Windows Hello unavailable

Tatijanna Martel 20 Reputation points
2026-01-24T21:24:23.6033333+00:00

I recently had someone try to hack my computer, and it messed with my windows hello sign in. Face recognition, fingerprint, and PIN all say they are currently unavailable. I made sure everything was updated (including the drivers), I tried resetting the biometric drivers, it's not due to a Windows update (because that was not recent), and I checked my TPM. I have had the computer for a couple of years with no issues, and I ran scans to ensure there was no malware. I have seen that school accounts can impact this, but it has always been connected and never been an issue before (I also have lots of data connected to it so I don't want to disconnect it if I can). I have a Lenovo Yoga if that's helpful. Thanks for any help!

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Accounts, profiles, and login
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Answer accepted by question author
EmilyS726 274.5K Reputation points Independent Advisor
2026-01-24T22:08:48.05+00:00

Can you go to your Windows Settings > Accounts > Access Work or School (note, it is the briefcase icon, not the envelope icon). Then see if the organization email address is still listed? If so, click on it and then disconnect it.

Restart the c omputer and see if that helps.

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  1. AI answer

    2026-01-24T21:24:34.0633333+00:00

    If Windows Hello features such as face recognition, fingerprint, and PIN are showing as unavailable, there are several troubleshooting steps you can take:

    1. Check Virtualization Based Security (VBS): Ensure that VBS is running on your device. You can check this by opening System Information and looking for Virtualization Based Security listed as Running.
    2. Verify Biometric Isolation Trust-Lets: Check that the biometric isolation trust-lets (bioiso.exe and ngciso.exe) are running. You can find this information under System Information > Software Environment > Running Tasks.
    3. Re-enroll Biometric Authentication: Go to Settings > Sign-in Options, remove any nonfunctioning enrollment, and then re-enroll your biometric data.
    4. Device Manager: In Device Manager, ensure that your biometric devices are listed under Biometric devices. If they are, try reinstalling the drivers by right-clicking the device and selecting Uninstall Device. Restart your computer to allow Windows to reinstall the drivers.
    5. Restart Biometric Service: You can restart the biometric service by removing your PIN (if applicable) and using a command prompt as an administrator to run net stop wbiosrvc && net start wbiosrvc.
    6. Check for Group Policy Conflicts: If your device is connected to a school account, certain Group Policy settings may restrict the use of Windows Hello features. For example, the policy Interactive logon: Do not display last user name can prevent facial recognition logon. If this is enabled, consider changing it to Disabled.
    7. File Feedback: If none of the above steps work, consider filing a feedback item using the Feedback Hub to report the issue.

    These steps should help you troubleshoot the availability of Windows Hello features on your Lenovo Yoga.

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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