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A Windows Hello PIN is separate from your Microsoft account password. If you are stuck at the Windows 10 or Windows 11 sign-in screen, select I forgot my PIN, verify your Microsoft account, and create a new PIN. If that link is unavailable, sign in with your password (or another available Windows Hello method) and reset the PIN in Settings.
First, identify which recovery screen you have
A normal Windows Hello prompt asks for a PIN and may show I forgot my PIN. A BitLocker recovery screen asks for a 48-digit recovery key instead; it cannot be fixed by changing your Windows PIN.
- Forgotten Windows Hello PIN: use the PIN-reset procedure below.
- Forgotten Microsoft account password: recover the password separately, then reset the Windows PIN.
- Forgotten local-account password: use the local account’s security questions or a previously created password-reset disk.
- BitLocker recovery prompt: find the separate recovery key.
- PIN rejected despite being correct: treat it as a Windows Hello sign-in problem and use another sign-in method or the troubleshooting steps later.
Reset a forgotten PIN from the Windows sign-in screen
Microsoft documents this process for Windows 10 and Windows 11. The exact wording or placement can vary by edition, updates, device configuration, and organization policy.
- Turn on or unlock the PC until the Windows sign-in screen appears.
- Select the user account that needs its PIN reset. If several accounts are shown, choose the correct one.
- Select the PIN entry box, then choose I forgot my PIN.
- Follow the identity-verification prompts. You may need Microsoft account credentials or another verification method, and online verification may require a working connection.
- Create and confirm a new Windows Hello PIN.
- Sign in with the new PIN.
This supported reset changes the Windows Hello PIN for that device; it does not change your Microsoft account password or reset Windows. Microsoft’s procedure is documented at Change or reset your PIN in Windows.
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Reset the PIN after you can sign in
- Open Settings.
- Go to Accounts > Sign-in options.
- Open PIN (Windows Hello).
- Select Change PIN, enter the old PIN, and set the new one.
- If you do not know the old PIN, select I forgot my PIN and complete account verification instead.
The same Settings path is used in Windows 10 and Windows 11, although additional sign-in controls and labels can differ. See Microsoft’s Sign-in options in Windows.
When “I forgot my PIN” is missing
Microsoft’s sign-in-screen PIN-reset link is intended for Microsoft accounts and may not appear for local accounts or managed configurations.
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- At the sign-in screen, select Sign-in options.
- Select the password sign-in method and enter the account password.
- After reaching the desktop, open Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options.
- Under PIN (Windows Hello), choose I forgot my PIN or Change PIN.
Some PCs are configured to allow only Windows Hello sign-in for Microsoft accounts. Windows 10 may label this Require Windows Hello sign-in for Microsoft accounts; newer Windows 11 builds may say For improved security, only allow Windows Hello sign-in for Microsoft accounts on this device. If the password method is hidden, use I forgot my PIN, another enabled method such as fingerprint or face recognition, or contact your organization’s IT administrator. Details are in Microsoft’s passwordless Windows guidance.
If you forgot both the PIN and the password
Microsoft account
- At the sign-in screen, select I forgot my password, if shown, or use Sign-in options > Web sign-in where available.
- Alternatively, reset the Microsoft account password from another device using Microsoft’s account password recovery guidance.
- Return to the PC and sign in with the recovered password.
- Reset the Windows Hello PIN through Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options > PIN (Windows Hello).
Local Windows account
- Choose the password sign-in method.
- Select OK (or the equivalent submit control), then choose Reset password.
- Answer the security questions configured when the account was created.
- Use a password-reset disk if you created one previously.
A local account does not use the Microsoft-account PIN-reset workflow. If the PC belongs to a business or school, its administrator may control password and Windows Hello recovery.
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Fix “Something went wrong” or a rejected PIN
When a PIN is repeatedly rejected or setup fails, work through these least-destructive checks:
- Confirm that the correct user account is selected.
- Connect the sign-in screen to reliable Wi-Fi or Ethernet if online verification is requested. If Wi-Fi is unavailable there, use Ethernet or another available network.
- Restart the PC and retry the reset.
- Select Sign-in options and try the password, fingerprint, or facial-recognition method.
- Once signed in, retry the reset from Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options.
- Install pending Windows updates after access is restored, then sign out and back in before trying PIN creation again.
- For continuing Windows Hello errors, follow Microsoft’s Windows Hello troubleshooting guidance.
On a work or school PC, policy can control available sign-in methods and verification. Do not remove management or alter security policies; ask the organization’s IT help desk to recover the account.
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Fingerprint or face recognition still works
Windows Hello can provide PIN, fingerprint, or facial sign-in when compatible hardware is present. Sign in with the working method, then go to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options > PIN (Windows Hello) and reset the PIN. Microsoft explains these methods in Configure Windows Hello.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.BitLocker recovery is a different problem
If the screen requests a recovery key and displays a key identifier, you are not at the ordinary Windows PIN prompt. BitLocker uses a separate 48-digit recovery key, which may be saved in your Microsoft account, work or school account, a printout, or a USB drive depending on how encryption was configured.
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Use Microsoft’s BitLocker recovery-key instructions to locate it. If the key cannot be found, Microsoft warns that resetting the device through recovery options removes files. Do not choose Reset this PC merely because a Windows PIN was forgotten.
What not to do
- Do not start by deleting the protected Ngc folder, changing registry permissions, or running random Command Prompt or PowerShell commands.
- Do not use unverified third-party PIN-removal or “unlock” utilities; they can compromise credentials, encrypted data, or the Windows profile.
- Do not factory-reset or reinstall Windows before trying the account, password, Hello, and BitLocker recovery paths.
Prevent another lockout
- Keep recovery access to the Microsoft account current.
- Save the BitLocker recovery key securely and separately from the PC.
- Keep an available secondary Windows Hello method, such as fingerprint or face recognition, where supported.
- Know your employer’s or school’s IT recovery process for managed devices.
- Store recovery information securely rather than in an exposed text file.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does resetting my Windows PIN change my Microsoft account password?
No. The Windows Hello PIN and Microsoft account password are separate credentials. Resetting the PIN changes sign-in for the Windows device, not the account password.
Can I reset a local-account PIN with “I forgot my PIN”?
Microsoft’s documented sign-in-screen link is for Microsoft accounts. For a local account, sign in with or recover the local password, then manage Windows Hello from Settings.
Is a BitLocker recovery key the same as a Windows PIN?
No. BitLocker uses a separate 48-digit recovery key. A BitLocker prompt requires locating that key, not creating a new PIN.
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