Windows 11, forgot pin and can't use other sign in options

Question

I tried logging in with my fingerprint but some reason it didn't work and then said needs pin to sign in, I can't log in to my laptop at all, I forgot my pin and I unfortunately don't have my pin with me to type it out ( I usually have my passwords and pins written down somewhere incase I forget). It doesn't have the "I forgot my pin" option at all and tried disabling the secure boot option in BIOS, didn't do anything. I tried holding down shift+ restart to try entering to safe mode, did not work. I do not want to reset my laptop to lose all of my stuff and I'm at my wits end with this, how do I solve this?

Answer 1

Hi, Kareena Chin wing

Welcome to the Microsoft Community.

If you're unable to log into your Windows 11 computer because you've forgotten your PIN and can't use other sign-in options like fingerprint, here are some steps you can try to regain access without resetting your laptop:

1. Boot into Advanced Boot Options:  Restart your computer and as soon as the Windows logo appears, press and hold the power button to force a shutdown. Repeat this process twice. On the third start, Windows should enter the Automatic Repair environment.
2. From there, navigate to "Troubleshoot" > "Advanced options" > Command Prompt. This will open the Command Prompt before booting into Windows.
3. Replace the Utility Manager with the Command Prompt: At the Command Prompt, type the following commands and press Enter after each command:

    c:
    cd windows\system32
    ren utilman.exe utilman.exe.bak
    copy cmd.exe utilman.exe
   

   This will replace the utility manager on the login screen with the command prompt.
4. Type and press Enter to restart your computer.wpeutil reboot
5. On the login screen, click on the Utility Manager icon, which should now open the Command Prompt.
6. At the Command Prompt, type this command and press Enter:

    net user /add [username] [password]
    net localgroup administrators [username] /add
   

   Replace and with the desired username and password. This will create a new administrator account.[username][password]
7. You can now log in to this new account, which should have admin permissions and allow you to reset your original account's PIN or password.
8. Run the following command:

    takeown /f %windir%\ServiceProfiles\LocalService\AppData\Local\Microsoft\NGC /r /d y
    icacls %windir%\ServiceProfiles\LocalService\AppData\Local\Microsoft\NGC /grant administrators:F /t
   

9. Navigate to the path below and delete the entire contents of this folder:

    C：\Windows\ServiceProfiles\LocalService\AppData\Local\Microsoft\NGC
   

10. Try logging in and resetting the PIN of the previous account.

If there is anything not clear, please do not hesitate to let me know.

Best Regards

Martin | Microsoft Community Support Specialist

Answer 2

the whole process is retarded it wont allow you to reenter your proposed pin number your trying to make things secure but refuse to allow it to happen ?????????I question the purpose of it all

Answer 3

This is totally unclear to me.

Answer 4

When I restart my computer my whole computer goes dark. Blinks the intro screen with the nice wallpaper and then turns off and then blinks on to the nice wallpaper. No matter how long I click on the side power button it will not take me to the Automatic Repair Environment.

I am already locked out of my account for 2 hours. Should I try this after my 2 hours?

Hi, Kareena Chin wing

Welcome to the Microsoft Community.

If you're unable to log into your Windows 11 computer because you've forgotten your PIN and can't use other sign-in options like fingerprint, here are some steps you can try to regain access without resetting your laptop:

1. Boot into Advanced Boot Options:  Restart your computer and as soon as the Windows logo appears, press and hold the power button to force a shutdown. Repeat this process twice. On the third start, Windows should enter the Automatic Repair environment.
2. From there, navigate to "Troubleshoot" > "Advanced options" > Command Prompt. This will open the Command Prompt before booting into Windows.
3. Replace the Utility Manager with the Command Prompt: At the Command Prompt, type the following commands and press Enter after each command:

    c:
    cd windows\system32
    ren utilman.exe utilman.exe.bak
    copy cmd.exe utilman.exe
   

   This will replace the utility manager on the login screen with the command prompt.
4. Type and press Enter to restart your computer.wpeutil reboot
5. On the login screen, click on the Utility Manager icon, which should now open the Command Prompt.
6. At the Command Prompt, type this command and press Enter:

    net user /add [username] [password]
    net localgroup administrators [username] /add
   

   Replace and with the desired username and password. This will create a new administrator account.[username][password]
7. You can now log in to this new account, which should have admin permissions and allow you to reset your original account's PIN or password.
8. Run the following command:

    takeown /f %windir%\ServiceProfiles\LocalService\AppData\Local\Microsoft\NGC /r /d y
    icacls %windir%\ServiceProfiles\LocalService\AppData\Local\Microsoft\NGC /grant administrators:F /t
   

9. Navigate to the path below and delete the entire contents of this folder:

    C：\Windows\ServiceProfiles\LocalService\AppData\Local\Microsoft\NGC
   

10. Try logging in and resetting the PIN of the previous account.

If there is anything not clear, please do not hesitate to let me know.

Best Regards

Martin | Microsoft Community Support Specialist

Answer 5

Hi! Thank you so much for the reply however I'm a bit stuck on step 6 to add an administrative user, it doesn't read the line instead it gives me a message about syntax in the command however I believe I may have an administrative account but I don't know how to use it or how to access it