---
title: Pairing your YubiKey (Windows login)
description: "Register or 'pair' your YubiKey hardware token so that you can use it to access your Windows login machine securely with PingID."
component: pingid-user-guide
page_id: pingid-user-guide:secure_authentication_with_pingid:pid_setting_up_yubikey_wl
canonical_url: https://docs.pingidentity.com/pingid-user-guide/secure_authentication_with_pingid/pid_setting_up_yubikey_wl.html
revdate: June 6, 2024
section_ids:
  about-this-task: About this task
  steps: Steps
  result: Result:
  result-2: Result:
  result-3: Result:
  result-4: Result
  next-steps: Next steps
---

# Pairing your YubiKey (Windows login)

Register or 'pair' your YubiKey hardware token so that you can use it to access your Windows login machine securely with PingID.

## About this task

|   |                                                                                                                                                            |
| - | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
|   | If you are accessing Windows login through a virtual machine (VM), before pairing your YubiKey, make sure your VM is configured to recognize a USB device. |

## Steps

1. Sign on to your Windows machine.

   ![A screen capture of the Windows sign on page.](_images/une1564021179418.png)

   ### Result:

   The PingID registration window displays.

   ![A screen capture of the PingID registration window.](_images/mqz1564021181220.png)

   |   |                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
   | - | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
   |   | Until you have successfully completed the registration process, you cannot minimize the PingID registration window. If you close the window, you are automatically redirected back to the sign-on page. |

2. Click **I want to use a different authentication method**.

3. In the**Alternative Authentication** window, select **Authenticate with YubiKey**. Click **Next**.

   ![A screen capture of the Alternative Authentication window displaying the Authentication Preference options.](../_images/rtp1564020913976.png)

   ### Result:

   The **Alternative Authentication** window displays, prompting your **YubiKey Setup** and verification.

   ![A screen capture of the Alternative Authentication window, prompting the YubiKey Setup authentication.](_images/qpu1564021146253.png)

4. Insert the YubiKey into your computer USB port. Tap the YubiKey.

   |   |                                                                                                |
   | - | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
   |   | Make sure that the **Alternative Authentication** window is the active window on your machine. |

   ### Result:

   A one-time passcode (OTP) is automatically generated and inserted into the **YubiKey Setup** window, and **Verify** is selected automatically.

5. The next time you sign on to your Windows machine, account, or app:

   1. Enter a YubiKey OTP.

   2. Press your YubiKey button to generate the OTP.

   3. Click **Sign On** to authenticate and sign on.

## Result

The green **Authenticated** message appears with a check mark, indicating that authentication is successful. You are signed on to your Windows machine.

![A screen capture of the Windows home desktop page.](_images/zoq1564021183904.png)

## Next steps

The next time you sign on to your account or application, you'll be able to use your YubiKey to authenticate. For more information, see [Authenticating with PingID using a YubiKey](pid_ug_auth_using_a_yubikey_intro.html).