How to Fix Sign-In PIN Not Working After a Windows 11 Feature Update

Quick fix: At the sign-in screen, click Sign-in options below the PIN field, switch to Password (Microsoft account or local). Sign in with password. Then in Windows: Settings → Accounts → Sign-in options → PIN (Windows Hello) → I forgot my PIN to reset.

You sign in to Windows 11 with your PIN every day. After a feature update or major cumulative update, the PIN doesn’t work — “Something happened and your PIN isn’t available” or PIN entry just produces no response. The fix is to sign in via password (which still works), then reset the PIN.

What causes this

Windows Hello PIN is bound to the TPM and to your user identity. Feature updates sometimes reset the binding — the local PIN database (NGC) gets cleared while the user identity persists. Symptoms: PIN entry doesn’t accept your previous PIN, or the field is greyed, or Windows shows “PIN isn’t available.” The fix is to reset the PIN from scratch, which re-establishes the TPM binding.

Method 1: Sign in via password, then reset PIN

The standard recovery.

1. At the sign-in screen, click Sign-in options (the small text below the PIN field).
2. Click the icons for sign-in methods — pick Password (Microsoft account icon or key icon).
3. Enter your Microsoft account password (or local account password).
4. Sign in. The desktop loads.
5. Open Settings → Accounts → Sign-in options.
6. Click PIN (Windows Hello).
7. Click I forgot my PIN.
8. Confirm your Microsoft account password.
9. Enter a new PIN. Confirm.
10. Lock the PC (Win + L) and test the new PIN. Should sign you in.

This is the standard recovery procedure. Works for nearly all post-update PIN failures.

Method 2: Clear the NGC folder for a deeper reset

Use when Method 1’s reset PIN flow fails (“Something went wrong” during reset).

1. Sign in via password (Method 1 step 1-4).
2. Open Terminal (Admin).
3. Take ownership of the NGC folder and clear it:

   takeown /f C:\Windows\ServiceProfiles\LocalService\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Ngc /r /d y
   icacls C:\Windows\ServiceProfiles\LocalService\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Ngc /grant administrators:F /t
   Remove-Item -Recurse -Force C:\Windows\ServiceProfiles\LocalService\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Ngc\* -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
   icacls C:\Windows\ServiceProfiles\LocalService\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Ngc /setowner "NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM" /t

4. Reboot.
5. At sign-in, you can’t use PIN (since NGC was cleared). Use password.
6. After sign-in, set up a new PIN: Settings → Accounts → Sign-in options → PIN → Set up.
7. Enter and confirm new PIN.
8. Sign out and back in with the PIN to verify.

This handles cases where the NGC folder has corrupted entries that block PIN reset.

Method 3: Re-enroll Windows Hello entirely

For chronic PIN issues — clear and re-enroll all biometric and PIN data.

1. Sign in via password.
2. Open Settings → Accounts → Sign-in options.
3. For each enrolled item, click Remove:
   • Facial recognition
   • Fingerprint recognition
   • PIN (last)
4. Sign out and back in to ensure all Hello state is cleared.
5. Now set up fresh:
   • PIN first (required as the base)
   • Fingerprint (if your laptop has a reader)
   • Facial recognition (if your laptop has an IR camera)
6. Test by locking the PC and signing back in with each method.

This is the deepest reset. Use when Methods 1 and 2 don’t produce a working PIN.

How to verify the fix worked

• Lock the PC (Win + L). Enter the new PIN. Signs in within 1-2 seconds.
• Reboot. PIN field at sign-in screen is active and accepts your PIN.
• Open Settings → Accounts → Sign-in options → PIN (Windows Hello). Section shows Set up with green checkmark.
• Run Get-Service WbioSrvc, NgcCtnrSvc in PowerShell. Both services should be Running.

If none of these work

If the new PIN also fails to work after the reset, three causes apply. TPM issues: a corrupted TPM state breaks Windows Hello. Open tpm.msc. If status shows warnings, click Clear TPM (this also clears BitLocker — suspend BitLocker first). After TPM clear, re-enroll PIN. Corrupted user profile: a damaged user profile may prevent any PIN binding. Create a new local user account, sign in to it, set up PIN there. If it works in the new account, the original profile is corrupted — migrate files. Group Policy block: corporate-managed PCs may have policies that restrict PIN usage. Contact IT. For chronic PIN failures despite all fixes, fall back to Microsoft account password as primary sign-in — it’s always available.

Bottom line: PIN failures after feature updates are common — sign in via password, click “I forgot my PIN,” reset. Deeper resets (NGC folder clear, full Hello re-enroll) handle the stubborn cases.