Why am I unable to enter my PIN at login without a restart

Question

Since installing the latest set of Windows 11 updates (which involved doing a Windows 11 repair twice) I have noticed the following behavior:

More often than not after I power my laptop on and the system has booted I am unable to enter my PIN. I can move the mouse to the PIN box, but I am unable to type into the box. Attempting to use the "I forgot my pin" option still results in not being able to type in the PIN. If I perform a Restart I am usually able to enter my PIN successfully after the reboot.

What could be causing this behavior?

Thank you.

Dell Inspiron 16 5620

Windows 11 version 25H2

Answer 1

Hi Elaine,

This issue often occurs when Windows Hello components or input services don’t initialize properly during the first boot. Here’s what’s happening behind the scenes:

Windows Hello PIN relies on multiple services (Credential Manager, TPM, and input services). If one of these fails to start correctly after an update, the PIN field becomes unresponsive.

Repair installs and cumulative updates can reset or reconfigure system components, sometimes causing timing issues during startup.

The fact that a restart fixes it suggests the services load correctly on the second boot, which means the problem is likely initialization order or driver conflict, not permanent corruption.

 

Here are steps that usually help:

Update Drivers and Firmware

Go to Dell Support and install the latest chipset, input, and BIOS updates for your Inspiron 16 5620.

Re-register Windows Hello

Go to Settings → Accounts → Sign-in options → PIN (Windows Hello).

Remove your PIN and set it up again.

Disable Fast Startup

Open Control Panel → Power Options → Choose what the power buttons do.

Turn off Fast Startup to force full initialization on cold boot.

Run System File Check

Open Command Prompt as admin and run:

sfc /scannow

Then run:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Install Optional Updates

Check Windows Update → Advanced options → Optional updates for driver updates.

 

This is a known quirk after major updates or repair installs. It’s caused by service initialization timing, not by anything you did wrong.

 

Answer 2

The issue you are experiencing with being unable to enter your PIN at login after installing the latest Windows 11 updates may be related to a known problem with certain devices. This behavior can occur due to various factors, including software conflicts or issues introduced by recent updates.

Since you mentioned that performing a restart usually resolves the issue temporarily, it suggests that there might be a problem with the initialization of the login interface or related services during the boot process.

To troubleshoot this issue, you can try the following steps:

1. Ensure that your Windows 11 is fully updated with the latest patches and updates.
2. Check if there are any known issues with the specific version of Windows 11 you are using (version 25H2) that might be affecting the login process.
3. Consider running the Windows Troubleshooter for accounts and sign-in issues.
4. If the problem persists, you may want to consult Dell support for any device-specific solutions or updates that might be available for your Inspiron 16 5620.

If this issue is widespread, Microsoft may release a fix in future updates, so keeping your system updated is essential.