My laptop returns an message when I try to login with My PIN: "This sign-in option is disabled because of failed sign-in attempts or repeated shutdowns. Use a different sign-in option, or keep your device

Mason Co. EMS 0 Reputation points
2026-01-13T18:19:42.6666667+00:00

My laptop returns an message when I try to login with My PIN: "This sign-in option is disabled because of failed sign-in attempts or repeated shutdowns. Use a different sign-in option, or keep your device

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Accounts, profiles, and login

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  1. Clary-N 16,995 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-01-14T00:33:30.2033333+00:00

    Hi Mason Co. EMS,

    Thank you for reaching out to Microsoft Q&A forum. I know it’s frustrating when your usual sign-in method stops working. Let’s get this sorted out together.

    First, have you tried signing in with your account password instead of the PIN? If that didn’t work, could you let me know if you saw any error codes or messages?

    If other sign-in options aren’t working, here’s a safe way to reset your PIN using Safe Mode:

    1. Restart your PC and, on the login screen, hold Shift while selecting Restart.
    2. When the Choose an option screen appears, select:
      • Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart
    3. After your PC restarts, press 4 or F4 to start in Safe Mode.
    4. Once signed in, go to Settings (Windows key +I) > Accounts > Sign-in options > PIN (Windows Hello) and select Set up or I forgot my PIN to create a new one.

    *Note: If you need internet access in Safe Mode, choose Safe Mode with Networking (press 5 or F5).

    Please let me know how it goes or share any error details so I can assist further.

    If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment".  

    Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread.

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  2. AI answer

    2026-01-13T18:20:59.6233333+00:00

    If your laptop displays the message "This sign-in option is disabled because of failed sign-in attempts or repeated shutdowns," it means that the PIN sign-in method has been temporarily disabled due to multiple unsuccessful attempts. Here are some steps you can take to resolve this issue:

    1. Use an Alternative Sign-In Method: Try signing in with another option, such as your Microsoft account password or any other available sign-in methods.
    2. Wait for a While: The system may automatically allow you to try signing in with your PIN again after a certain period. Waiting a few minutes and then attempting to log in again may help.
    3. Check Device Functionality: Ensure that your device is functioning properly and that there are no underlying issues causing the repeated shutdowns or failed attempts.
    4. Restart Your Device: Restarting your laptop can sometimes resolve temporary issues that may be causing the problem.

    If these steps do not resolve the issue, you may need to reset your PIN or contact Microsoft Support for further assistance.

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

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    1 person found this answer helpful.

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