How to Fix "Your PIN is No Longer Available" Error on Windows

Last update: 11-21-2024

If you’re unable to log into your Windows PC because of the error "Your PIN is no longer available due to a change to the security settings on this device" or "Something happened and your PIN isn't available. Click to setup your PIN again", clicking on "Set up my PIN" doesn't always work. This guide will help you log back into Windows. We're going to see how to enable the option to use your Windows password in addition to the PIN, so you can regain access to your system.

Steps to Resolve the Issue

1. Press and hold the right Shift key on your keyboard. While holding it, click the Power button in the bottom-right corner of your screen and select Restart.

   If prompted, click Restart Anyway.

   Keep holding the right Shift key until the Please wait screen appears. Once it does, you can release the key.

2. Access the Registry Editor

   1. From the blue screen, click Troubleshoot.
   2. Select Advanced Options.
   3. Click Command Prompt.
   4. In the Command Prompt window, type regedit and press Enter.

3. Modify the Registry

   1. In the Registry Editor, select HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE from the left panel.
   2. Click File in the top menu, then select Load Hive.
   3. Navigate to This PC → Local Disk (C:) → Windows → System32 → Config (Notice that by default the X: drive will be selected, you have to change it).
   4. Locate the file named SOFTWARE, select it, and click Open.
   5. When prompted for a key name, type MSOFTWARE and click OK.
   6. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE→MSOFTWARE→ Microsoft→Windows NT→ CurrentVersion→PasswordLess→ Device in the left panel
   7. On the right-hand side, double-click DevicePasswordLessBuildVersion.
   8. Change the value data from 2 to 0 and click OK.

4. Close the Registry Editor and Command Prompt, then click Continue on the blue screen to restart your computer.

Log In Using Your Password

After restarting, you’ll now see a Sign-in Options button on the login screen. Click it, choose Password, and enter your password to log in.

Optional: Disable the PIN

If you no longer want to use a PIN, follow these steps:

1. Right-click the Start button and select Settings.
2. From the left menu, select Accounts, then go to Sign-in Options.
3. Under the PIN section, either click Remove or choose I forgot my PIN to reset it.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you’ll be able to fix the "PIN is no longer available" error and regain access to your Windows system. If you encounter any issues, let us know in the comments!