Typing a long Microsoft account password every time you wake your PC gets old fast — and if your password is strong, as it should be, it is probably long and full of awkward characters. A Windows PIN solves that. It is quicker to type, it works even when you are offline, and, surprisingly to many people, it can actually be more secure than the password it replaces for signing in to your own machine.
This guide walks you through setting up a PIN on Windows 11 and Windows 10, choosing a good one, adding letters and symbols if you want them, and fixing the problems people sometimes hit along the way — including the “PIN unavailable” message.
Why a PIN Is Different from Your Password
Your Microsoft account password works everywhere: email, cloud storage, other PCs, and the web. Anyone who learns it can use it from anywhere in the world. A Windows Hello PIN is different in one crucial way — it belongs to one device only. The PIN you set on your laptop does not exist anywhere else, does not travel over the internet, and is useless to someone who does not physically have your machine.
The PIN also unlocks a secure chip on your PC called the TPM, which holds the actual sign-in keys. After a small number of wrong guesses, the system locks down and demands the full password, which makes guessing or brute-forcing a PIN on a stolen laptop far harder than it sounds. Microsoft explains this design in its overview of how Windows Hello sign-in works, and it is why Windows encourages a PIN rather than treating it as a lazy shortcut.
One important consequence: a PIN does not replace your password entirely. You still need the password for your Microsoft account online, for some confirmations inside Windows, and as a fallback if the PIN ever stops working. Keep it stored safely — ideally in a password manager.
What You Need Before You Start
You need to be signed in with an account that already has a password. Windows will not let you set a PIN on an account with no password at all, because the password is the foundation the PIN is built on. If you use a Microsoft account, have its password handy — you will be asked for it once during setup. If you use a local account without a password, add one first in Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options > Password.
Setup takes about two minutes and does not require an internet connection afterwards, although being online helps if Windows needs to verify your Microsoft account during the process.
How to Set Up a PIN on Windows 11
Follow these exact steps:
- Open Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options.
- Under Ways to sign in, select PIN (Windows Hello) to expand it.
- Click Set up. A Windows Security window will ask you to verify your account password — enter it and confirm.
- In the Set up a PIN box, type your new PIN in both fields.
- Click OK. Your PIN is active immediately.
On the same screen, tick Include letters and symbols if you want a longer, password-style PIN instead of numbers only. You will also see a note if your organisation requires a longer PIN — on work or school PCs, an administrator can enforce a minimum length, and their rules override your choices.
To test it, press Windows key + L to lock the PC, then sign back in with your new PIN. If the sign-in screen still shows the password box by default, click Sign-in options under the box and choose the keypad icon to switch to PIN entry.
How to Set Up a PIN on Windows 10
The path is almost identical. Go to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options, find Windows Hello PIN in the list, and click Add. Enter your account password when asked, type your PIN twice, and click OK. From then on, the lock screen will offer PIN entry, and you can switch between password and PIN any time using the Sign-in options link on the sign-in screen.
Changing, Removing, or Resetting Your PIN
Everything lives in the same place: Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options > PIN (Windows Hello).
- Change: Expand the PIN section and choose Change PIN. You will need your current PIN first, then you enter and confirm the new one. Change it whenever you think someone may have watched you type it — a PIN is quick to shoulder-surf in a café or office.
- Remove: Choose Remove in the same section and confirm with your account password. Only do this if you genuinely prefer password-only sign-in, because Windows will keep offering PIN setup on some screens.
- Forgot it: Choose I forgot my PIN in the PIN section, verify your Microsoft account password, and set a fresh PIN. On the sign-in screen you can also pick Sign-in options, sign in with your password instead, and then reset the PIN from Settings.
Our NetworkUstad Windows tips and sign-in guides cover more account and security settings in the same plain, step-by-step style if you are tidying up a new PC.
Choosing a PIN That Is Quick but Not Guessable
The default PIN is at least four digits, and four digits is genuinely fine for most home users because of the lockout protection built into the TPM. Even so, avoid the obvious choices: 1234, 0000, 1111, your birth year, or the last four digits of your phone number. These are exactly what a thief tries first during the few attempts the system allows.
Pick a number that means something to you but nothing to anyone else — the house number of a childhood home combined with a favourite number, for example. If you want more strength without losing speed, use six digits, or tick Include letters and symbols and use a short word-plus-number combination you can type without thinking. The Microsoft support page for Windows sign-in options lists all the sign-in methods, including fingerprint and face recognition, if your PC supports them and you want to go further.
Fixing “This PIN Is No Longer Available” and Other Problems
The most unsettling PIN problem is a message saying your PIN is no longer available because of a change to security settings. Do not panic and do not reset the PC. Click Sign-in options on that screen, sign in with your full password, then go to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options and set up the PIN again from scratch. This message most often appears after hardware changes, BIOS updates, or a motherboard repair, because those change the TPM environment the PIN is tied to.
If the PIN option is greyed out entirely, check that you are not signed in to a restricted work profile, and make sure a password exists on the account first. On a home PC, deleting the contents of the Ngc folder is an advanced fix sometimes suggested online — leave that as a last resort and only follow it carefully, because it removes all Windows Hello data, including fingerprint and face sign-in.
Common Mistakes and Helpful Tips
- Forgetting the underlying password: The PIN does not make your password disappear. Store it safely, because account recovery is much harder without it.
- Using your bank PIN: Never reuse the PIN from your bank card or phone. If one is ever exposed, you do not want it to unlock anything else.
- Expecting the PIN on other devices: A PIN is per device. Your desktop, laptop, and tablet each need their own, and they can all be different.
- Turning off the sign-in requirement: In Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options, the setting “If you’ve been away, when should Windows require you to sign in again?” controls how often you are asked. Setting it sensibly beats removing security altogether for convenience.
- Sharing a family PC: Each user account gets its own PIN, so set up separate accounts rather than sharing one PIN around the household.
Conclusion
A Windows Hello PIN gives you the best of both worlds: a sign-in that takes two seconds, tied to your device and protected by hardware lockouts, while your strong Microsoft password stays safely in the background for everything else. Set it up once in Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options, choose a combination nobody would guess, and keep your password recorded somewhere safe for the rare times Windows asks for it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a PIN really safer than a password on Windows?
For signing in to your own PC, yes in an important way: the PIN only works on that one device and is backed by TPM anti-hammering protection that locks after repeated wrong guesses. Your password still protects your Microsoft account online, so keep it strong and unique.
Can I use letters and symbols in my Windows PIN?
Yes. During setup or when changing your PIN in Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options > PIN (Windows Hello), tick Include letters and symbols. Your PIN then behaves like a short password but stays device-specific.
What if I forget my PIN?
On the sign-in screen, use Sign-in options to sign in with your password instead. Then go to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options, choose I forgot my PIN under the PIN section, verify your password, and create a new one.
Why does Windows say my PIN is unavailable?
This usually follows a hardware, BIOS, or security change that alters the TPM data your PIN depends on. Sign in with your password using Sign-in options on the lock screen, then set the PIN up again in Settings.
Does the PIN replace my Microsoft account password?
No. The PIN only unlocks that device. You still need your Microsoft account password for the web, for new devices, and as the fallback Windows asks for when you change or reset the PIN.
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