How to Add a PIN to Your Account in Windows 11

How to Add a PIN to Your Account

Option 1Add a PIN through Settings

1. Press Win + I on your keyboard to open Settings. The Settings⚙️ window opens.
2. Click Accounts in the left menu, then select Sign-in options on the right. A list of sign-in methods appears, such as facial recognition, fingerprint, PIN and password.
3. Scroll down to PIN (Windows Hello) and click its header to expand it. The methods you see depend on your hardware, so your list may be shorter than someone else’s.
4. Click the Set up button next to “Use a PIN to sign in to Windows, apps, and services”. A verification window appears.
5. Click Next if you use a Microsoft account. Skip this step if you use a local account.
6. Type your current account password to confirm it’s you, then click Sign in or OK. The window now asks you to create a PIN.
7. Type the PIN you want, then type it again in the confirmation box. It must be at least 4 digits. Check Include letters and symbols if you want a more complex PIN.
8. Click OK to finish. The PIN (Windows Hello) section now shows Change PIN and Remove instead of Set up.

That’s it. You now have a PIN you can use at the sign-in screen and when you unlock the PC. You set it up while signed in, so you did not need to log out.

If the Set up button is missing or greyed out, a work or school organization probably manages the PC and controls its sign-in policy. Ask your IT administrator in that case. Such policies can also set a minimum PIN length or require letters and symbols.

To undo the change later, return to the same section and click Remove. Windows asks for your password to confirm.

Option 2Add a PIN from the Sign-in Screen

1. On the sign-in screen, click Sign-in options below the password box. A row of icons appears, one for each sign-in method available on this PC.
2. Choose the PIN option.
3. Enter your account password (not a PIN) and press Enter.
4. Click Next if you’re using a Microsoft account.
5. Create your new PIN and click OK. Type it twice, as in the Settings⚙️ method.
6. Wait while Windows signs you in with your PIN. From now on, use the PIN at the sign-in screen.

You should now have a working PIN that you added without first signing in to the desktop. This route suits you if you skipped the PIN during the initial computer setup and want one before your next login.

If you don’t see a PIN option on the sign-in screen, sign in with your password and use the Settings method above instead. Whichever method you use, you can change or remove the PIN later under Settings › Accounts › Sign-in options.

Wrapping Up

A PIN improves everyday security because it is stored only on your device and is not sent across the internet. A Trusted Platform Module (TPM, a dedicated security chip on your motherboard) protects this data. Windows 11 requires TPM 2.0, so most PCs that run it have this chip. That means someone who learns your PIN still can’t use it on another computer, and your online password is not exposed.

• More secureYour PIN works only on your device and is not sent online.
• Protected by special hardwareThe TPM chip in your device keeps your PIN data safe from attackers.
• Quick to useSigning in with a PIN is faster than typing a long password.
• Works with biometricsUse the PIN as a backup if fingerprint or face sign-in isn’t available.
• FlexibleYou can create a simple or complex PIN.

If you also set up face or fingerprint sign-in, Windows now defaults to that method at every sign-in. If you then use your PIN three times in a row, Windows stays with the PIN until you switch methods yourself. Use Sign-in options on the sign-in screen to switch back.

Enhanced Sign-in Security now works with supported external fingerprint readers. That gives you a biometric option alongside the PIN. Check Settings › Accounts › Sign-in options to see which options your PC offers.

Helpful Links

• Windows Sign-In Options – Microsoft Support
• Troubleshooting PIN Setup Errors