Windows 10: Issue with not being able to reset Windows 11 PIN

I just swapped out a motherboard Asus ROG Strix x870e-e for a different motherboard MSI MPG X870e Carbon and now when I boot up Windows 11, it gives me an error:"Something happened and your pin isn't available click to set up your pin again"However when I click where it says to reset it, I get a blank window and can't actually reset my PIN. Rebooting in Safe Mode with Networking gives me an option to reset the pin, but when I try to, it still gives me an error saying "something went wrong we weren't able to set up your pin"It keeps looping through that, and no matter what I don't seem to

:)

 

Forgotten PIN and expired password

Hi Dyari,

Thanks for your answer.

I tried steps of both links:

• #1: reset PIN code
  
  • I see no link "reset your PIN"on login page --> I can't reset it
    
• #2: change or reset windows password
  
  • My Windows account is not displayed at all on login page.
    
  • I am using a local account
    

If you have any other suggestion, I would be more than happy to try.

Regards,

Guillaume

 

Security changes requires set up of new PIN in Windows 11.

Hi

Thanks for your reply.

It's great to hear that you have managed to get your system back up and running, albeit with the hassle of reinstalling everything. Using a highly rated backup program is a wise choice to prevent similar issues in the future.

For future reference, and to help others who might face similar issues, here are some general steps and solutions for dealing with PIN reset issues after hardware changes in Windows 11:

Summary of Steps to Address PIN Reset Issues:

1. Use a Local Account to Bypass the PIN Reset:
   
   • Boot into Safe Mode.
     
   • Log in with a local account.
     
   • Remove or reset the PIN from Settings.
     
2. Enable the Hidden Administrator Account via Command Prompt:
   
   • Boot into Safe Mode with Command Prompt.
     
   • Activate the built-in Administrator account.
     
   • Log in as the Administrator and manage the PIN settings.
     
3. Use Another User Profile (if available):
   
   • Log in with another user account.
     
   • Manage the PIN settings from that account.
     
4. Use Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE):
   
   • Access WinRE and perform a startup repair.
     
5. Use a Password Reset Disk (if previously created):
   
   • Insert the password reset disk and follow the instructions to reset the password.
     

Detailed Steps:

Here is a more detailed explanation of these steps:

Method 1: Boot into Safe Mode and Use Local Account

1. Boot into Safe Mode:
   
   • Restart your computer.
     
   • When the computer restarts, press and hold the Shift key and select Restart.
     
   • Navigate to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart.
     
   • Press F4 to boot into Safe Mode.
     
2. Log in with Local Account:
   
   • If you have a local account, log in using that account. This might bypass the PIN reset requirement.
     
3. Remove the PIN:
   
   • Go to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options.
     
   • Under PIN (Windows Hello), click Remove.
     
4. Restart Normally:
   
   • Restart your computer normally and see if you can log in without being prompted to reset the PIN.
     

Method 2: Enable the Hidden Administrator Account

1. Boot into Safe Mode with Command Prompt:
   
   • Follow the steps to enter Advanced Boot Options as described above.
     
   • Press F6 to boot into Safe Mode with Command Prompt.
     
2. Activate the Built-in Administrator Account:
   
   • In the Command Prompt, type:
     
     
   • Restart your computer.
     
3. Log in as Administrator:
   
   • Log in using the newly activated Administrator account.
     
4. Reset the PIN:
   
   • Go to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options.
     
   • Under PIN (Windows Hello), click Remove or add a new PIN.
     
5. Deactivate the Administrator Account:
   
   • After resolving the issue, disable the Administrator account for security reasons:
     
     

Method 3: Use Another User Profile

• Log in with another user account if available.
  
• Go to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options and manage the PIN settings.
  

Method 4: Use Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE)

• Reboot your computer.
  
• Select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Repair.
  
• Follow the on-screen instructions to let Windows attempt to repair startup issues.
  

Method 5: Use a Password Reset Disk

• Insert the password reset disk.
  
• On the login screen, click Reset password and follow the instructions.
  

If these methods do not resolve the issue, it may sometimes be necessary to use a fresh installation of Windows, as you have done. It's always a good idea to keep regular backups to avoid such scenarios in the future.

 

Can't reset my PIN

Hi SQxAe,

Thank you for writing to Microsoft Community Forums.

1. Were there any changes made to the operating system recently?
   
2. Is the system connected with Wired or wireless connection?
   

If you are using wireless connection, I suggest you to plug in to the Ethernet cable and try entering the password. I also suggest you to change the Microsoft password by login to
login.live.com from other device. Try entering the password through
on-screen keyboard.

I also suggest you to enable build-in admin account using command prompt from WinRE, follow the below steps, and check if that helps.

Step: Enable built-in admin from WinRE.

1. On the login screen click on the power button at the bottom right corner of the screen.
2. Hold Shift key and click on restart.
3. Click on Troubleshoot.
4. Click on Advanced options.
5. Click on Command Prompt.
6. Type the command net user administrator /active:yes and press Enter key.
7. Once logged in to the built in admin account, try changing the current user account password.

If you are unable to change the password for the account, I suggest you to create a new user account. Follow the steps from the article to create a new user account

Create a local user or administrator account in Windows 10

I also suggest you to refer this article on
PIN sign-in issues, and check if that helps.

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Regards,