"Your PIN is no longer available due to a change in security settings": unable to sign in using PIN and can't remember password.

Question

I recently tried to sign into my Windows 10 after a while of not using it and realized that I've been locked out of my system due to this issue. Unfortunately, I've exclusively used my PIN to sign in for as long as I can remember and can't possibly recall what password I set years ago. Is there any way I can get back into my account as it is quite urgent that I regain access to this device again? I've tried using the Shift > Restart > Advanced options > Command prompt trick but the command prompt box never pops up and I'm instead redirected to a blue screen that asks me to sign into my account with my password before I can enter any commands.

Answer 1

When you're at the login screen, click on 'I forgot my PIN'.

Follow next steps to reset PIN, using Microsoft account sign-in.

If issue still persists, refer this fix:

https://www.kapilarya.com/fix-your-pin-is-no-longer-available-due-to-a-change-in-the-security-setting

Let us know if this helps!

Note: Included link in this reply refers to blog post by a trusted Microsoft MVP. 

Answer 2

Hello, thank you for reaching out to Microsoft Q&A.

Have you tried resetting your password from the sign-in screen?

Select the “I forgot my password” option on the sign-in screen and follow the prompts to complete the password reset.

If you are still having issues, you can try the two methods below to sign in with your PIN again.

Option 1. Reset TPM Memory from BIOS.

TPM is responsible for storing the ashes for Windows Hello PIN. Resetting it may resolve the sign-in issue.

1. Boot your PC into the BIOS Utility screen.
2. In the Security or Advanced tab, find TPM 2.0 Security or Intel PTT (or similar terms), select Clear TPM, and click OK.
3. Save the configuration changes made and restart your computer.
4. Sign in with your PIN.

Option 2.

Your device might be booted into Diagnostic startup mode, which disables all the necessary Windows services. This could have happened after making any recent system changes to your device. You can follow the guidelines in the article below to switch the startup type to Normal Startup and see if you can sign in with your PIN normally again.

https://www.winhelponline.com/blog/something-happened-pin-not-available-diagnostic-mode/

Note - This article was written by a trusted Microsoft MVP, Ramesh.

Disclaimer - This is a non-Microsoft website. The page appears to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the site that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the site before you decide to download and install it.'

If Method 1 did not resolve your issue and you are having trouble opening Command Prompt to try Method 2, you may need to perform a full factory reset of your computer, as all recovery options from WinRE require the administrator password. This can be either your local account password or your Microsoft account password. If the files on the device are not important, you can proceed with a full factory reset. (OR)

If the files are important, you can create Windows 10 USB bootable installation media, boot the device from the installation media, select 'Repair your computer,' and open the command prompt from there.

Answer 3

If you are unable to sign in using your PIN and cannot remember your password, there are a few steps you can take to regain access to your Windows 10 device:

1. Reset Your PIN: If you have an alternate sign-in method available (like a password), you can try to reset your PIN. To do this, you typically would go to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options and select PIN (Windows Hello) > I forgot my PIN. However, since you mentioned you cannot remember your password, this option may not be accessible.
2. Use Safe Mode: You mentioned trying to access the Command Prompt via the recovery options. If you can boot into Safe Mode, you may be able to sign in with your PIN if it is supported in that mode. To do this, restart your computer and repeatedly press the F8 key (or the appropriate key for your device) to access the boot options. From there, select Safe Mode and try signing in with your PIN.
3. Password Reset: If you have a Microsoft account, you can reset your password online by visiting the Microsoft account recovery page. This will allow you to set a new password and then use that to log into your device.
4. Reinstall Windows: If none of the above methods work and you have no important data on the device, you may consider performing a clean installation of Windows. This will erase everything on the device, so it should be a last resort.

If you are still having trouble, you may want to consult with Microsoft support or a professional technician for further assistance.

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References:

• Unable to log in to Dell Rugged Laptop - Microsoft Q&A
• PIN reset