I'm trying to set up Smart Card authentication on a standalone Windows 11 computer, without any domain joining or third-party tools. I've installed the required drivers, and my smart card is recognized in Device Manager when I insert it. I've also imported the necessary certificates into the Local Computer store and created a local user account that matches the Common Name (CN) from the smart card certificate. However, after rebooting, I don't see any option to sign in with the smart card—only the standard username and password option. I also tried to enforce the Local Security Policy for requiring a smart card for logins, but I still only get the password prompt, and it returns an error stating "Windows Hello or Smart Card is required". Am I missing a crucial configuration step?
4 Answers
I disagree with that concept a bit. A robust local password is just one layer of security. Brute force isn't the only attack vector—there are many ways to compromise a password. Smart cards provide a more layered security model.
From what I understand, you might need a way to bind the smart card to your username. Without specific software, it can be tricky. Some users have opted to build their own solution for this. It sounds like your CN should correspond to the username, so keep that in mind. Have you checked if there's a binding configuration in your security settings?
Nope, smart cards need a central authority like Active Directory to function properly. For standalone setups, securing your local password can still be effective. Remember that a strong password can still protect against many threats, even if it's just one factor in your security.
Honestly, I'm not sure Windows supports this configuration natively when it comes to standalone systems. It works fine in domain environments where smart cards can tie into Active Directory, but I'm guessing that's not the case here. Using local accounts might just complicate the situation further.
Exactly, the whole point of smart cards is to have a centralized authority like Active Directory managing it, so I'm not sure why you'd want to go that route without it.
That makes sense, but I've also thought about the implications if the computer isn't domain-joined. Wouldn't there be limitations on how smart cards function in that environment?