Windows 10: How to reset login method from PIN back to password?

After a recent Windows Update, my 90 year old mother lost access to her computer. On startup, the login screen now asks for a PIN, but she has never set one. She knows her password, but there is no longer an option to enter it instead of a PIN. The only option is to reset a forgotten PIN, which then sends a code to an e-mail account that she cannot access - because she can't get onto her computer! She also no longer has the cell phone that she had when her account was set up, so sending a text message to that phone is also not an option.I tried going through the advanced trouble

:)

 

How to SWITCH login method from PIN to password

As helpful as this may be, removing the PIN option is not the same as setting password to always be the default method.

 

How to SWITCH login method from PIN to password

do I need internet access to change the PIN login to password login? I purchased a barely used laptop with the previous owner's user name as administrator and PIN login. He gave me the PIN login and what he believed was the password he used but the steps
you outlined don't work. I tried many times (without being connected to the internet) with no luck.

 

Windows 10 asking for login password even after upgrading the virus protection on the PC instead of PIN password. How to switch back to PIN password?

Hello Billy,



Thank you for posting on Microsoft Community. We regret the inconvenience caused and will assist you in resolving the issue.



Before assisting further, I would like to ask you few questions:

• Do you see Sign-in options option on the lock screen?
• Are you using Microsoft account to login into the user profile?

If you have set an alpha-numeric password at the installation stage of Windows 10 OS and then changed the sign-in option to PIN password, you will be able to choose between the passwords entries at the login screen of the Windows.

Method 1: I suggest you to check if you see the
Sign-in options option on the lock screen. If you do, click on the option and check if you can choose and enter PIN password to access your user profile.



Method 2: If the option is not presented on the lock screen and you are using Microsoft account to login into the user profile,
I suggest you to change the login password from the link below and set PIN password to your user account by following the steps below.

https://account.live.com/password/reset

• Press Windows logo key on the keyboard, type Settings and select the top most search result.
• Select Accounts from the options and click on
  Sign-in options from the left side panel of the window.
• Click on Add under PIN settings, verify your account and setup a new PIN password for your user account.

Write to us with the answers to the above questions and the status of the issue on the same post for further assistance. Your reply is most important for us to ensure we assist you accordingly.



Thank you.