Your PIN Is No Longer Available in Windows 11? 9 Fixes

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Your PIN Is No Longer Available in Windows 11? 10 Ways to Fix It

Windows 11 Your PIN Is No Longer Available sign-in error

If Windows 11 suddenly shows "Your PIN is no longer available," you may be locked out of your usual Windows Hello sign-in and staring at a screen that won't accept the one PIN you've typed a thousand times.

It's a jarring message, but it's rarely fatal. This error usually shows up after a Windows update, a change to your security settings, a problem with the Windows Hello data stored on your device, a TPM hiccup, or a Microsoft account sync issue—not because your PC is failing.

In almost every case, you can fix this without reinstalling Windows or losing any files. Start with the simple methods first. And if you can't get past the sign-in screen at all, don't panic—Windows gives you several recovery tools you can use before you ever reach the desktop.

Table of Contents

Quick Answer

If Windows 11 says "Your PIN is no longer available," first look for "I forgot my PIN on the sign-in screen.

If that option is available:

  1. Select I forgot my PIN.
  2. Follow the instructions shown by Windows.
  3. Verify your Microsoft account if requested.
  4. Create a new PIN.
  5. Try signing in again.

If I forgot my PIN is not available, select Sign-in options and try signing in with your account password instead.

Once you're signed in, reset or create a new PIN from:

Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options

If you can't sign in with either your PIN or your password, keep reading—the recovery methods below will get you back in without touching your personal files.

What Does "Your PIN Is No Longer Available" Mean?

Your Windows Hello PIN is a sign-in method tied to this specific computer. It is not the same as your Microsoft account password, and it isn't stored or synced online the way a password is.

Behind the scenes, Windows Hello keeps a small encrypted credential on your device, often protected by the TPM (Trusted Platform Module) chip. Your 4-digit or custom PIN is the key that unlocks that credential locally.

When Windows shows:

"Your PIN is no longer available"
or
"Something happened and your PIN isn't available."

it means Windows can no longer read or trust that stored credential. Rather than let you in with a broken PIN, Windows asks you to set one up again—which is a safety measure, not a sign that anything on your PC is permanently damaged.

Why Is My PIN No Longer Available in Windows 11?

There's no single cause. In practice, this error tends to follow one of these patterns:

  • A problem with the stored Windows Hello PIN data
  • A recent Windows Update or feature update
  • Changes to Windows security or Group Policy settings
  • A Microsoft account sync or verification problem
  • Corrupted Windows system files
  • A TPM issue, reset, or firmware change
  • A BIOS or UEFI firmware update
  • A temporary glitch in the Windows sign-in process
  • Switching between a local account and a Microsoft account
  • Restoring a system image or cloning a drive to new hardware

You don't need to diagnose the exact cause before trying the first few fixes—most people are back in within a couple of minutes using Fix 1 or Fix 2.

Fix 1: Use "I Forgot My PIN."

I forgot my PIN option on Windows 11 sign-in screen

This is the fastest fix, and it works for most Microsoft account users.

Steps

  1. Start your Windows 11 computer.
  2. Wait for the Windows sign-in screen.
  3. Select I forgot my PIN.
  4. Follow the on-screen instructions from Windows.
  5. Verify your Microsoft account if asked (this may involve a code sent to your email or phone).
  6. Create a new PIN.
  7. Sign in with the new PIN.

This option is mainly available for Microsoft accounts. It doesn't appear the same way for local accounts, which is expected behavior, not a bug.

What if "I forgot my PIN" isn't shown?

Don't keep hunting for it. Move straight to sign-in options and try the password method instead—that's Fix 2.

Fix 2: Sign In With Your Password

Your PIN and your account password are two separate keys to the same door. If the PIN is broken, the password often still works.

Steps

  1. On the sign-in screen, select Sign-in options (usually a small link below the password box).
  2. Review the sign-in methods listed.
  3. Select the password icon.
  4. Enter your account password.
  5. Sign in to Windows.

Once you're in, reset your PIN right away from:

Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options > PIN (Windows Hello)

Look for Change or I forgot my PIN under that section, then follow the prompts to create a new one.

If you've also forgotten your Microsoft account password, you'll need to reset that first through Microsoft's account recovery page before you can use this method.

If you use a local account

Local account recovery works differently and may rely on security questions you set up when the account was created, rather than an online reset flow.

Fix 3: Restart the Computer and Try Again

It sounds too simple, but a surprising number of PIN errors are temporary glitches that clear up after a restart—especially if Windows was mid-update when the problem appeared.

  1. From the sign-in screen, select the Power button.
  2. Select Restart.
  3. Let Windows fully restart, including finishing any pending updates.
  4. Try your PIN again.

If the same message reappears, move on—but this step takes thirty seconds and rules out a one-off glitch before you invest time in deeper fixes.

Fix 4: Check Your Internet Connection

Several PIN recovery steps—especially "I forgot my PIN" for Microsoft accounts — need to verify your identity online. No connection can mean no verification.

Check Wi-Fi from the sign-in screen.

  1. Select the network icon (bottom-right of the sign-in screen).
  2. Confirm your usual Wi-Fi network is listed and connected.
  3. Connect if it isn't.
  4. Wait a few seconds for the connection to settle.
  5. Try I forgot my PIN again.

If Wi-Fi itself won't connect, that's a separate problem worth fixing first. See our guide: Windows 11 Wi-Fi Not Working.

Fix 5: Open Windows Recovery Environment

If you can't sign in at all, you can still reach powerful recovery tools through Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE)—without ever touching the desktop.

Windows 11 Recovery Environment Troubleshoot and Advanced options

If you can see the sign-in screen

  1. Hold down Shift.
  2. While holding Shift, select Power.
  3. Select Restart.
  4. Keep holding Shift until the recovery screen appears.
  5. Select Troubleshoot.
  6. Select Advanced options.

Microsoft documents Shift + Restart as the standard way into WinRE from a normal sign-in screen.

If you can't reach the sign-in screen

If Windows fails to start normally a few times in a row, it may drop into recovery automatically, showing Automatic Repair or Choose an option. From there, select Troubleshoot > Advanced options the same way.

Note: Don't click through recovery options randomly. For a PIN problem specifically, the most relevant tools are Uninstall Updates, System Restore, and Startup Settings (for Safe Mode). Save Startup Repair for actual boot failures.

[Image suggestion: Screenshot of "Troubleshoot / Advanced options" menu in WinRE. Filename: windows-11-winre-advanced-options.png | ALT: "Windows Recovery Environment advanced options menu" | Title: "Windows RE Advanced Options"]

Fix 6: Uninstall a Recent Windows Update

If your PIN worked fine before an update installed and broke immediately after, the update is a reasonable suspect.

Windows 11 Recovery Environment Uninstall Updates and System Restore

From Windows Recovery Environment

  1. Go to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Uninstall Updates.
  2. Choose to uninstall the latest quality update or the latest feature update, whichever fits your timeline.
  3. Follow the on-screen prompts and restart when finished.

[Image suggestion: Screenshot of the "Uninstall Updates" screen in WinRE showing quality/feature update options. Filename: windows-11-uninstall-updates-winre.png | ALT: "Windows 11 Uninstall Updates screen in Recovery Environment" | Title: "Uninstall Updates Windows Recovery Environment"]

When should you try this?

  • The PIN worked normally right up until an update installed.
  • The error appeared the same day or right after a restart following an update.
  • Fixes 1–4 didn't resolve it.

Microsoft makes Uninstall Updates available specifically through WinRE for situations where Windows can't be reached normally and confirms that removing an update does not affect personal files.

Related: Windows 11 Update Not Working: 14 Ways to Fix It

Fix 7: Use System Restore

System Restore rolls back system files, drivers, and settings to an earlier point in time — useful if the PIN problem coincided with a driver install, a software change, or another system-level change.

Your personal files are not affected. Programs and settings changed after the chosen restore point may be reverted, so it's worth noting what you installed recently before proceeding.

Steps from WinRE

  1. Hold Shift, select Power > Restart.
  2. Select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > System Restore.
  3. Review the list of available restore points.
  4. Choose one dated before the PIN problem started.
  5. Select Next, review the summary, then select Finish.
  6. Let Windows complete the restore and restart automatically.

If no suitable restore point exists, don't create one now expecting it to fix an existing problem — move on to the next fix instead.

Fix 8: Start Windows in Safe Mode

Windows 11 Startup Settings Safe Mode troubleshooting


Safe Mode loads Windows with a minimal set of drivers and services, which helps you isolate whether a startup component is interfering with sign-in.

Important: Windows Hello PIN and biometric sign-in (face or fingerprint) are unavailable in Safe Mode. You must use your account password there.

How to enter Safe Mode

  1. Hold Shift, select Power > Restart.
  2. Select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings.
  3. Select Restart.
  4. When the Startup Settings list appears, press 4 or F4 for Safe Mode, or 5/F5 for Safe Mode with Networking.

Sign in with your password. If that works, it confirms your account itself is fine and the problem is isolated to the normal Windows Hello sign-in path.

Safe Mode won't repair a damaged PIN on its own—after testing, restart normally and go back to Fix 1 or Fix 2.

Full guide: How to Boot in Safe Mode on Windows

Fix 9: Check the TPM and Windows Hello Container

SFC and DISM commands for Windows 11 system file repair

Windows Hello PINs are usually backed by your device's TPM (Trusted Platform Module). If the TPM was reset, cleared, disabled in the BIOS, or affected by a firmware update, Windows may lose the ability to validate your existing PIN—even though nothing else looks wrong.

If you can sign in with your password

  1. Press the Windows key + R, type tpm.msc, and press Enter.
  2. Check that the TPM shows as Ready for use.
  3. If it shows an error or "not detected," check whether the TPM was recently disabled in BIOS/UEFI settings (this can happen after a motherboard firmware update).
  4. Re-enable it if you find it disabled, save, and restart.

Removing and recreating the Windows Hello container,

If the TPM looks fine but the PIN still won't set up correctly, you can remove the existing Windows Hello enrollment and start fresh:

  1. Go to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options.
  2. Under PIN (Windows Hello), select Remove.
  3. Restart the computer.
  4. Go back to Sign-in options and select Add under PIN to create a new one from scratch.

This clears out any corrupted local credential data without touching your files, apps, or account.

Fix 10: Repair Windows System Files

If you can sign in with your password, it's worth checking for corrupted system files, which can quietly interfere with Windows Hello and other system components.

Run System File Checker.

Open Windows Terminal or Command Prompt as administrator, then run:

sfc /scannow

Let the scan finish completely without closing the window.

Follow up with DISM.

If problems remain, run:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Then run sfc /scannow once more, restart, and check whether the PIN issue has changed.

Important: These /Online commands target a currently running Windows installation. Don't run them from inside Windows Recovery Environment if you can't reach the desktop — they need the live OS to work against.

More detail: How to Fix Corrupted Files in Windows 11 and Windows 10

What If None of These Fixes Work?

If the PIN is still unavailable after working through the methods above, run through this quick self-check before considering a full reset:

  • Can you sign in with your password?
  • Does I forgot my PIN appear on the sign-in screen?
  • Did the problem start right after a Windows update?
  • Is there a usable System Restore point?
  • Can you sign in in Safe Mode using your password?
  • Does tpm.msc show the TPM as ready?
  • Is Windows asking for a BitLocker recovery key during recovery?

If you can sign in with your password, you have far more options, since you can work from inside a functioning Windows installation. If you truly cannot sign in by any method, keep working through the Windows Recovery Environment rather than repeatedly retrying the same PIN.

Your PIN Is No Longer Available After a Windows Update

When the timing lines up—PIN worked, update installed, PIN broke—start with:

Sign-in options > Password

If that works, you can investigate the update from inside Windows at your own pace. If you can't sign in at all, head into WinRE and consider:

Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Uninstall Updates

Microsoft specifically recommends this path when a problem begins right after an update and the device can't be accessed normally.

If you're not sure which update is the culprit, check whether it lines up with a recent cumulative update on your system—see our breakdown of Windows 11 KB5121003 Problems and Fixes for one recent example of update-related sign-in issues.

See also: Windows 11 Update Not Working: 14 Ways to Fix It

Can I Sign In to Windows 11 Without a PIN?

Yes. The PIN is just one of several sign-in methods Windows supports. Depending on your setup, you may also be able to use:

  • Your Microsoft account or local account password
  • Windows Hello facial recognition (on supported cameras)
  • A fingerprint reader (on supported hardware)
  • A security key, if one is configured

Select Sign-in options on the sign-in screen and choose whichever method is still working for you.

What Is the Difference Between a Windows PIN and a Password?

Windows Hello PIN

Tied to one specific device. It never leaves that device and isn't transmitted over the internet during sign-in, which is actually one reason Microsoft recommends it over a password for daily use.

Microsoft account password

Tied to your online Microsoft account and works across devices. It can also be used as a Windows sign-in method whenever it's offered.

Because these two are independent, a broken PIN doesn't mean a broken password—which is exactly why Sign-in options is one of the first things to check.

How to Prevent This Problem in the Future

  • Keep your Microsoft account recovery email and phone number up to date so "I forgot my PIN" verification goes smoothly if it happens again.
  • Avoid disabling the TPM in BIOS/UEFI settings unless you have a specific reason to.
  • Create a System Restore point manually before major driver installs or BIOS updates—see the steps below.
  • Note your BitLocker recovery key somewhere safe before any major system change—see the steps below.
  • Let Windows Updates finish fully rather than force-restarting mid-installation.

How to create a System Restore point manually

  1. Press Windows key, type Create a restore point," and press Enter.
  2. In the System Properties window, under the System Protection tab, confirm protection is turned on for your main drive (usually C:). If it says Off, select the drive, click Configure, choose Turn on system protection, and click OK.
  3. Click the Create button near the bottom of the System Protection tab.
  4. Type a short, recognizable description, such as "Before BIOS update" or "Before driver install," so you can identify it later.
  5. Click Create again and wait for Windows to confirm the restore point was created successfully.

Do this right before installing a new driver, BIOS/UEFI update, or any other major system change — that way, if something (including a PIN problem) goes wrong afterward, you already have a safe point to roll back to.

How to find and note your BitLocker recovery key

  1. Go to Settings > Privacy & security > Device encryption (or search for BitLocker in the Start menu and open Manage BitLocker from Control Panel).
  2. Check whether BitLocker or Device Encryption is turned on for your main drive.
  3. If it's on, go to account.microsoft.com/devices/recoverykey and sign in with the Microsoft account linked to this PC to view your saved recovery keys.
  4. If your organization manages the PC, ask your IT administrator for the recovery key instead — it may be stored in their systems rather than your personal account.
  5. Write the 48-digit recovery key down or save it somewhere outside this PC—printed, in a password manager, or on another device—so it's accessible even if this computer won't start.

Having this key ready before you ever need Windows Recovery Environment can save you from getting stuck mid-repair on an encrypted drive.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Windows 11 say my PIN is no longer available?

Windows shows this when it can no longer validate the Windows Hello credential stored on your device. Updates, security changes, TPM issues, and account sync problems are the most common triggers.

Why is "I forgot my PIN" missing from my sign-in screen?

This option is mainly built for Microsoft accounts. If it's not available, use Sign-in options and sign in with your password instead.

Can I use my password instead of my PIN?

Yes, as long as password sign-in is enabled for your account. Select Sign-in options on the sign-in screen and choose the password icon.

Does Safe Mode fix the Windows PIN?

Not automatically. Safe Mode disables Windows. Hello PIN and biometric sign-in entirely, so it's mainly useful for confirming your password still works, not for repairing the PIN itself.

Can System Restore fix a PIN problem?

It can, if the issue was caused by a recent system-level change and a suitable restore point exists from before the problem started.

Will uninstalling a Windows update delete my personal files?

No. Microsoft confirms that uninstalling an update does not remove personal files or installed apps, though some updates can't be uninstalled once fully applied.

Should I reset Windows immediately?

No. A full reset is far more disruptive than any of the fixes above. Try them in order first. If you do eventually use Reset this PC, choose the option to keep personal files and back up anything important beforehand regardless.

What if Windows asks for a BitLocker recovery key?

Some recovery operations may require this key if your drive is encrypted. Don't proceed blindly if you're prompted for it and don't have it—check your Microsoft account or with your organization's IT admin first.

Final Checklist

Work through these in order if you see "Your PIN is no longer available":

  • ☐ Select I forgot my PIN, if available
  • ☐ Try Sign-in options > Password
  • ☐ Restart the computer
  • ☐ Check your internet connection
  • ☐ Enter Windows Recovery Environment if you can't sign in
  • ☐ Consider Uninstall Updates if the problem started after an update
  • ☐ Try System Restore if a suitable restore point exists
  • ☐ Try Safe Mode and sign in with your password
  • ☐ Check the TPM with tpm.msc and remove/recreate the Hello enrollment
  • ☐ Run SFC and DISM to check system files
  • ☐ Only consider a full Windows reset after everything above has failed

Related ComputerDok Guides

Conclusion

"Your PIN is no longer available" looks alarming, but it's almost always fixable without reinstalling Windows. Start with I forgot my PIN. If that's not offered, sign in with your password instead. From there, Windows Recovery Environment gives you access to Uninstall Updates, System Restore, and Safe Mode—even if you can't reach the desktop at all.

The key thing to remember: if Windows won't let you sign in normally, you can still troubleshoot and fix this without ever reaching the desktop. Work through the fixes in order, and save a full reset for when everything else has genuinely failed.

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