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I'm completely locked out of logging into my laptop on Windows 11 Home after a BIOS update, tried multiple fixes already please help

Noah Dickens 20 Reputation points
2026-03-04T09:58:50.35+00:00

Do I have to factory reset or is there another way?

After updating my BIOS and trying to log in i was given an error that said something similar to 'Your pin is invalid due to security changes, please enter a new pin.' (can't remember exactly)

When I pressed the button to make a new pin it gave me the usual loading icon for 2-5 seconds but nothing happened. I tried repeatedly pressing the button, restarting my pc repeatedly, and waiting several minutes just for nothing to happen.

I tried renaming the Rgc file to Rgc.old in the BIOS command prompt and it worked but it didn't fix my issue. I tried booting with Firmware TPM disabled and enabled but neither worked. After trying both of these fixes the prompt I had before about the pin changed to just a button that says 'Sign In' but it still does the 2 second spinning circles loading icon.

In more detail about the login screen since I can't take pictures, the login screen is the same as usual with the blurred background and my profile picture but the box to enter my pin/password is replaced with a Sign In button that does nothing when I press it once or repeatedly.

I can't provide any logs or pictures, my computer is a Dell G15 5515 Ryzen Edition with BitLocker enabled that I've been using for 5 years and the BIOS was updated from version 23 to version 30 (latest BIOS update as of mid febuary)

Before updating the BIOS my usb wired keyboard and mouse would randomly disconnect, I'm unsure if this could be related but it's worth noting.

Additionally, I do not have any way to roll back or undo the update. During all fix attempts I had a stable WiFi connection. I've been searching multiple sites for 3+ hours and can't find a fix.

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Accounts, profiles, and login
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  1. Q&A Assist
    2026-03-04T09:59:01.82+00:00
    AI generated content. This question contains an answer created with AI from Q&A Assist. Learn more

    Based on the provided information, the only fully confirmed resolution path in similar “can’t log in after PIN breaks” scenarios is to perform a clean reinstall / reset of Windows. There is no supported, guaranteed fix in the context that avoids reinstall when:

    • PIN sign-in is broken and cannot be re‑set
    • Password sign-in does not work or is unavailable
    • Safe Mode or other recovery sign‑in methods are not giving access

    A closely related case on Windows 11 where the user was completely locked out despite trying PIN reset, Safe Mode, and other workarounds ultimately required reformatting and reinstalling Windows; no in-place repair from the sign‑in screen resolved it.

    Given that:

    • BIOS/firmware changes can invalidate existing sign‑in methods (especially with BitLocker and TPM changes), and
    • The sign‑in UI is no longer presenting a working PIN/password box, only a non‑functional “Sign in” button,

    the practical resolution, as reflected in the context, is to back up any data that can still be accessed (if possible via another boot medium) and then:

    1. Boot from Windows 11 installation media or the OEM recovery environment.
    2. Perform a reset/clean install of Windows 11 on the device.

    If there is nothing on the laptop that cannot be replaced, a full clean install is the straightforward path. If important data is present and BitLocker is enabled, recovery will also require the BitLocker recovery key before any reinstall or partition changes.


    References:

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