How to Set Up and Enable PIN Login in Windows 11

By default, you need to use your account password to log into your Windows 11 PC. However, you can make things easier by enabling the PIN login feature in Windows 11. Once enabled, you can use a number PIN to log into your PC and for UAC authentication (User Access Control). As you can guess, entering a PIN is far easier and faster than a complicated multi-character password. The best thing is, once you get used to PIN login, you will never want to use your regular password to log in or UAC authentication.

In this quick and straightforward tutorial, I will guide you through the steps to enable PIN login, change the PIN when needed, and disable PIN login if you no longer want to use it. Let’s get started.

Before You Start

• You need the user account password to turn on PIN security (and turn it off) in Windows 11.
• Sign into the same user account for which you want to set up the PIN login.

Turn on & set up PIN Security in Windows 11

You can turn on PIN Security directly from the Windows 11 Settings app. Here’s how to do it.

1. Press “Windows key + I” to launch the Settings window.
2. Select “Accounts” on the left panel.
3. Choose “Sign-in options” on the main page.
4. Click on the “PIN (Windows Hello)” option.
5. Press the “Set up” button.
6. Click the “Next” button.
7. Type your account password to authenticate.
8. Type a PIN in numbers in both fields.
9. Click the “Ok” button.
10. You are done; close the Settings app.

Detailed Steps (With Screenshots)

As always, the first thing to do is open the Settings app. You can use the “Windows key + I” shortcut or right-click on the Start menu icon on the taskbar and select the “Settings” option. You can also search for “Settings” in the Windows 11 Start menu.

The PIN Security is part of the Account Sign-in options. So, select the “Accounts” > “Sign-in Options” option after opening the Settings app.

Under the “Ways to Sign In” section, click the “PIN (Windows Hello)” option to expand it. Next, press the “Set up” button next to “Use a PIN to sign in to Windows, apps, and services”.

When prompted for authentication, enter the user account password and click the “OK” button.

Note: If you use a Microsoft account to log in, you might see a welcome screen. Press the “Next” button, enter the password, and click “OK”.

Now, type the PIN (in numbers) you want to set in both fields and click the “OK” button.

Note: If you want, you can also add alphabets and special characters by selecting the “include letters and symbols” checkbox. If you do this, it becomes a regular password and defeats the easy-of-use purpose of PIN Security.

That’s it. You’re done setting up the PIN login in Windows 11. From now on, you can use this PIN to log into your PC and UAC prompts.

Change the PIN in Windows 11

If you ever want to change the PIN in Windows 11 because it is compromised or too hard, follow these steps.

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Go to the “Accounts” > “Sign-in options” page.
3. Click the “PIN (Windows Hello)” option.
4. Click the “Change PIN” button.
5. Enter the old PIN in the first field.
6. Enter the new PIN in the following two fields.
7. Click the “OK” button.
8. Close the Settings app.
9. With that, you changed the Windows 11 PIN.

Detailed Steps (With Screenshots)

To open the Settings app, use the “Windows key + X” shortcut to open the Power User menu and select the “Settings” option. Alternatively, open it with a Start menu search.

After opening the Settings app, go to the “Accounts” > “Sign-in options” page. This is where you will find all the account sign-in options, including PIN Security.

Here, expand the “PIN (Windows Hello)” section with a click and then press the “Change PIN” button.

Now, type the old PIN in the first field. This is how you authenticate yourself.

Next, type the new PIN twice in the following fields and click “OK“.

That’s it. With that, you’ve changed the PIN in Windows 11. From now on, you can use the new PIN for login and UAC prompts.

Turn Off PIN Login in Windows 11

Important note: If you are using Fingerprint or Facial Recognition authentication methods, you cannot turn off the PIN login in Windows 11. It is required as an alternative method of authentication.

If you no longer want to use a PIN to sign in on Windows 11, you can it off using the Settings app. Here’s how to do it.

1. Right-click the Start button and select “Settings“.
2. Navigate to the “Accounts” > “Sign-in options” page.
3. Click the “PIN (Windows Hello)” option.
4. Press the “Remove” button.
5. Press the “Remove” button again.
6. Enter your user account password and click “OK“.
7. Close the Settings app.
8. With that, the PIN Security is removed and turned off.

Detailed Steps (With Screenshots)

Open the Windows 11 Settings app with the “Windows key + I” keyboard shortcut. After opening it, go to the “Accounts” > “Sign-in options” page. Here, click on the “PIN (Windows Hello)” option to expand it.

Now, click the “Remove” button under the “PIN (Windows Hello)” section.

As soon as you click the button, Windows 11 will ask for confirmation. Click the “Remove” button again to confirm your action.

Now, Windows 11 will prompt for your user account password. Type it and click “OK” to remove and disable PIN login in Windows 11.

Wrapping Up — Configuring PIN Login in Windows 11

As you can see, whether you want to enable PIN login, change your PIN afterward, or remove it completely and go back to the regular password, it’s all easy thanks to the Settings app. Keep in mind that while using PIN security, ensure the PIN is hard to guess but easy to remember. Also, don’t use common PINs such as 123456 or repeat numbers such as 111111.

If you have any questions or need help, comment below. I’ll be happy to assist.