In a recent Microsoft Tech Community discussion, users asked a common — and very reasonable — question:
“Can I make Windows Hello the default authentication method when Windows shows an admin elevation prompt?”
With Windows Hello becoming the go-to for fast and secure authentication (Face, Fingerprint, or PIN), it makes sense that users would prefer it over entering full passwords during User Account Control (UAC) prompts.
However, the answer may surprise you — and it highlights important design decisions within Windows security.
🔐 What Are Admin Elevation Prompts?
Whenever you install software, change system settings, or perform any action that requires higher privileges, Windows displays a UAC elevation prompt.
Here, Windows asks you to confirm your identity using:
- A password
- Your Windows Hello PIN
- Face or fingerprint recognition
The goal is security: preventing unauthorized changes.
🤔 The Big Question
Can we force Windows Hello (Face/Fingerprint/PIN) to appear by default on elevation prompts — without clicking “More options”?
This was exactly the topic of the Microsoft Tech Community post:
“Make Windows Hello the default method for admin elevation prompts?”
Source: Microsoft Tech Community discussion
And the short answer is…
❌ No — Windows Does Not Allow Setting Windows Hello as the Default Method
According to the community experts and Microsoft engineers participating in the thread:
✔️ Windows Hello can be used during elevation prompts
If you have Windows Hello configured, you can authenticate with biometrics immediately, even if the UI shows a password field by default.
❌ But you cannot force Windows to always show Windows Hello as the default prompt
Here’s why:
1. Password is the fallback method by design
Windows is built to always display a method that works for every device, every account type, and every scenario — and that’s the password.
This ensures consistency across:
- Local accounts
- Microsoft accounts
- Azure AD / Entra ID accounts
- Domain-joined systems
2. Registry “hacks” won’t reliably work
Even if you try to override defaults via the registry or local policies, these changes are extremely fragile — especially on modern Windows 11 builds.
3. Intune and security baselines will overwrite custom settings
In managed environments, Intune policies and Microsoft baseline configurations take priority.
Local overrides get discarded at next sync.
😊 The Good News: Hello Still Works at the Prompt
Even though the default option shows a password field, you can authenticate immediately using fingerprint or face recognition if Windows Hello is enabled.
Many users reported that tapping the fingerprint sensor or looking at the camera unlocks instantly — you may not even need to click anything.
So usability remains strong, even if the UI doesn’t default to biometrics.
🛡️ Enterprise Environments: A Different Story
Windows 11 now includes a feature called Administrator Protection, which requires users to re-authenticate using Windows Hello when performing elevated tasks.
Combined with Windows Hello for Business, this delivers:
- Passwordless authentication
- Biometric confirmation for admin actions
- Better compliance and auditability
- Centralized control via Microsoft Intune
But again — this enhances security workflows, not the UAC prompt UI itself.
🧩 What You Can Do Today
✔️ Use Windows Hello for UAC prompts
Fingerprint/Face/PIN will work as long as Hello is enabled.
✔️ Deploy Windows Hello for Business
This is ideal for organizations wanting secure, passwordless elevation.
✔️ Use Intune’s “Administrator Protection”
To enforce biometric re-authentication when needed.
❌ What you cannot do
Force Windows to always display Windows Hello as the default elevation method.
Until Microsoft changes UAC behavior, this limitation remains.
🔚 Final Thoughts
Making Windows Hello the default method for admin elevation prompts sounds logical — it’s faster, more secure, and more convenient.
But today, Windows sticks to password-first behavior for compatibility and reliability reasons.
Still, the experience isn’t bad: as long as Windows Hello is set up, you can authenticate instantly with biometrics even when the password field appears by default.
