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Maybe unrelated to the original article, but I tried Windows Hello once. Upon reboot, my PC couldn't connect to the internet for some reason, so I wasn't able to login. I got locked out of my own PC because it couldn't connect to Microsoft's servers to verify my password, and there's absolutely no workaround to this problem. It won't use a locally cached password to login, it verifies your password with Microsoft's servers. Every. Single. Time. There's no way to use another device either. I recall, back in the day, you could activate Windows XP without internet by calling a number which would give you a long code to type in and would activate Windows. But nothing like that exists for Windows Hello. No internet? Tough luck.

In the end, I had to reinstall Windows and I'm never touching Windows Hello again.



I've been using Windows Hello and Microsoft accounts for login on devices for a few years. Its worked for offline for me literally many thousands of times across several devices.


I've never had the problem the GP had, but I have had Windows Hello "forget" biometrics were even configured - it's happened at least 3 times now, I guess after a Windows Update. Each time I go to login with a fingerprint, but it gives an error message and insists on the password instead, and then I have to setup Windows Hello from scratch.

It's mind-boggling how shit Windows Hello is :-/


I think you're confused. Windows Hello works offline. You were probably trying to sign into your Microsoft account, which IS online.

Mind you, the forced Microsoft account for new Windows 11 users is a huge problem. But it's a different one.


I am using my Microsoft account to login to my windows 11 systems. And they do seem to cache for offline access. Because I am still able to login without internet access.


Thanks for letting me know, I couldn't find any reputable sources on if they cache for offline when used with a Microsoft account.


I remember some of the piracy tools activated windows by generating these phone codes.


Security enthusiasts will scream bloody murder, but fact of the matter is nothing beats a simple password for balancing security and practicality.




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