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If your Windows 11 PIN no longer works after an update, first check whether the sign-in screen offers I forgot my PIN. If it does, use that option to verify your Microsoft account and set a new PIN. If it does not, try signing in with your account password, then reset the PIN in Settings. A Windows Hello PIN is different from your account password and is associated with the device, so the right recovery path depends on your account type and available sign-in options.
Reset the PIN from the sign-in screen
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On the sign-in screen, select the affected account. If the device has multiple accounts, make sure you have selected the one whose PIN stopped working.
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Look below the PIN field for I forgot my PIN. If it appears, select it and follow the verification prompts to create a new PIN.
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If Windows does not show that option, select Sign-in options and check whether password sign-in is available.
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Microsoft documents I forgot my PIN for Microsoft accounts; it is not available for local accounts. See Microsoft’s instructions for changing or resetting a Windows PIN.
Use your password if PIN reset is unavailable
Choose the password sign-in option and enter the password for the account. The password is not the PIN: they are separate credentials. If you can sign in, open Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options > PIN (Windows Hello) and use the available PIN reset option to create a new one. Microsoft describes the PIN as associated with one device; it is not a substitute for the account password. Read Microsoft’s Windows Hello overview.
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If password sign-in is missing
One possible explanation is that the device is configured to allow only Windows Hello sign-in for Microsoft accounts. This is a setting, not proof of what caused your PIN problem. Microsoft describes the option in its Windows passwordless sign-in guidance. If the setting is enabled, the password route may not be offered on that device. The available sign-in methods and controls can vary by configuration; see Sign-In Options in Windows.
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If Windows accepts your account sign-in but then asks you to set up a PIN you already had, Microsoft says this may happen because of security updates or other system changes. That is a possible explanation, not a diagnosis that a particular update caused your failure. Try completing the PIN setup again, and check whether Windows has additional updates available. See Microsoft’s Windows Hello troubleshooting guidance.
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Restart Windows before trying advanced recovery
Microsoft recommends restarting when you have trouble signing in. If the sign-in screen offers an update-related restart, choose Update and restart to finish installing available updates. If a normal restart does not help and you can access the sign-in screen, Safe Mode is a diagnostic option.
Enter Safe Mode from the sign-in screen
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Hold Shift while selecting Power > Restart.
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At the recovery screen, select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart.
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After the PC restarts, choose Safe Mode. For Safe Mode with Networking, choose option 5 or press F5.
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Safe Mode does not accept a PIN or biometric sign-in. You need the account password to sign in there, whether the account is a Microsoft account or a local account. Follow Microsoft’s sign-in troubleshooting steps for details.
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If you use a local account and have lost its password
The sign-in-screen PIN reset link is not available for local accounts. If you cannot sign in because you have also forgotten the local account password, select the password entry option, select OK, then select Reset password and answer the security questions you set up for that account. If you created a password reset disk earlier, you can use that instead. Once you regain access, manage the PIN through Windows sign-in settings. Microsoft documents these routes in its guide to changing or resetting a local account password.
Choose the recovery path that matches your account
| Situation | Next step | Important limit |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft account; I forgot my PIN is shown | Use the sign-in-screen reset and complete account verification. | The PIN reset link is documented for Microsoft accounts. |
| Microsoft account; reset link is absent, password sign-in is available | Sign in with the account password, then reset the PIN in Settings. | The PIN and password are separate credentials. |
| Local account; PIN is unavailable | Sign in with the local account password and manage the PIN in Settings. | The sign-in-screen I forgot my PIN option is not available for local accounts. |
| Either account type; sign-in problem persists and Safe Mode is needed | Use the Shift + Restart recovery path, then choose Safe Mode. | Safe Mode requires the account password; PIN and biometric sign-in are unavailable. |
When these steps do not resolve it
The exact cause cannot be identified from the fact that the problem appeared after an update. The displayed error, account type, Windows configuration, and whether password sign-in is enabled all affect the next step. Note the precise message on screen and which sign-in options are available before pursuing further recovery. The Microsoft guidance cited here supports PIN reset, password recovery, restart, and Safe Mode; it does not establish that uninstalling an update, deleting PIN credential files, editing the registry, or installing repair software is necessary.
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