Windows 10: Specify Maximum and Minimum PIN Length in Windows 10

How to: Specify Maximum and Minimum PIN Length in Windows 10


Information PIN (Personal Identification Number). You can use this PIN to sign in to Windows, apps, and services.

One important difference between a password and a Hello PIN is that the PIN is tied to the specific device on which it was set up. That PIN is useless to anyone without that specific hardware. Someone who steals your password can sign in to your account from anywhere, but if they steal your PIN, they'd have to steal your physical device too!

Even you can't use that PIN anywhere except on that specific device. If you want to sign in on multiple devices, you have to set up Hello on each device.

Maximum PIN length configures the maximum number of characters allowed for the PIN.

Minimum PIN length configures the minimum number of characters required for the PIN.

This tutorial will show you how to specify a maximum and minimum PIN length requirement for users in Windows 10.

You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to do the steps in this tutorial.


Note If you set the Maximum PIN length policy to enabled, users are required to have their PIN length less than or equal to the number of characters you specified.

If you set this Maximum PIN length policy to disabled or not configured (default), users are required to have their PIN length less than or equal to 127 characters.

If you set the Minimum PIN length policy to enabled, users are required to have their PIN length greater than or equal to the number of characters you specified.

If you set this Minimum PIN length policy to disabled or not configured (default), users are required to have their PIN length greater than or equal to 4 characters.


After you apply this policy, users will be required to change their PIN to meet the new PIN complexity requirements.

Contents:

• Option One: To Specify a Maximum and Minimum PIN Length using Group Policy
• Option Two: To Specify a Maximum and Minimum PIN Length using Registry Editor

EXAMPLE: PIN complexity requirements








OPTION ONE [/i] To Specify a Maximum and Minimum PIN Length using Group Policy


Note Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.

All editions can use Option Two below.

1. Open the Local Group Policy Editor.

2. In the left pane of local group policy editor, navigate to the location below. (see screenshot below)
*Arrow Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\System\PIN Complexity




3. Do step 4 (max PIN length) and/or step 5 (min PIN length) below.


4. To Specify a Maximum PIN Length
A) In the right pane of PIN Complexity in Local Group Policy Editor, double click/tap on the Maximum PIN length policy to edit it. (see screenshot below step 2)

B) Select (dot) Enabled, enter a number between 4 to 127 in the Maximum PIN length field under Options, click/tap on OK, and go to step 5 (min PIN length) or step 6 (if finished) below. (see screenshot below)


Note Be sure to not enter a number lower than or equal to what you specified for the minimum PIN length. If you do, default values will be used for both the maximum and minimum PIN lengths.


Not Configured is the default setting.





5. To Specify a Minimum PIN Length
A) In the right pane of PIN Complexity in Local Group Policy Editor, double click/tap on the Minimum PIN length policy to edit it. (see screenshot below step 2)

B) Select (dot) Enabled, enter a number between 4 to 127 in the Minimum PIN length field under Options, click/tap on OK, and go to step 4 (max PIN length) or step 6 (if finished) below. (see screenshot below)


Note Be sure to not enter a number higher than or equal to what you specified for the maximum PIN length. If you do, default values will be used for both the maximum and minimum PIN lengths.


Not Configured is the default setting.





6. Close the local group policy editor.

7. Users must add their PIN again to apply.





OPTION TWO [/i] To Specify a Maximum and Minimum PIN Length using Registry Editor
1. Press the Win+R keys to open Run, type regedit into Run, and click/tap on OK to open Registry Editor.

2. Navigate to the key below in the left pane of Registry Editor. (see screenshots below step 4A and step 5A)


Note If you do not have the PassportForWork key, then right click or press and hold on the Microsoft key, click/tap on New, click/tap on Key, type PassportForWork, and press Enter.

If you do not have the PINComplexity key, then right click or press and hold on the PassportForWork key, click/tap on New, click/tap on Key, type PINComplexity, and press Enter.

*Arrow HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\PassportForWork\PINComplexity

3. Do step 4 (max PIN length) and/or step 5 (min PIN length) below.


4. To Specify a Maximum PIN Length
A) In the right pane of the PINComplexity key, double click/tap on the MaximumPINLength DWORD to modify it. (see screenshot below)


Note If you do not have a MaximumPINLength DWORD, then right click or press and hold on an empty area in the right pane of the PINComplexity key, click/tap on New, click/tap on DWORD (32-bit) Value, type MaximumPINLength, and press Enter.




B) Select (dot) Decimal, enter a number between 4 to 127, click/tap on OK, and go to step 5 (min PIN length) or step 6 (if finished) below. (see screenshot below)


Note Be sure to not enter a number lower than or equal to what you specified for the minimum PIN length. If you do, default values will be used for both the maximum and minimum PIN lengths.


Deleting the MaximumPINLength DWORD will use its default setting.





5. To Specify a Minimum PIN Length
A) In the right pane of the PINComplexity key, double click/tap on the MinimumPINLength DWORD to modify it. (see screenshot below)


Note If you do not have a MinimumPINLength DWORD, then right click or press and hold on an empty area in the right pane of the PINComplexity key, click/tap on New, click/tap on DWORD (32-bit) Value, type MinimumPINLength, and press Enter.




B) Select (dot) Decimal, enter a number between 4 to 127, click/tap on OK, and go to step 4 (max PIN length) or step 6 (if finished) below. (see screenshot below)


Note Be sure to not enter a number higher than or equal to what you specified for the maximum PIN length. If you do, default values will be used for both the maximum and minimum PIN lengths.


Deleting the MinimumPINLength DWORD will use its default setting.





6. Close the local group policy editor.

7. Restart the computer to apply.

8. Users must now add their PIN again to apply.

That's it,
Shawn


Related Tutorials

• How to Add a PIN to your Account in Windows 10
• How to Enable or Disable Domain Users to Sign in with PIN to Windows 10
• How to Change the PIN for your Account in Windows 10
• How to Remove PIN from your Account in Windows 10
• How to Reset the PIN for your Account in Windows 10
• How to Enable or Disable PIN Reset at Sign-in in Windows 10
• How to Enable or Disable Require Digits for PIN in Windows 10
• How to Enable or Disable Require Lowercase Letters for PIN in Windows 10
• How to Enable or Disable Require Uppercase Letters for PIN in Windows 10
• How to Enable or Disable Require Special Characters for PIN in Windows 10
• How to Enable or Disable PIN Expiration in Windows 10
• How to Enable or Disable PIN History in Windows 10

:)

 

Specify Maximum and Minimum PIN Length in Windows 10


If you change the minimum or maximum PIN length you need to remove and re-add the PIN. Otherwise the rules before the change still apply.





For example, if I have a 4 long PIN and change minimum length from 4 to 6 I can still change to another 4 long PIN. Only if the PIN is deleted and a new one added does the 6 minimum take effect.

I don't know if this is intended or not but is confusing.

Also on 17134 it is required to check the "Include letters and symbols" box to see the PIN requirements. This looks like a definite bug to me but may be useful to know.

 

Windows 10 asking for minimum 6 digit pin

Hello zpmarcos, and welcome to Ten Forums. *Smile

You might see if the tutorials below may help to set to require digits and min/max length for a PIN in Windows 10.

Enable or Disable Require Digits for PIN in Windows 10 | Windows 10 Tutorials

Specify Maximum and Minimum PIN Length in Windows 10 | Windows 10 Tutorials

 

Windows 10 asking for minimum 6 digit pin

Hi,

Thanks for the help but it still aint working.

 

Pin length maximum to low

I've found a solution.

A Windows-update my changed the default policy about maximum PIN-Length.

It can be fixed by applying a defined rule inside the Local Group Policy Editor.

Step by Step:

1. Open the Local Group Policy Editor.

2. Go to Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\System\PIN Complexity

3. Change Maximum PIN Length to disabledThis solution worked in my case I hope it could help someone else as well.

 

Windows 10 asking for minimum 6 digit pin

A PIN must be at least 4 digits by default in Windows 10, so I'm not sure what isn't working for you. Could you please provide more details?

What does it show for you like below?