How Can I Remove the PIN from Windows 11 Easily?
How Can I Remove the PIN from Windows 11 Easily?
3 Answers

Want to ditch your Windows 11 PIN? No worries, I’ve got you covered! Maybe you’re all about the password life or prefer a sleek face scan instead. Here’s how you can easily yank that PIN out of your login mix.
1. First things first—backups! Double-check that you’ve got another login option ready to roll—like a good old password or maybe even a snazzy fingerprint. Windows 11 doesn’t want you getting locked out, so they insist on having a backup plan.
2. Time to get down to business: Removing the PIN.
- Hit that Windows key + I. This will whisk you away to the Settings. Or, if you’re like me and enjoy a leisurely click, just head to the Start Menu and find Settings.
- Scoot on over to Accounts on the left, then zero in on Sign-in options.
- Find “PIN (Windows Hello),” and you’ll see a Remove button waiting for you. Click it, and you’ll need to punch in your Microsoft password to seal the deal.
3. Oh no, the Remove button is greyed out? No sweat, let’s fix it.
- This usually means the passwordless feature is being a little too trusty. Get back into Settings under Accounts and Sign-in options.
- In the “Additional settings” section, toggle off the bit that insists on Windows Hello for Microsoft accounts.
- Still stuck? Head over to the “Your info” section in Accounts and wiggle around in the Microsoft account security page. Turn off passwordless settings over there too.
4. Still no luck? Don’t throw in the towel just yet.
- Give the “I Forgot My PIN” link a whirl under the PIN settings. You’ll start the reset process, but psst… you can just bail on it once you’re in the middle. Sometimes this wipes the PIN on its own.
- For the tech-savvy, there’s a more hardcore approach via CMD. If words like “command-line” get your gears going, type this in:
-
C:\\Windows\\ServiceProfiles\\LocalService\\AppData\\Local\\Microsoft\\Ngc /T /Q /C /RESET
- Restart your PC, and voilà, your PIN might just vanish.
So there it is, paths for every type of user. Whether you’re the “let’s-keep-it-simple” type or love to deep dive, your PIN dilemma doesn\’t stand a chance. Keep it secure, all right?

So, you’re looking to get rid of that pesky PIN on your Windows 11, huh? Well, you’re not alone. Windows 11 loves its security features, and it doesn’t always make it easy to ditch them. Here’s a friendly rundown on how you can go about it.
First off, let’s chat about why you’re stuck with it. Microsoft\’s all about security these days. They’ve embraced PINs as a security feature since they\’re tied to your device, not just your account. That’s like having home security that only works with your actual house—neat, but sometimes annoying when you just want quick access.
Now, if the option to remove the PIN is grayed out, chances are you’ve got some settings that need tweaking. Here\’s what to do:
- Go to Settings (hit that Windows + I shortcut) and pop into Accounts, then Sign-in options.
- Look for the setting that says “For improved security, only allow Windows Hello sign-in for Microsoft accounts” and turn it off.
- Give your device a quick restart, and you should see the Remove button for the PIN light up like Christmas.
Sometimes, the system might not let you ditch the PIN because it wants to make sure you have another way to log in. If you don’t have a standard password set up, fix that first:
- In Sign-in options, click Password, then Add.
- Follow the instructions—just like any other site, you’ll need something that passes Microsoft\’s complexity checks.
- Once you\’ve added a password, swing back to the PIN part and hit Remove.
If you’ve tried all that and still can\’t shake the PIN, there might be some deeper settings—like in the Registry—holding you back. Tread carefully here:
- Open the Registry Editor by pressing Win + R, typing “regedit,” and hitting Enter.
- Navigate over to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows NT\\CurrentVersion\\PasswordLess\\Device
- Change DevicePasswordLessBuildVersion from 2 to 0.
- Another restart, and you should be good to go. You can also type “control userpasswords2” to manage password settings.
One last unconventional method is switching from a Microsoft account to a local one. This can make things a bit easier:
- Go into Settings, then Accounts, and jump to Your info.
- Choose the option to sign in with a local account instead, go through the setup, and your PIN should become a thing of the past.
Before you make these changes, keep a few thoughts in mind:
- Back up your stuff—always smart when tinkering with system settings.
- Keep security levels up; if you drop the PIN, make sure you’ve got a hefty password at least.
- If you’re on a work device, company policies might be blocking your attempts. A quick chat with IT could save you time.
By untangling these security webs, you’ll free yourself from the PIN hassles, all while keeping your system cozy and safe.

If you’re looking to kick that pesky PIN out of Windows 11, especially when the option’s playing hard to get, here’s the lowdown:
- First things first, double-check system settings: Sometimes, if your device is hooked up with a workplace or family account, they might have the PIN locked down for security reasons.
- Dive into Sign-in Options:
- Click your trusty Start button and head over to Settings.
- From there, it’s Accounts, and then off to Sign-in options.
- Hitting a Wall with Greyed Out Options? Sometimes the system’s just being picky because another login method is a must-have.
- Ditch the PIN through Account Passwords:
- Make sure you’ve got a classic password. If it’s missing, just add one under the Password section in Sign-in options.
- Having this backup can unlock that stubborn remove button for the PIN.
- Try Out the Local Group Policy Editor:
- Hit Windows + R to open the Run box, type gpedit.msc, and hit Enter.
- Navigate through this path: Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Logon.
- There’s a setting called Turn on convenience PIN sign-in – make it Disabled.
- Tinker with Registry Settings: (Only if you’re feeling adventurous! And it’s smart to back things up first.)
- Pop open the Run box again, type regedit, and off you go.
- Head over to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\PolicyManager\default\Settings\AllowSignInOptions.
- Flip the script by changing that value from 1 to 0.
And hey, if all else fails, maybe Microsoft’s support has your back or a future update might smooth things out.