---
title: "Pictograph"
slug: "pictograph-1"
updated: 2025-03-25T12:00:31Z
published: 2025-03-25T12:00:31Z
canonical: "help.rapididentity.com/pictograph-1"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.rapididentity.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Pictograph

Pictograph passwords are a series of icons a user clicks or taps to login to RapidIdentity. They are available on any type of device (with or without touch screens) and in any browser. Pictographs can be a useful authentication method for young students, those acquiring the English Language, or SPED students, to name a few common use-cases for students.

In these two images, the Pictograph Password is “pizza'“ and “cheeseburger”. The student will see two images out of a block of 6 images. Note: the next time the student logs in, the cheeseburger may show on the first screen and in a different position. The images are randomized each time.

![](https://cdn.document360.io/4d958006-b877-42af-8de5-00e3bb7fe41d/Images/Documentation/image(568).png)

To create the Pictograph policy, navigate to Configuration > Policies > Authentication Policies. Click the + (plus sign) at the bottom of the column to create a new policy. Under Authentication Methods, select Pictograph, which opens these settings:

![](https://cdn.document360.io/4d958006-b877-42af-8de5-00e3bb7fe41d/Images/Documentation/image(569).png)

Check the box to **Enable** the policy.

Check the box to **Use the Default Image Pool**, or see this article to configure your own custom image pool. There are 36 pre-selected images to choose from (see below).

**Number of Images to Choose**: In the example images above, this setting is 2. They will choose two images from the pool.

**Number of Images to Challenge**: This is the total number of images to display on the screen. They will choose one image from a pool of 6 images, then they will choose their second image from another pool of 6 images. Nine is the maximum Number of Images to Challenge.

If you are using Pictographs as a Forgot Password policy, or a deviceless backup MFA method for staff, increase the Number of Images to Choose and the Number of Images to Challenge so staff are choosing 4-6 icons from a pool of 9. The bigger pool and the increased number of images to choose increases the security of this image-based password.

> [!NOTE]
> Note
> 
> If you choose 5 or more images out of a pool of 9, you must create a custom image pool. See the article titled [Default Image Pool and Create a Custom Image Pool](/v1/docs/default-image-pool-and-create-a-custom-image-pool) for more details.