Passwords
As many as four passwords might be needed for a ThinkPad notebook computer: the power-on password,
the NVMe password, the supervisor password, and the system management password.
If any of these passwords has been set, a prompt for it will be displayed on the screen whenever the
computer is turned on. The computer does not start until the password is entered.
Note: If only a supervisor password is set, the password prompt will not be displayed when the operating
system is started.
Power-on password
A power-on password protects the system from being turned on by an unauthorized person. The password
must be entered before the operating system can be started. For instructions on how to remove the power-
on password, see "How to remove the power-on password" on page 34.
NVMe password
The NVMe password prevents unauthorized access to the data on the storage drive. When an NVMe
password is set, you are prompted to type a correct password each time you try to access the storage drive.
• Single Password
When a Single NVMe password is set, the user must enter the user NVMe password to access files and
applications on the storage drive.
• Dual Password (User + Admin)
The admin NVMe password is set and used by a system administrator. It enables the administrator to
access any storage drive in a system or any computer connected in the same network. The administrator
can also assign a user NVMe password for each computer in the network. The user of the computer can
change the user NVMe password as desired, but only the administrator can remove the user NVMe
password.
When prompted to enter an NVMe password, press F1 to switch between the admin NVMe password and
user NVMe password.
Notes: The NVMe password is not available in the following situations:
• A Trusted Computing Group (TCG) Opal-compliant storage drive and a TCG Opal management software
program are installed in the computer, and the TCG Opal management software program is activated.
• For Intel models, when an eDrive storage drive is installed in the computer preinstalled with the Windows
10 operating system.
For instructions on how to remove the NVMe password, see "How to remove the NVMe password" on page
35.
Supervisor password
The supervisor password protects the system information stored in the ThinkPad Setup program. It provides
the following security features:
• If only a supervisor password is set, a password prompt is displayed when you try to start the ThinkPad
Setup program. Unauthorized users cannot change most of the system configuration options in the
ThinkPad Setup program without the password.
.
Chapter 4
Related service information
33