Is your Windows 11/10 laptop unable to detect your fingerprints? If yes, then you will be directed to input your PIN code. But, again, if your PC says that your PIN code is no longer available? A quick solution is to reboot your device and check if you can unlock your PC using the PIN or not. Unfortunately, if you cannot unlock, you can follow our guide to fixing the error Your Pin Is No Longer Available on Windows.
The error message says—Your Pin Is No Longer Available Due to a Change to the Security Settings on Your Device. You can set up your PIN again by going to settings/accounts/siding options.
Probable Reasons of PIN No Longer Available Error
Windows Update: If the issue happened after a recent update, it could be the reason. Often updates do break things, and it can happen with the authentic layers as well.
NGC Folder Issue: Another reason for this error could be the difference in PIN data stored in the NGC Folder of your PC. The issue’s root cause is again the Windows Update. However, to resolve it, you can switch your device to Safe Mode and delete the NGC folder, thereby deleting its data.
How to Fix PIN No Longer Available on Windows 11/10?
In this article, I will share with you some of the ways to help you fix Pin no Longer available on Windows.
- Sign in with your Microsoft Credentials
- Boot your Device in Recovery Mode
- Reset your Device
These methods assume you can still sign in using the Microsoft account with a password.
1. Sign in with your Microsoft Credentials & Reset PIN
- Switch to the Sign in with Password option on the login screen
- Input your MS admin account password
- Press Enter key to unlock your device
- Go to Settings, navigate to the Accounts section
- Select the “Sign-in options” option
- Navigate to the PIN section, and you will see an option saying “I forgot my PIN” select the option.
- You will then have to input your MS account password once again
- Further, you will be asked to create a new PIN and input it in the space given
2. Startup Repair
Switch on (boot) your laptop in the Recovery Mode. Now, you have to implement a Startup Repair. However, as you cannot use your PIN, you may feel like switching to the initial Windows version. But you should follow the steps given below to resolve the issue:
- On your laptop’s login screen, you will see a Power icon, navigate there
- Please select the option to boot your device in Recovery mode. Make sure to press the Shift key with it
- Find and click the Troubleshoot option
- Choose the Startup Repair option
- You will be prompted to some set of instructions to get started with the Startup Repair Process
- After the process completes, then Reboot your device
Unfortunately, if you are still unable to access using your PIN, then you uninstall any recent updates. Follow the steps below to do the same:
- Boot your device once more in the Recovery Mode
- Navigate to the Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Uninstall updates
- You can then choose between the Uninstall latest quality update and Uninstall latest feature update.
- Select the Uninstall latest quality update if the issue occurred after a recent update. However, if it happened post major upgrade, choose the latter.
Follow the on-screen instruction, and restart the PC once done.
3. Reset or System Restore your Device
When none of the above methods work for you, it’s time to reset or System Restore the PC.
System Restore
Go to Advanced Recovery > Troubleshoot > System Restore. During this process, you will have to select a date where the PIN was working. Done that, it will revert the state of the OS to that date, and the PIN should work fine.
Note: If you have a System Image Backup, you can use that too.
Reset This PC
If System Restore doesn’t work, follow the method below to reset the PC.
Go to Advanced Recovery. Then you will get an option to Reset your PC. Now choose the option that will allow you to Keep the files and folders. Once done, you will have to reinstall all the applications on the PC again.
I hope the post was easy to follow, and you were able to fix the Your Pin Is No Longer Available on Windows PC.
Why Would the Restarting Device Option Not Work Every Time To Resolve the Issue?
Even though a restart fixes many issues, only if they are temporary, if a boot-related problem or your System is corrupted, you can resolve the issue by resetting your device.
How can a Corrupted System generate an Error?
A corrupt file, especially a system file, can cause significant problems. Let’s assume a file responsible for booting your PC is corrupt. Then Windows will fail to boot and generate a BSOD.