Windows 10: Unable to log in using PIN or password - odd behavior

I'm using windows 10 on a Lenovo 330. I have always used a PIN to login, but following the latest windows update yesterday, I get the message "Something happened and your PIN isn't available. Click to set up your pin again" I try two different paths:

1 I click set up your PIN. When I do this, I get the "just a moment" message and it takes me back to "Something happened to your PIN..." message

2 I change the login to sign in using my password. I tried all the passwords I can think of and they don't work. I click "forgot my password." It says wait a minute, the screen turns blue for 2 seconds and takes me back to the login screen.


Any ideas of what I could do to log in at this point? Unfortunately I never made a recovery disk and haven't backed up for a while.


Thanks for any help.

:)

 

Unable to log in with a PIN

Hi Scott,

Using a PIN is easier to memorize than a long password. However, issues like this can emerge due to corrupted user profile or there are missing files on your user account folder. If the PIN and password will not work, deleting files in the
Ngc folder can help. To do that, you can follow these steps:

Step #1: Delete the Ngc folder.

• Use your password to log in to Windows 10.
• Open File Explorer and paste this in the URL box:
  
  C:\Windows\ServiceProfiles\LocalService\AppData\Local\Microsoft.
• Right click Ngc folder and choose Properties.
• Navigate to Security tab and click on Advanced button.
• Locate the Owner section at the top and click Change link.
• Enter the object name to select enter Administrators, if you’re using administrator account, or your user name and click
  Check Names and click OK.
• Check Replace owner on subcontainers and objects and click Apply and OK. Now you should be able to access the
  Ngc folder.
• Open Ngc folder, select all files and folders in it and delete them.

Step #2: Start creating a new PIN.

After you’ve deleted everything from Ngc folder, you can create new PIN for your Windows 10 device by doing these steps:

• Go to Settings app, then Account Settings.
• Choose Sign-in Options and click Add a
  PIN.
• Follow the instruction to add a new PIN.
• Test your PIN using the Command Prompt (Admin).
• If you cannot find the Command Prompt Admin, you can enable it using Command Prompt and typing net user
  administrator /active:yes
• After enabling built-in administrator account, you may logon and try resetting the password of the account which is not working. You may disable it later once you are done by entering net user
  administrator /active:no in
  Command Prompt. You can use this also if you want to change passwords or
  PINs in other User Accounts.

Let us know if you have questions on the above steps or other queries.

 

How do you reset windows 10 log on pin password

Hi,

Thank you for posting the query on Microsoft Community.

I suggest you to try the steps provided below and check if it helps.

• Click on Sign-in options on the log on screen. Select Microsoft account.
• Try logging in using Microsoft account and password.
• Once you log into the system, try to change the PIN under accounts/sign-in page.
• Select the Start
  
  button, then select
  Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options.
• Try to reset the PIN.

Hope this helps in resolving the issue. If the issue persists, do get back to us. We will be happy to assist you.

 

Microsoft Account PIN and password

We appreciate the screenshot that you provided. to start troubleshooting the issue with you logins, we suggest that you follow the steps below on how login pin goes back to password:

• Click Start menu and go to Settings.
• In Settings, click the Accounts icon.
• Click on Sign-in options.
• Change both your password and pin one by one.

Let us know how it goes.