How to Remove PIN Login From Windows 10/11 Startup

Published by Nyau Wai Hoe - Updated on

Windows 10 and Windows 11 come with a feature known as Windows Hello, which provides alternative and usually quicker sign-in options such as PIN, face recognition, and fingerprint. If you have set up a PIN previously on your Windows 10/11 laptop or desktop PC and wish to remove it now, this short tutorial will show you how to do so.

How does Windows Hello PIN works?

The Windows Hello PIN is not tied to your Microsoft account; it is only tied to your computer or device. A thief with your password can sign into your Microsoft account from anywhere, but with your PIN, they can only sign into that particular device.

The point here is that if you have several Windows devices that have PIN set up on them, removing the PIN from one device doesn’t remove the PIN from the others.

Remove PIN from Windows 11/10 login

To remove the Windows Hello PIN login from Windows 11/10 startup, follow the steps below:

Note: If you’re using face or fingerprint recognition, they will stop working if you remove your PIN.

  1. Go to Start menu. Search for and open Settings.
  2. Click on Accounts.
    Windows 10 Settings Accounts

    Windows 10

    Remove PIN Login From Windows 11

    Windows 11

  3. In the left sidebar, select Sign-in options.
  4. Under “Select a sign-in option to add, change or remove”, click on Windows Hello PIN.
  5. To remove your existing Windows Hello PIN, click on the Remove button.How to remove PIN from Windows 10
  6. When asked for confirmation, click Remove again.Remove PIN login from Windows 10/11 Startup
  7. You will then be asked to enter your Microsoft account’s password for verification. Enter your password and click OK.

Remove PIN from Windows without password

That’s it! Your PIN should be removed now.

Windows Hello PIN “Remove” button grayed out

If you can’t click on the Remove button because it’s grayed out under Windows Hello PIN, it means you have the “Require Windows Hello sign-in for Microsoft accounts” option in Windows 10 enabled (In Windows 11, the option is called “For improved security, only allow Windows Hello sign-in for Microsoft accounts on this device“). Disable this option, and the PIN Remove button will be clickable again.

The “Require Windows Hello sign-in for Microsoft accounts” option can be found in Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options. Click on the toggle button to turn it off. Close Settings and re-open it to refresh the settings window. The Remove button under PIN should be clickable again.

Remove PIN button grayed out Windows 11/10

Windows 10

Only allow Windows Hello sign-in for Microsoft accounts

Windows 11

What happens after PIN is removed?

Now that you’ve removed the PIN from your Windows 10/11 system, the next time you start up your computer, Windows will ask for your user account’s password that you used to login before you set up your PIN.

If the account you used to sign into your Windows is a Microsoft account (username ends with @outlook.com), the password cannot be removed because it’s an online account. However, if it’s a local account, you can remove the password from Windows login, or simply create a local account without a password, so your computer can boot into Windows without a PIN, password, or any sign-in options. For a tutorial about this matter, read: How to create local admin account without password on Windows 11/10.

How to remove forgotten PIN from Windows 10/11

If you want to remove the PIN and bypass the security login to sign into your Windows account, you can’t do that without signing into Windows first. However, you can reset your PIN on the startup lock screen by clicking on the “I forgot my PIN” link and enter your Microsoft account’s password instead. It will then allow you to set up a new PIN to login to your Windows PC.

Why should you use Windows Hello?

Windows Hello is a convenient and secure way to sign in to your Windows device. Here are some benefits of using Windows Hello:

  • Quick and easy access: With Windows Hello, you can sign in to your device in a matter of seconds with sign-in options such as facial or fingerprint recognition, without having to remember complex passwords.
  • Secure sign-in: Windows Hello uses biometric authentication, which is more secure than traditional passwords. This means that only you can sign in to your device, and your data remains protected.
  • Works with multiple devices: You can use Windows Hello to sign in to multiple devices, such as your laptop, desktop PC, or tablet, without having to set up a separate PIN for each device.

Nyau Wai Hoe
Nyau Wai Hoe is the Founder and Chief Editor of WindowsDigitals.com. With a degree in software engineering and over 12 years of experience in the tech support industry, Nyau has established himself as an expert in the field, with a primary focus on the Microsoft Windows operating system. As a tech enthusiast, he loves exploring new technologies and leveraging them to solve real-life problems.

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