With Windows Hello, one can use a PIN, facial recognition, or fingerprint to sign into their devices. When you are setting up facial recognition or fingerprint to sign into Windows, you’ll also need to set up a PIN. A PIN can also be used independently to sign into Windows 11. If you forget your Windows PIN, you can reset it from the sign-in screen or login in with your password account, then reset it from the Windows Settings app. Whichever method you use to reset the PIN, it should be easy and simple. Since your PIN is also tied to your Microsoft account, you need to know the sign-in credential for your Microsoft account. A local password account may need to be needed if you can’t validate your Microsoft account. If you have forgotten your Windows PIN and you wish to reset it, the steps below show you how to do that.
How to reset a forgotten PIN in Windows 11
Resetting Windows PIN depends on having a valid local password account or a Microsoft online account. If you can’t validate those accounts, you may not be able to reset your account PIN. On Windows 11 logon screen, you can click the I forgot my PIN link to reset your forgotten PIN. If you can log in with your local password or Microsoft account, then sign in and go to the Widows Settings app to reset your PIN there. Windows 11 has a centralized location for the majority of its settings. From system configurations to creating new users and updating Windows, all can be done from its System Settings pane. To get to System Settings, you can use the Windows key + I shortcut or click on Start ==> Settings as shown in the image below: Alternatively, you can use the search box on the taskbar and search for Settings. Then select to open it. Windows Settings pane should look similar to the image below. In Windows Settings, click Accounts, then select the Sign-in options tile on the right pane of your screen shown in the image below. On the Sign-in options settings pane, under Ways to sign in, click on the PIN (Windows Hello) tile to expand it. Then click the I forgot my PIN link to reset your PIN. Click the Continue button to confirm that you wish to reset your PIN. Once you click the forgot PIN link, you’ll have two options to validate your account. You can either use a local password account to confirm or a Microsoft account. Once you validate your account, you’ll be allowed to reset your Windows PIN. That should do it! You can close the Windows Settings app. Conclusion: This post showed you how to reset a PIN in Windows 11. If you find any error above or have something to add, please use the comment form below.
