To set up a Windows 11 PIN, go to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options > PIN (Windows Hello) > Set up. To stop using or remove a PIN, check the same PIN section for controls available on your device; Microsoft’s general Windows 11 guidance does not document a universal PIN-removal button or process.
Where to find Windows 11 sign-in options
- Open Settings.
- Select Accounts, then Sign-in options.
- Under Ways to sign in, select PIN (Windows Hello) to view the options available on your PC.
Microsoft notes that some sign-in settings may not appear on every device because their availability can depend on device configuration. Microsoft’s sign-in-options guidance does not establish one PIN-removal route for all Windows 11 PCs.
How to enable or set up a PIN
- Open Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options.
- Under Ways to sign in, select PIN (Windows Hello).
- Select Set up and follow the prompts to verify your account and create a PIN.
A Windows Hello PIN is associated with one device, rather than serving as a PIN shared across all your devices. Microsoft says it is backed up for recovery with your Microsoft account. Windows Hello setup details also cover face and fingerprint sign-in, where compatible hardware is available.
How to disable or remove a PIN
Open Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options > PIN (Windows Hello) and inspect the controls shown on your device. If Windows offers a removal control, follow its prompts. However, Microsoft’s general guidance explains where sign-in methods are managed but does not document a universal Remove button or removal procedure. The options available can differ by device configuration, so a control shown on one PC may not appear on another.
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Removing a PIN is also different from disabling password sign-in. The passwordless setting described below removes the password option for a Microsoft account; it does not remove the Windows Hello PIN.
How to change a PIN or reset one you forgot
Change a PIN while signed in
- Go to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options.
- Select PIN (Windows Hello), then Change PIN.
- Enter the current PIN and follow the prompts to set a new one.
Changing a PIN requires the current PIN. If you have forgotten it, choose I forgot my PIN instead and complete the account verification and reset prompts. See Microsoft’s instructions for changing or resetting a PIN while signed in.
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Reset a PIN from the sign-in screen
- At the Windows sign-in screen, select I forgot my PIN below the PIN box, if it appears.
- Verify your account and follow the steps to reset the PIN.
Microsoft says the sign-in-screen reset option is available for Microsoft accounts, not local accounts. If it is not shown, sign in with your account password and reset the PIN in Settings. If you have forgotten both your PIN and Microsoft account password, recover the password first, then use the PIN reset process.
Passwordless sign-in is not PIN removal
For a Microsoft account, the setting Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options > Additional settings > For improved security, only allow Windows Hello sign-in for Microsoft accounts on this device removes the password option from sign-in when enabled. Face, fingerprint, or PIN sign-in can remain available; this setting does not remove the PIN. Microsoft’s passwordless sign-in explanation describes this separate behavior.
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Choosing another way to sign in
Windows 11 may offer a PIN, face recognition, fingerprint recognition, a physical security key, or a password, depending on your device and account configuration. Face recognition needs a Windows Hello-compatible infrared camera, while fingerprint sign-in needs a fingerprint reader. You do not need biometric hardware to set up, change, or reset a PIN.
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