The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →If your Windows 11 PIN no longer works after you changed it, use the sign-in screen’s I forgot my PIN option if it appears. If it does not, sign in with your password and reset the PIN in Settings. The timing alone does not establish why the PIN stopped working; start with these documented recovery routes rather than deleting files or changing security settings.
Choose the recovery route that matches your account
| Your situation | Next step |
|---|---|
| Microsoft account; “I forgot my PIN” appears at sign-in | Select it and complete the identity verification and new-PIN prompts. |
| “I forgot my PIN” is missing, but you know your password | Use password sign-in, then reset the PIN in Settings. |
| Local account | The sign-in-screen PIN reset option is not available for local accounts; try password sign-in and check the PIN options in Settings after signing in. |
| Work or school account, or organization-managed PC | Use your organization’s recovery process or contact its administrator or help desk if self-service recovery is unavailable. |
| You cannot use either the PIN or account password | Recover the account password first, using the process for that account type. |
A Windows Hello PIN is associated with a particular device and is not the same as your Microsoft account password. Microsoft states: “The PIN you use to access your device is different from your Microsoft account password.” Microsoft Support: Change or reset your PIN in Windows.
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Reset the PIN from the sign-in screen
- On the sign-in screen, select the account you need to access, especially if more than one user appears.
- Below the PIN field, select I forgot my PIN, if shown.
- Choose the correct account if prompted, then follow the identity verification steps and prompts to create a new PIN.
Microsoft documents this sign-in-screen reset for Microsoft accounts, not local accounts. If the option is absent, use password sign-in instead. Microsoft’s PIN reset instructions.
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesSign in with your password and reset the PIN in Settings
- At the sign-in screen, select Sign-in options.
- Select the password sign-in option (shown as Enter your password on supported screens) and enter the password for the selected account.
- After signing in, open Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options > PIN (Windows Hello).
- Select I forgot my PIN and complete the account verification and new-PIN prompts.
Use I forgot my PIN when the old PIN is unavailable. The ordinary Change PIN action asks for the current PIN, so it is not the recovery route if you cannot enter it. These are Microsoft’s documented Windows PIN recovery steps: Change or reset your PIN in Windows.
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If you cannot sign in with the password
Microsoft account
Recover or reset the Microsoft account password first, then return to Windows and use the password sign-in route. The PIN and account password are separate credentials; resetting one does not mean you have entered the other.
Work or school account
Self-service password reset depends on your organization enabling it and your having registered verification methods. Follow your organization’s process; if the option is missing or you cannot complete verification, contact the administrator or help desk. See Microsoft’s guidance on resetting a work or school password using security info and registering a password-reset verification method.
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If the supported sign-in routes still fail
- Restart the PC and try again.
- Check the network connection if Windows requires one for the sign-in or account verification step.
- If another account is available on the PC, try signing in with it.
- Safe Mode can help isolate some sign-in problems, but PIN and biometric sign-in are unavailable there; you need the account password.
Microsoft lists these basic steps in its Windows sign-in troubleshooting guidance. If the PC is managed by an employer or school, check with IT before attempting deeper recovery.
Avoid disruptive fixes until account recovery is exhausted
Microsoft’s PIN support instructions do not identify a specific cause for a PIN failing immediately after a change. That timing does not, by itself, show that the change, a Windows update, the TPM, or corrupted files caused the problem. Do not start by clearing TPM data, deleting PIN-storage folders, editing the registry, or resetting Windows; those actions are not the documented first-line steps for this situation.
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Windows recovery options can carry a risk of data loss. Before choosing a more disruptive recovery action, review Microsoft’s Windows recovery options guidance. For a managed device, ask IT for help if the supported account recovery paths do not restore access.
Quick Recap
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