A Windows Hello PIN and an account password are separate credentials. You can sign in with the password instead of the PIN without converting one into the other.
Steps
- At the Windows sign-in screen, choose Sign-in options.
- Select the password sign-in method.
- Enter the password for the Microsoft or local account.
- After signing in, open Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options if you want to manage the PIN.
- Open the PIN (Windows Hello) controls and use the available change/removal option only if that is actually your goal.
If the password option is missing
On many Windows 11 PCs signed in with a Microsoft account, the sign-in screen only offers the PIN. That happens when For improved security, only allow Windows Hello sign-in for Microsoft accounts on this device is turned on.
- Sign in with your PIN.
- Open Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options.
- Under Additional settings, turn that Windows Hello-only setting Off.
- Sign out. The sign-in screen now shows Sign-in options with a key icon for the password.
The same setting is why the PIN Remove button is often greyed out. Once it is off, you can remove the PIN if you want the password to be the only choice. Our guide to disabling the PIN on Windows 11 walks through that.
PIN or password: which should you use?
| Windows Hello PIN | Account password | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it works | Only on this one PC | Any device signed in to the same account |
| If someone learns it | They also need this PC to use it | They can try it anywhere online |
| Forgotten | Reset with “I forgot my PIN” after verifying the account | Reset through Microsoft account recovery or local recovery questions |
A PIN is device-specific
Windows Hello protects the PIN using the device and its security hardware where supported. It is not simply a shorter version of your Microsoft account password and generally cannot be used on another PC.
Passwordless settings can affect the options
Microsoft account and organization policies can require Windows Hello or hide particular sign-in choices. Do not weaken managed security settings merely to make the sign-in screen resemble an older Windows configuration.
Forgotten passwords require account recovery
Knowing the Windows Hello PIN does not reveal a forgotten Microsoft account password. Use Microsoft’s authorized account-recovery process or the supported local-account recovery method.
Keep a recovery path
Before removing a working sign-in method, confirm that you know the account password and can access any required recovery information. That prevents accidentally reducing your own ability to sign in.
Related: Change your PIN on Windows 10.
Frequently asked questions
Will Windows remember that I picked the password?
Usually yes. The sign-in screen tends to show the method you used last, so after signing in with your password once, it should appear first next time.
How do I change the password itself?
Go to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options > Password > Change. For a Microsoft account, Windows sends you to the account website. Full steps are in how to change your password on Windows 11.
Can I turn off Windows Hello completely?
You can remove the PIN, face, and fingerprint options one by one. See how to disable Windows Hello on Windows 11 for the steps and the trade-offs.
Why does my work PC insist on a PIN?
Your organization probably requires Windows Hello for Business. Those policies can’t be changed from Settings; ask your IT team.
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.