Setup PIN / Sign-in not working
Recover access when Windows Hello or PIN sign-in stops working.
Before you start
Registry recovery changes Windows sign-in settings. Have your account password and any device recovery key available. If you cannot identify the correct Windows installation, contact support before editing.
1. Try your password first
- At the lock screen, choose Sign-in options and select password sign-in. Use your account password, not the PIN. If available, choose “I forgot my PIN” and complete the account verification.
2. Open Windows Recovery
- If password sign-in is unavailable after configuration changes, hold Shift while selecting Power → Restart. Choose Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Command Prompt, then open regedit.
3. Load the installed Windows registry
- Under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, use File → Load Hive. Select the SOFTWARE file in your installed Windows drive’s Windows/System32/config folder. Give the loaded hive a temporary name, such as BearRecovery. The recovery environment’s X: drive is not your installed Windows drive.
4. Restore password sign-in
- Within the loaded hive, find Microsoft/Windows NT/CurrentVersion/PasswordLess/Device. Set DevicePasswordLessBuildVersion to 0 if it is currently 2. Select the temporary hive and use File → Unload Hive before restarting. Sign in using your account password.
Troubleshooting
The hive is already in use
Check that you selected the installed Windows drive, not the recovery environment. Drive letters can change during recovery.
Still unable to sign in
Use your Microsoft account recovery options or contact support. This procedure does not reset your account password.
