Productivity · Windows
Reset a Windows Sign-In PIN
Source-checked About 10 minutes
Answer
At Windows sign-in, choose I forgot my PIN when available. Otherwise use Sign-in options to enter the password, then reset the PIN in Settings.
Preserve a working sign-in route
Do not remove account files, edit the registry, or use a password-bypass utility. At the Windows sign-in screen, confirm the account name and connection state, then select Sign-in options to see whether the account password is still available.
Use I forgot my PIN when offered
Select I forgot my PIN only for a Microsoft account when the link appears. Complete Microsoft's identity verification, review the warning that apps may require sign-in again, create a new PIN, and test it before restarting.
Sign in with the account password
If the reset link is unavailable, select Sign-in options > Password and enter the Microsoft-account or local-account password. The PIN is device-specific and is not the same as the online Microsoft account password.
Reset the PIN after signing in
Open Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options > PIN (Windows Hello). Choose I forgot my PIN or the supported change action, verify the account, then create and confirm a new PIN.
Check organization requirements
On a work or school PC, Windows Hello settings may be managed by policy. Keep the device connected to the organization's supported network when required and contact its administrator rather than attempting to bypass enforced PIN rules.
Verify recovery before removing anything
Lock the PC and confirm both the new PIN and a backup sign-in method work. Keep BitLocker recovery information and important files protected before any deeper Windows recovery or account repair.
Video walkthrough
If it does not work
- If neither PIN reset nor password sign-in works, use Microsoft's official account-recovery path from another device and record the exact sign-in message. For a local account, use its supported security questions or another administrator you already control; do not enable hidden accounts or delete the NGC folder from an unverified guide.
Sources and verification
Checked against official documentation on . Scope: Windows.
Follow the linked first-party guidance if labels differ after a platform or app update.