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juliekupper's avatar
juliekupper
Copper Contributor
Nov 10, 2024

PIN Locked with No Option to Change!

Hey there. I have successfully locked myself out of my laptop. It is forcing me to only log-in with my pin with no option to update or change my pin.

I have tried the A1B2C3 thing, trying to reboot while holding shift and pressing the windows key+I... nothing is working. I have not been able to use my laptop since August and I am at my wits end.

Someone, please help!!

device management
security
  • kyazaferr's avatar
    kyazaferr
    Iron Contributor
    Nov 13, 2024

    Try Logging in with Your Microsoft Account Password

    If your device is linked to a Microsoft account, you should have the option to log in with your Microsoft account password instead of the PIN.

    • On the login screen, click on the Sign-in options link (typically below the PIN field).
    • Choose the Microsoft account option, and enter your password.
    • This should allow you to bypass the PIN and log in.

    2. Use Safe Mode with Networking

    You can try booting into Safe Mode to troubleshoot and reset your PIN. Here’s how:

    1. Force a reboot of the computer by pressing and holding the power button until the device shuts down. Repeat this process 3 times, and the system will eventually boot into the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE).
    2. Once you see the Choose an option screen, select:
      • Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings.
      • Click Restart.
    3. After the restart, you’ll see a list of options. Select 4) Enable Safe Mode with Networking.
    4. When the computer boots into Safe Mode, log in with your Microsoft account password (not the PIN).
    5. Once logged in, you can try to reset your PIN or go to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options, and under PIN (Windows Hello), you can choose to Remove the PIN and set it up again.

    3. Reset the PIN Using the Settings App

    If you have access to Safe Mode or can log in via your Microsoft account, follow these steps to reset the PIN:

    1. Press Windows + I to open Settings.
    2. Navigate to Accounts > Sign-in options.
    3. Under the PIN (Windows Hello) section, click Remove.
    4. Follow the prompts to reset or remove your PIN.

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