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Locked out

Martin Wilkins 0 Reputation points
2026-02-22T19:21:01.61+00:00

New laptop, can’t login, forgot PIN number, won’t recognize fingerprint

Moderator: Moved from Developer technologies | .NET | Blazor

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Security and privacy
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  1. John Jefferson Doyon 69,480 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-02-22T21:37:50.3966667+00:00

    Hi, I'm John! I will help you with this.

    First, on the sign-in screen, look for "Sign-in options".

    Click it and see if Password is available. Try signing in with your Microsoft account password.

    If there is no password option and it keeps forcing PIN, you need to access the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE). Follow these steps by turning your device off and on repeatedly:

    1. Hold down the power button for 10 seconds to power off your device.
    2. Press the power button to turn on your device. As soon as you see the initial indication of Windows starting (such as the manufacturer's logo appearing during a restart), hold down the power button for 10 seconds to power off your device.
    3. Repeat this process twice.
    4. On the third start, Windows will boot into the Recovery Environment.
    5. Select "Advanced options."
    6. On the "Choose an option" screen, choose "Troubleshoot" and select "Advanced options".
    7. Select "Startup Repair" and then "Restart".

    If Windows didn't start normally, try System Restore. Boot into the winRE again using steps 1 to 6. Once you're in "Advance option", select "System restore" and then check to see if you have a restore point you can go back to.

    Click "Add comment" to let me know.

    Regards,

    John J.D.

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  2. Q&A Assist
    2026-02-22T19:21:08.96+00:00
    AI generated content. This question contains an answer created with AI from Q&A Assist. Learn more

    If you're locked out of your new laptop because you've forgotten your PIN and your fingerprint recognition isn't working, you can try the following steps:

    1. Reset PIN from the Lock Screen: On the login screen, expand the Sign-in options link and select the PIN pad icon. Then, choose I forgot my PIN. Follow the instructions provided to reset your PIN. You may need to authenticate using another method, such as your password.
    2. Use an Alternate Sign-in Method: If you have another sign-in method set up (like a password), try using that to log in. Once logged in, you can go to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options and reset your PIN from there.
    3. Access Safe Mode: If you cannot log in at all, you might want to try booting into Safe Mode. On the login screen, hold down the Shift key and click on Restart. This will take you to the recovery options where you can select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart, and then choose Safe Mode. From there, you can attempt to reset your PIN or password.
    4. Use the Built-in Administrator Account: If you can access the Command Prompt in Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE), you can enable the built-in Administrator account to log in and reset your PIN. This involves loading the registry and modifying certain values, so be cautious if you're not familiar with these steps.

    If these methods do not work, you may need to consider a clean installation of Windows, especially if there are no recoverable options available.

    References:

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