Windows 11 · Windows
Remove a Windows 11 PIN or Change Your Sign-In Method
Source-checked About 10 minutes
Answer
Open Accounts > Sign-in options and remove the Windows Hello PIN only when Windows offers Remove. Keep a password or another secure sign-in method available first.
Prepare the task and protect the current state
Confirm the exact account, ownership, recovery method, age or family status, and organization policies before changing access. Never share passwords, verification codes, recovery keys, payment data, cookies, or session tokens with supposed support. Begin by confirming this task-specific prerequisite: Confirm you know the Microsoft-account or local-account password before changing the PIN.
Keep another sign-in method
Confirm you know the Microsoft-account or local-account password before changing the PIN.
Open PIN settings
Go to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options > PIN (Windows Hello).
Remove or change the PIN
Select Remove if Windows offers it, or Change PIN to replace it. If Remove is unavailable, turn off the Windows Hello-only sign-in option only if that matches your security needs.
Do not confuse PIN and password
The device PIN is separate from your Microsoft-account password. Use I forgot my PIN for recovery instead of deleting account data.
Verify the complete result
Repeat the intended action with a harmless test and confirm this final condition: The device PIN is separate from your Microsoft-account password. Use I forgot my PIN for recovery instead of deleting account data. Reopen the relevant settings, destination, account, device, or application and compare it with the recorded starting state before deleting data, removing a recovery path, or relying on the change.
Use a reversible recovery path
If the result differs, undo only the latest change when possible, keep the original data, account, device configuration, driver, or installer intact, and compare the exact symptom with the linked Microsoft Support guidance. Record the version, time, error, and completed checks before contacting official support.
Video walkthrough
If it does not work
- If “Remove a Windows 11 PIN or Change Your Sign-In Method” remains unresolved, identify the first numbered step that produces a different result and preserve that screen, log, file, or message. Recheck the specific account, permission, storage, connection, driver, or hardware prerequisite above, then follow only the matching Microsoft Support recovery path; do not combine unrelated resets, bypasses, unofficial installers, or third-party repair tools.
Sources and verification
Checked against official documentation on . Scope: Windows.
Follow the linked first-party guidance if labels differ after a platform update.