Microsoft Account Login

Being able to sign in on the website suggests your password and account are working. The problem sounds more like Windows’ account sign-in or Hello setup after the reinstall. Your old PIN doesn’t carry over to a fresh Windows installation.

First, check Settings > Accounts > Your info to see which account Windows is actually using:

• If it says Local account: choose Sign in with a Microsoft account instead and use your original address. If asked for your “current Windows password,” that means the local account’s password, not your Microsoft password. Leave it blank only if the local account has no password.
• If it shows the other Hotmail account: that account is attached to your current Windows profile. Adding the original address under Email & accounts doesn’t switch the Windows sign-in. Use Sign in with a local account instead first, then connect the profile to your original Microsoft account.

If the sign-in button still does nothing, install pending Windows updates and restart. Then try Settings > Accounts > Other users > Add account and add your original Microsoft account as a separate Windows user. If that succeeds, sign into the new user and create a new PIN there. Keep your existing user until you’ve checked your files.

If neither route opens a sign-in window, open Services and check that Microsoft Account Sign-in Assistant hasn’t been disabled. On a personal, unmanaged PC, restore it to Manual if it is disabled, then restart and retry.

Avoid deleting your current profile or clearing the TPM to fix this—the account-switching and sign-in-window issue should be checked first.

Hi Sergio,

Based on your description, it sounds like Windows was installed using a temporary local/offline account after the Windows Hello PIN setup failed. Now when you try to switch to your Microsoft account, the"Sign in with a Microsoft account instead" option either doesn't respond or doesn't display the sign-in prompt.

I recommend trying the following steps:

1. Verify that you're connected to the internet and install all available Windows Updates.
2. Open Settings → Accounts → Your info.
3. Look for"Sign in with a Microsoft account instead." If you're currently using a local account, this option should be available. Microsoft documents this process here: Change From a Local Account to a Microsoft Account in Windows. https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/accounts-billing/manage/change-from-a-local-account-to-a-microsoft-account-in-windows
4. If clicking the option does nothing, try:
   • Restarting the PC.
   • Running Windows Update and installing all pending updates.
   • Signing in using another administrator account (if available) to test whether the issue is profile-specific.
5. Check Settings → Accounts → Email & accounts and verify whether your Microsoft account is already listed there.

Since you also mentioned that Windows Hello PIN couldn't be created during setup, the issue may be related to the Windows Hello configuration. Microsoft recommends signing out, restarting, and attempting PIN creation again. Additional troubleshooting steps for Windows Hello PIN errors are available in Windows Hello errors during PIN creation. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security/identity-protection/hello-for-business/hello-errors-during-pin-creation

Microsoft also provides a general sign-in troubleshooting guide that covers account, PIN, connectivity, and profile-related issues: Troubleshoot Problems Signing In to Windows. https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security/identity-signin/troubleshoot-problems-signing-in-to-windows

Helpful Microsoft References:

• Change from a Local Account to a Microsoft Account in Windows:
  https://support.microsoft.com/windows/change-from-a-local-account-to-a-microsoft-account-in-windows https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/accounts-billing/manage/change-from-a-local-account-to-a-microsoft-account-in-windows
• Windows Hello Errors During PIN Creation:
  https://learn.microsoft.com/windows/security/identity-protection/hello-for-business/hello-errors-during-pin-creation https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security/identity-protection/hello-for-business/hello-errors-during-pin-creation
• Troubleshoot Problems Signing In to Windows:
  https://support.microsoft.com/windows/troubleshoot-problems-signing-in-to-windows https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security/identity-signin/troubleshoot-problems-signing-in-to-windows

Could you let us know:

• Which version of Windows you're running (Windows 10 or Windows 11)?
• What happens when you click"Sign in with a Microsoft account instead"? Any error message, or does nothing happen at all?
• Were you able to create a Windows Hello PIN after the installation completed?

These details will help us narrow down the root cause.

Regards,
Rizwan Ahmed Khan K N

Please follow the steps below for the Windows sign‑in problems, including Safe Mode login, checking internet connectivity, and repairing corrupted profiles.

Troubleshoot Problems Signing In to Windows | Microsoft Support