Windows 10: Windows 10 has recently began requiring only password instead of PIN for sign-in

Windows 10 Professional Version 1903, OS build 18362.295 – Intel Core i5-6500T, 16GB DDR4

Up until a short while ago I had been able to use PIN for sign on after a startup or reboot. There is now a white sign in window which persists in displaying "Password" for sign-in. There is no longer a PIN option. At least my password continues to work.

Online research has provided a number of potential setting fixes/tweaks. What has been so far tried follows:

PIN has repeatedly been established, recognized, saved, removed, accepted, replaced, accepted again and ultimately ignored. Current Windows Hello PIN status is: "PIN is all set up to sign in to Windows, apps, and services." In Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options > Privacy, both ‘Show account details’ and ‘Use my sign-in info’ have always been turned Off. Windows Hello identification data in Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options have not been removed.

Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options > Require sign-in – When PC wakes from sleep: selected.

Dynamic Lock Sign-in option is disabled.

Contents of the NGC folder have been deleted. The ACLs for the NGC folder have been reset.

Multiple DISM and SFC scans have uncovered nothing suspicious nor have had any effect on restoring PIN authorization.

There have been and are no existing bio-metric devices, Picture Passwords nor Security Keys introduced or used.

TPM has been cleared, but hasn't fixed the issue. But then, NONE of the above troubleshooting measures taken so far have had any effect.

Believe me, this whole ordeal has been one frustration after another. What I’m uncertain of is what, if any, other undiscovered Windows Settings I might try to permanently revert back to PIN. I don’t mind this benign extra security step and much prefer it to passwords. Perhaps this an issue many others are experiencing. Maybe it's a result of a recent Microsoft update. I sure as hell don't know.


Any constructive assistance would be greatly appreciated.

:)

 

Want to sign on with PIN instead of Password

Thank you for your reply Person.

Glad to know that the Pop up with the password manager is disabled with the above suggestion.

Try the below suggestions to fix the issue with Signing in using PIN authentication.

Steps 1: Launch the File Explorer.

Step 2: Browse to this location, and delete the contents of the folder.

C:\Windows\ServiceProfiles\LocalService\AppData\Local\Microsoft\NGC

Step 3: Go to Settings (Press Windows
and I key), Accounts > Sign in Options.

Step 4: Click on Add a PIN and set your PIN.

Step 5: Restart the computer and check the status of the issue.

Hope it helps.

Muralidhar

Microsoft Community Moderator

 

Remove sign in pin

Hi Joel,

Thank you for contacting Microsoft Community. Your interest in Windows 10 is much appreciated.

I suggest you to follow the below steps to remove the sign in pin/password options.

• In the search box type sign-in-option.
• Click on the sign-in-option.
• Then you can find password/pin/picture password.
• There you can remove the option and check.

Hope this information was helpful and do let us know if you need further assistance. We will be glad to assist.

 

Sign in security-pin and password

I currently have no password or pin required to sign into windows 10. I would like to establish a pin. Trouble is windows asks for my password in order to setup the pin. If I leave the password space blank it rejects it as the wrong password, if I put
in my microsoft account password it rejects it also. How do I get past the password required step? Thanks.