Changing your Windows 10 PIN takes a minute in Sign-in options. You need your current PIN, or your account password if you have forgotten it. Windows 10 reached end of support on October 14, 2025. Consumer Extended Security Updates (ESU) now run until October 12, 2027.
Quick Answer
Open Settings, Accounts, Sign-in options, select Windows Hello PIN, click Change PIN, enter the current PIN and the new one twice, then click OK.
How to Change Your PIN on Windows 10
- Open Settings and select Accounts.
- Select Sign-in options.
- Click Windows Hello PIN, then Change PIN.
- Enter your current PIN.
- Type the new PIN twice. Check Include letters and symbols for a stronger PIN.
- Click OK and lock the PC to test the new PIN.
PIN Options
| Task | Where |
|---|---|
| Change PIN | Sign-in options, Windows Hello PIN, Change PIN |
| Forgot PIN | I forgot my PIN link |
| Remove PIN | Remove button (may need to turn off Hello-only sign-in) |
| Stronger PIN | Include letters and symbols |
| Minimum length | Four digits, or more by policy |
Reset a PIN You’ve Forgotten
You can’t change a PIN you don’t remember, but you can replace it from the sign-in screen:
- On the sign-in screen, click I forgot my PIN under the PIN box.
- Microsoft account: enter your account password, or request a verification code by email, text or the Authenticator app. Local account: enter your account password.
- Confirm that you want to continue, then type a new PIN twice and click OK.
If you’ve also forgotten the password, reset a Microsoft account password from another device at the Microsoft account website, or use your security questions for a local account.
Add a PIN If You Don’t Have One
- Open Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options.
- Select Windows Hello PIN and click Add.
- Verify your account password, then enter the new PIN twice and click OK.
Why Windows Uses a PIN
A Windows Hello PIN works only on the PC where you created it. Unlike your Microsoft account password, it isn’t sent to Microsoft when you sign in, so someone who learns it can’t use it to get into your email or OneDrive from another computer. On PCs with a TPM security chip, the PIN unlocks credentials stored in that chip. That’s why Microsoft suggests a PIN even though it may be shorter than your password.
Choose a Good PIN
- Avoid easy patterns like 1234, 0000 or 2580, and dates such as your birthday.
- Use six digits or more, or check Include letters and symbols for a stronger PIN.
- Don’t reuse your bank card PIN or phone passcode.
- If several people use the PC, give each person their own account and PIN rather than sharing one.
Troubleshooting
- Change PIN is greyed out: your organization may manage PIN settings.
- Forgot the PIN: click I forgot my PIN on the sign-in screen and verify with your account password.
- Remove is greyed out: turn off Require Windows Hello sign-in for Microsoft accounts first.
- On Windows 11, see how to change your PIN on Windows 11 and how to change your Windows login PIN.
Related: How to sign in to Windows 10 without a password.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a PIN safer than a password?
A PIN works only on this device, so a stolen PIN is less useful than a stolen account password.
Can the PIN be letters?
Yes, if you check Include letters and symbols.
Does changing the PIN change my Microsoft account password?
No, they are separate.
What if I also forgot my password?
Reset the account password first, then set a new PIN.
Summary
- Settings, Accounts, Sign-in options.
- Windows Hello PIN, Change PIN.
- Enter the current PIN.
- Type the new PIN twice.
- Test by locking the PC.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.