This post shows students and new users steps to change their PIN in Windows 11. Windows 11 comes with a Windows Hello feature that provides a more personal and secure way to sign into Windows.
With Windows Hello, one can use a PIN, facial recognition, or fingerprint to sign into their Windows devices. When you are setting up a facial recognition or fingerprint to sign into Windows, you’ll also need to set up a PIN. A PIN can also be used independently to sign into to Windows 11.
If you have set up a PIN and you wish to change it to something else, you can do that easily from the Windows Settings app. You can only change your PIN if you know the current PIN or can sign into Windows with your Microsoft or local account.
If you do not know your current PIN, then you will have to reset your PIN instead of trying to change it.
Since your PIN is also tied with your Microsoft account, you need to know the sign-in credential for your Microsoft account. A local password account may need needed if you can’t validate your Microsoft account.
If you want to reset your Windows PIN, the steps below show you how to do that.
How to Change a PIN in Windows 11
Changing your Windows PIN depends on knowing your current PIN, having a valid local password account or a Microsoft online account. If you can’t validate those accounts, you may not be able to change your account PIN.
You’ll have to reset the PIN instead.
If you can login with your local password or Microsoft account, then sign in and go to Widows Settings app to change your PIN there.
Windows 11 has a centralized location for majority of its settings. From system configurations to creating new users and updating Windows, all can be done from its System Settings pane.
To get to System Settings, you can use the Windows key + i shortcut or click on Start ==> Settings as shown in the image below:
Alternatively, you can use the search box on the taskbar and search for Settings. Then select to open it.
Windows Settings pane should look similar to the image below. In Windows Settings, click Accounts, then select the Sign-in options tile on the right pane of your screen shown in the image below.
On the Sign-in options settings pane, under Ways to sign in, click on the PIN (Windows Hello) tile to expand it.
Then click the Change PIN button to change your PIN.
Once you click the Change PIN button, it will open a new window to change your PIN. On that window, type in the current PIN, then enter and confirm a new PIN you want to use.
That should do it!
You can close the Windows Settings app.
Conclusion:
This post showed you how to change your PIN in Windows 11. If you find any error above or have something to add, please use the comment form below.
