned off
  You might not have noticed a password before because autologin was configured.
  
  Then:
  A Windows update
  Driver change
  Domaining
  User change
  …reset netplwiz settings.
  
  Check: Press Win+R → netplwiz
  
  See if “Users must enter a username and password” is now checked
  If so → uncheck it and apply (Windows 10 20H2+ sometimes hides this unless a password exists.)
  
  4. Windows Hello or a fingerprint/PIN was added then removed
  
  If a PIN or Hello was configured and later removed, Windows may now expect the original password.
  
  Check: Settings → Accounts → Sign-in options
  
  5. Third-party software is enforcing a password
  
  Remote access software, antivirus platforms, or compliance tools can enforce password rules after a period of time.
  
  Common culprits:
  TeamViewer settings
  RMM software
  “Endpoint protection”
  Backup agents
  
  3 months ago

Windows 10 Question