To turn off your PIN in Windows 11, open Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options, select PIN (Windows Hello), and select Remove. Confirm, then enter your account password. If Remove is grayed out, first turn off For improved security, only allow Windows Hello sign-in for Microsoft accounts on this device under Additional settings.
After that, you sign in with your password. If you just want a different PIN, see how to change your PIN on Windows 11 instead. These steps apply to Windows 11 Home and Pro with a Microsoft account or a local account.
Before You Remove the PIN
- Know your password. Windows asks for it to confirm, and you’ll use it to sign in afterward. For a Microsoft account, that’s your Microsoft account password.
- Face and fingerprint go too. Windows Hello face and fingerprint sign-in depend on the PIN, so removing it turns those off.
- Work or school PCs may require a PIN by policy. Check with IT before changing sign-in settings.
How to Remove Your PIN in Windows 11
- Press Windows + I to open Settings.
- Select Accounts, then Sign-in options.
- Under Ways to sign in, select PIN (Windows Hello) to expand it.
- Next to Remove this sign-in option, select Remove.
- Select Remove again to confirm.
- Type your account password and select OK. Expected result: the PIN section now offers Set up instead of Change PIN.
- Lock the PC with Windows + L to check. The sign-in screen should ask for your password.
Remove a PIN in the Windows 10 Layout
If you deliberately want to remove your own Windows 10 PIN, first confirm that you know the account password and can use that sign-in option. Open Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options > Windows Hello PIN, choose Remove, confirm Remove again and enter the required account password, then OK. Save work, lock the PC and check the password option for the same account. Removing the PIN does not remove the account password or make sign-in automatic. Use the PIN setup control on the same page to add one again. If removal is unavailable or required by your organization, ask its administrator rather than bypassing its policy. A forgotten PIN uses the supported recovery procedure instead; Microsoft distinguishes the PIN from the account password.
What to Do If the Remove Button Is Grayed Out
Fix 1: Turn off Windows Hello-only sign-in
This is the usual cause. Microsoft explains that with this setting on, Microsoft accounts can sign in only with Windows Hello (face, fingerprint, or PIN), not a password, so Windows won’t let you remove the PIN.
- Go to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options.
- Scroll to Additional settings.
- Turn off For improved security, only allow Windows Hello sign-in for Microsoft accounts on this device.
- Close Settings, open it again, and go back to PIN (Windows Hello). Expected result: Remove is now clickable.
Fix 2: Turn off passwordless on your Microsoft account
If you made your Microsoft account passwordless, Windows has no password to fall back on.
- Go to Settings > Accounts > Your info and, under Related settings, select Accounts (Manage my accounts). Your browser opens your Microsoft account.
- Select Security, then Manage how I sign in.
- Under Additional security, turn Passwordless account off and follow the prompts to create a password.
- Restart the PC, then remove the PIN.
Remember the new password; you’ll need it to sign in.
Fix 3: Check for a work or school account
Open Settings > Accounts > Access work or school. If an organization account is connected, its policies can require a PIN and even force you to change it regularly. On your own PC, you can disconnect an account you no longer use. On a company PC, ask IT, since disconnecting can remove access to work apps and email.
Fix 4: Switch to a local account
As a last resort, switching to a local account also removes the Windows Hello-only requirement. Go to Settings > Accounts > Your info and select Sign in with a local account instead, if your version shows it. See how to switch to a local account in Windows 11 for the full steps and tradeoffs.
Other Problems When Removing the PIN
“This option is currently unavailable”
This message under PIN usually points to a work or school account or a device policy. Check Access work or school (Fix 3). On a company PC, the PIN requirement is set by IT.
Windows rejects your password
Use your account password, not the PIN. For a Microsoft account, that’s the password you use at account.microsoft.com. Check Caps Lock and the keyboard layout shown near the clock. If you’ve forgotten it, reset it at account.live.com/password/reset from another device, then try again.
What changes after you remove it
| With a PIN | Without a PIN | |
|---|---|---|
| Sign-in screen | Asks for the PIN | Asks for your password |
| Face and fingerprint | Available if supported | Turned off |
| Remote Desktop and other devices | PIN works only on this PC | Your password works as before |
| Files and apps | Unchanged | Unchanged |
Stop Windows Asking for a PIN After Sleep
If what bothers you is the prompt each time the PC wakes, you may not need to remove the PIN at all. In Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options, look under Additional settings for If you’ve been away, when should Windows require you to sign in again? and choose a longer time, or Never if it’s offered. Some Microsoft account setups don’t show Never. The lock screen after pressing Windows + L always asks.
Sign In Without a PIN or a Password
Removing the PIN only swaps it for your password. Skipping sign-in completely is possible on a home PC, but anyone who opens the laptop gets into your files and saved passwords. If you still want that, see how to remove the password from Windows 11. The Windows Hello-only setting must be off first.
How to Add a PIN Back Later
- Open Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options.
- Select PIN (Windows Hello), then Set up.
- Enter your password, then type and confirm a new PIN.
Setting up the PIN also lets you turn face or fingerprint sign-in back on, if your PC supports them.
Set Up Windows Hello Fingerprint Sign-In
Use a compatible fingerprint reader on your own Windows 11 PC; an ordinary camera cannot read a fingerprint. Open Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options, expand Fingerprint recognition (Windows Hello) under Ways to sign in, and choose Set up. Complete the wizard’s verification and PIN prompts, then follow its instructions to place, lift and reposition your finger on the sensor until enrollment finishes. Microsoft’s Windows Hello configuration guide documents this setup route and hardware requirement. Keep a working PIN or password fallback; enrolling a fingerprint does not delete the account password or make every reader compatible.
Return to Sign-in options to check the enrollment, save work and lock the PC with Windows + L, then use the enrolled finger to confirm your normal desktop opens. If it fails, select a working fallback under Sign-in options. Microsoft’s Hello troubleshooting guide describes Add a finger for another enrollment. Use the compatible device maker’s driver and support guidance when the reader is missing, and ask IT if policy blocks setup. Do not disable a security feature merely to make an arbitrary reader work. To remove the enrollment, use the face/fingerprint removal section below while retaining a working sign-in method; the PIN and biometric controls are separate.
Remove Windows Hello Face or Fingerprint Sign-In
To remove a face or fingerprint sign-in method while keeping another working sign-in option, open Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options. Expand Facial recognition (Windows Hello) or Fingerprint recognition (Windows Hello), then choose Remove and complete any confirmation. Repeat only for the other biometric method you intend to remove. Microsoft documents the face control in its Windows Hello troubleshooting guide and the fingerprint control in its Surface sign-in guide. These are Remove controls, not a universal Windows Hello off switch.
Reopen the selected method and check that it offers Set up. Lock the PC and verify that your retained PIN or password works through Sign-in options. If you also want to remove the PIN, use the complete password-fallback procedure above after confirming you know your account password. Removing biometric enrollment does not remove the account password or create automatic sign-in. To restore a supported method later, choose its Set up control and follow enrollment. Organization policy can restrict these changes; use your administrator’s approved process for a managed PC.
Change the Ctrl+Alt+Delete Requirement Before Sign-In
Requiring Ctrl+Alt+Delete provides a trusted path to Windows sign-in; disabling it reduces that protection. Change it only on a PC you are authorized to administer and when your organization permits it. On Windows Pro, Enterprise or Education with Local Security Policy, press Windows + R, enter secpol.msc and open it. Expand Local Policies > Security Options, then open Interactive logon: Do not require CTRL+ALT+DEL. Record its original setting. Select Enabled > Apply > OK to remove the key-sequence requirement. Microsoft’s policy documentation explains the security implications.
Reopen the policy to confirm it, save your work and check the next sign-in screen; no restart is required. Your configured credentials are still required. Restore the key-sequence requirement with Disabled, or restore the recorded original setting where appropriate. Windows Home lacks this policy editor. If a managed PC blocks or restores the change, contact its administrator. This setting does not remove a password or enable automatic sign-in.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it safe to remove my PIN?
It’s safe as long as you have a strong password. Microsoft recommends a PIN because it only works on that one device, while your Microsoft account password works anywhere. If you use passkeys in Windows 11 for websites or apps, check where they are stored before removing your PIN; locally saved Windows Hello passkeys need a working Hello verification method.
Will removing my PIN delete any files?
No. It only changes how you sign in. Your files, apps, and settings stay the same.
I forgot my PIN. Do I have to remove it?
No. On the sign-in screen, select I forgot my PIN and follow the steps to reset it. Microsoft notes this option works only for Microsoft accounts. With a local account, sign in with your password and reset the PIN in Settings.
Why does Windows say my organization requires a PIN?
That message means a work or school account is connected to the PC, and its policy sets PIN rules such as expiry. Check Access work or school as described in Fix 3. On a home PC, registry and Group Policy workarounds found online are risky and often don’t apply to Windows 11 Home.
Matthew Burleigh is the founder, head writer, and editor of Solve Your Tech, which he launched in 2012. He has written technology tutorials since 2008 and worked in IT since 2003, including small-business support, IT management, and consulting. He holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science from Arizona State University.
Matthew writes practical guides for Windows, iPhone and iPad, Microsoft Office, Outlook, Google apps, and Android. Solve Your Tech’s guides are tested on current devices or checked against official product documentation, with clear steps, sources, and update dates.
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