Microsoft Office/Logging In & Out (Windows)

This page applies to version 7 onwards of Microsoft Windows.

For conceptual information on this topic, see the parent page.

Before you can use a computer, you must log into it. While the process of logging in is similar on Windows 7 and Windows 8, there are some subtle differences. In addition, the process is different depending on whether or not the computer you’re using is at school or work. (Technically, school/work computers are generally attached to what is called a domain. You log into a computer that is attached to a domain using a different procedure than logging into a computer that is not attached to one.) Find the section below marked with which operating system you’re using.

Step By Step: Logging In

On Windows 7, at Home

1. Click the square with your name below it. The square itself contains your user picture.
2. If you are prompted for a password, type it into the text field and click the blue right-pointing arrow button next to the text field, or press Enter.

On Windows 7, at School or Work

1. If you are prompted to press Ctrl+Alt+Delete, do so.
2. If you see your name below a large empty square, skip to step 6.
3. Click the left-pointing arrow button next to the user name.
4. Click on “Other User”
5. Type your user name into the top text field.
6. Type your password into the bottom text field (or the only one if you don’t see two).
7. Click the blue right-pointing arrow button next to the bottom text field.

On Windows 8, 8.1 or 10, at Home

1. If you see a picture covering the entire screen, and a clock (and possibly other icons) on top of it, click anywhere on the screen. The picture slides up and off the screen when you do so.
2. If you see your name to the right of an image or silhouette, skip to step 5.
3. Click the left-pointing arrow button to the left of the picture.
4. Click on the square with your name below it. The square itself contains an image or generic silhouette.
5. If you are prompted for a password, type it into the text field and click the right-pointing arrow button at the right edge of the text field. (You may instead be prompted for a PIN or to provide a “picture password” or to use a biometric method (eg: fingerprint). These alternate security methods are outside the scope of this wikibook.)

On Windows 8, 8.1 or 10 at School or Work

1. If you see a picture covering the entire screen, and a clock (and possibly other icons) on top of it, click anywhere on the screen. The picture slides up and off the screen when you do so. If you see text prompting you to press Ctrl+Alt+Delete on top of the picture, do so.
2. If you see your name next to a square containing a picture or silhouette, skip to step 6.
3. Click the left-pointing arrow button to the left of the picture.
4. Click on “Other User”
5. Type your user name into the top text field.
6. Type your password into the bottom text field (or the only one if you don’t see two).
7. Click the right-pointing arrow button at the right edge of the bottom text field.

Step By Step: Logging Out

The steps for logging out are the same for computers at home and at school or work.

On Windows 7

1. Press Ctrl+Alt+Delete to open the Windows Security screen.
2. Click “Log Out”.

From Windows 8 onwards

1. Press Ctrl+Alt+Delete to open the Windows Security screen.
2. Click “Sign out”.

Locking the Screen

The steps for locking a computer are the same for computers at home and at school or work. Tip: You can press the Windows logo key + L to lock your computer in one step on any Windows version.

From Windows 7 onwards

1. Press Ctrl+Alt+Delete to open the Windows Security screen.
2. Click “Lock”

Unlocking a Locked Computer

The steps for unlocking a locked computer are the same for computers at home and at school or work.

On Windows 7

1. If you are prompted to press Ctrl+Alt+Delete, do so.
2. If your name is listed below a large square, type your password into the text entry field, and then click the right-pointing arrow button.

From Windows 8 onwards

1. If you see a picture covering the entire screen, and a clock (and possibly other icons) on top of it, click anywhere on the screen. The picture slides up and off the screen when you do so. If you see text prompting you to press Ctrl+Alt+Delete on top of the picture, do so.
2. If your name is listed next to a large picture or silhouette, type your password into the text entry field, and then click the right-pointing arrow button.