How to Change Your PIN on Windows 11

To change your PIN on Windows 11, open Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options, select PIN (Windows Hello), and select Change PIN. Type your current PIN, enter the new PIN twice, and select OK. The new PIN works the next time you sign in or unlock your PC. If you forgot your current PIN, use I forgot my PIN instead.

These steps apply to Windows 11 Home and Pro, and they work the same way on Windows 10. Your PIN is part of Windows Hello, the sign-in system that also handles face and fingerprint sign-in.

Change Your Windows 11 PIN

You need to know your current PIN for this method. The whole process takes less than a minute.

1. Press Windows key + I to open Settings. You can also right-click the Start button and select Settings.
2. Select Accounts in the left pane, then Sign-in options on the right.
3. Under Ways to sign in, select PIN (Windows Hello) to expand it.
4. Select Change PIN. A Windows Security box opens.
5. Type your current PIN in the PIN box, then type your new PIN in both the New PIN and Confirm PIN boxes.
6. Optional: check Include letters and symbols if you want a PIN that isn’t only numbers.
7. Select OK. Windows saves the new PIN right away.

To check that it worked, press Windows key + L to lock your PC, then sign back in with the new PIN.

If you see Set up instead of Change PIN, your account doesn’t have a PIN yet. Select Set up, confirm your account password, and create a PIN.

If You Forgot Your PIN

On the sign-in screen (Microsoft account)

1. On the sign-in screen, select I forgot my PIN under the PIN box. If several accounts use the PC, pick yours first.
2. Verify your Microsoft account with its password or a security code sent to your email or phone. This step needs an internet connection.
3. Create a new PIN and confirm it.

Microsoft says the I forgot my PIN option on the sign-in screen only works for Microsoft accounts, according to its PIN help page.

With a local account, or if the link is missing

1. On the sign-in screen, select Sign-in options, then the key icon to sign in with your password instead.
2. Once you’re signed in, go to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options > PIN (Windows Hello).
3. Select I forgot my PIN, confirm your password, and create a new PIN.

If you forgot your password too

Reset the password first. For a Microsoft account, select I forgot my password on the sign-in screen or use Microsoft’s account recovery page from any browser. For a local account, answer your security questions from the sign-in screen, or use a password reset disk if you made one. Then create a new PIN. For more options, see how to change your password on Windows 11.

Fix “This Option Is Currently Unavailable” or a Grayed-Out Change PIN

• A work or school account is connected. Go to Settings > Accounts > Access work or school. If an organization account is listed on your personal PC and you no longer need it, select it, choose Disconnect, and restart. Don’t disconnect an account your employer or school requires, because you may lose access to email and files.
• Your organization manages the PC. PIN rules on work and school computers come from IT policy. Ask your IT department to reset or change it.
• You’re signed in to a different account. Each Windows account has its own PIN. Make sure you’re signed in to the account you want to change.

If the New PIN Doesn’t Work

• Check Num Lock if you type numbers on a keypad. When it’s off, those keys won’t enter digits.
• Check the keyboard layout. The language icon on the sign-in screen shows the current layout. A different layout can change the characters you type, especially for PINs with letters and symbols.
• Use your password to get in. Select Sign-in options on the sign-in screen, sign in with your password, and set the PIN again.

Remove Your PIN Instead

1. Go to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options.
2. Turn off For improved security, only allow Windows Hello sign-in for Microsoft accounts on this device. Leave Settings, then open Sign-in options again.
3. Expand PIN (Windows Hello), select Remove, and confirm with your account password.

Removing the PIN also turns off face and fingerprint sign-in, so you’ll type your password each time. Our guide on how to turn off the PIN on Windows 11 covers a grayed-out Remove button in more detail.

PIN vs. Password: Why Windows Uses a PIN

Your PIN only works on the PC where you created it. Someone who learns it can’t use it to sign in to your Microsoft account online or on another device. That’s why a short PIN can be safer than typing your full Microsoft account password on a laptop in public. Changing your PIN doesn’t change your Microsoft account password.

You don’t need to change your PIN on a schedule. Change it if you think someone has seen you type it, or if you shared it with someone who shouldn’t use the PC anymore. Avoid obvious choices like 1234, repeated digits, or your birth year.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long can a Windows PIN be?

A Windows Hello PIN must be at least four characters. Longer PINs, or ones with letters and symbols, are harder to guess. Work and school PCs may require a longer PIN.

Can I use the same PIN on two PCs?

Yes, but you set it separately on each PC. A PIN is stored on one device and doesn’t sync between computers.

Do I need to restart after changing my PIN?

No. The new PIN works right away. Lock your PC with Windows key + L to test it. To change what you see when it locks, see how to set the lock screen on Windows 11.

Can I remove the password and just use a PIN?

A Microsoft account always keeps its password, but you can sign in to Windows with only a PIN or face sign-in. To skip the password at startup, see how to remove the password from Windows 11.

Locking down your PC further? See what happened to Cortana on the Windows 10 lock screen.