How to reset PIN in Windows 11

PIN is a set of numbers, or a combination of letters and numbers you use to login. This article will show you how to reset PIN in Windows 11.

Kapil Arya
11x Microsoft MVP · Admin
2 min read
Add as a preferred
source on Google

Windows 11 allows you sign-in with a variety of sign-in options. Using only the password to sign-in is now an older thing. One of the sign-in option available in Windows 11 is PIN. PIN is a set of numbers, or a combination of letters and numbers, that you choose yourself. As per Microsoft, using a PIN is a quick, secure way to sign in to your Windows 11 device. Your PIN is securely stored on your device. In this article, we will see how to reset PIN in Windows 11.

Using a PIN is obviously convenient due to following salient features:

  • You can make a PIN complex that is very hard to guess for someone else.
  • PIN is backed by hardware Trusted Platform Module (TPM) chip.
  • PIN is stored locally to your device and isn’t transmitted to web or any server.
  • PIN remains tied to your Windows 11 device.
  • PIN is more secure as compared to traditional password.

Moreover, if you’re using Windows Hello biometric features such as facial recognition, you must have a working PIN already setup. If you don’t have PIN, these biometric features won’t work. So in case you forgot your PIN and want to reset it, here is how you can.

How to reset PIN in Windows 11

1. Press Windows Key + I keys to open Settings app.

2. In Settings app, go to Accounts > Sign-in options. Under Related links below PIN, click on I forgot my PIN link there. Make sure your system is connected to the network while you do this, in case if you’re using Microsoft account.

How to reset PIN in Windows 11

3. In the Are you sure… window, click on Continue button.

How to reset PIN in Windows 11

4. Now you’ll be asked to enter your Microsoft account or local account password. If you’ve two-step verification enabled for Microsoft account, verify your identity.

How to reset PIN in Windows 11

5. Once your information has been verified in previous step, you’ll be asked to setup new PIN. You can check here Include letters and symbols option to create a complex PIN as well. Click OK to return to Settings app.

How to reset PIN in Windows 11

So this is how you can reset PIN. In case if you can’t login, you can also reset PIN from login screen using similar steps described above.

That’s it!

Related: How to reset PIN for Windows Hello for Business.

Share this article
https://www.kapilarya.com/how-to-reset-pin-in-windows-11

Shareable URL

Article by

Kapil Arya
11x Microsoft MVP · Admin

Kapil holds Microsoft MVP title in Windows IT Pro expertise, 11-times in a row (2014-2025). He is 8-times Windows Insider MVP as well, and author of 'Windows Group Policy Troubleshooting' book. In 2015, Microsoft India accomplished him as 'Windows 10 Champion'. Being passionate Windows blogger, he loves to help others on fixing their system issues. Kapil has worked with official Microsoft Community Engagement Team (CET) on several community projects. You can subscribe him for news/updates and fixes for Windows.

1 Comment
Nenad

Hello,
I have a problem when I try to change my PIN since I dont remember on it anymore.
When I come to Step 4, I am asked to enter my backup E_Mail and when I try to do that, the window just disappiers.
I was trying to do that nummerous times and I can´t come further. Can you please help me with this issue?

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *