My gaming PC won't show the PIN field when I try to login

Hi Joe,

Thank you for posting your question here!

I understand the concern and this is a common Windows issue so no need to worry. What is happening is Windows Hello failed to load the PIN sign in, which is why the PIN field is missing and Set up my PIN does nothing. The recovery screen you see is normal and confirms Windows recovery is working. To fix this, you can start the PC in Safe Mode and reset the PIN. To do that, from the blue screen select Troubleshoot then Advanced options then Startup Settings then Restart. When the PC restarts and shows a list, press 4 on the keyboard to start Safe Mode. Once logged in, go to Settings then Accounts then Sign in options, remove the PIN, restart normally, and add the PIN again. This usually resolves the issue without reinstalling Windows.

Let me know if you need further assistance, feel free to ask me by clicking "Add Comment" or "Add Answer" if you cannot add comment so your response will be visible. Thank you and I appreciate your effort.

Best Regards,

Angelique P.

The PIN component of Windows Hello is corrupted and the system is stuck at the “Something happened and your PIN isn’t available” screen. When “Set up my PIN” does nothing and Safe/Advanced options are limited, the reliable way forward is to sign in by another method or, if that is impossible, reinstall/reset Windows.

Use these approaches, in order of least to most disruptive:

1. Try another sign‑in method
   On the sign‑in screen, select the sign‑in options icon and choose:
   • Password for the Microsoft account or local account, or
   • Any other Windows Hello method (fingerprint, face) if configured.
     Once signed in, reset the PIN from Start > Settings > Accounts > Sign‑in options > PIN (Windows Hello) > I forgot my PIN.
2. Boot to Safe Mode and test sign‑in
   From the sign‑in screen:
   1. Select Power > Restart while holding Shift.
   2. On Choose an option, select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart.
   3. After restart, press 4 or F4 for Safe Mode (or 5/F5 for Safe Mode with Networking).
   4. In Safe Mode, sign in with the account password (PIN and biometrics are not available there).
   5. Once in the desktop, open Settings > Accounts > Sign‑in options and remove/recreate the PIN.
   If sign‑in works in Safe Mode, the issue is with the PIN/Windows Hello configuration rather than the GPU settings.
3. If no sign‑in method works (fully locked out)
   When neither password nor PIN works and Safe Mode does not allow access, the remaining practical option is to reinstall Windows:
   • Use Troubleshoot > Reset this PC from the recovery environment and choose Keep my files to preserve personal files while Windows is reinstalled and apps/settings are removed.
   • If Reset is not available or fails, a clean install from external media is required, which will result in data loss on the system drive.

If Windows Hello (PIN) problems persist even after regaining access, follow the dedicated Windows Hello troubleshooting guidance referenced below.

References:

• Troubleshoot Problems Signing In to Windows
• User Account Access in Windows
• Troubleshoot problems with Windows Hello on Surface
• Stuck in an infinite loop involving the PIN - Microsoft Q&A
• Unable to log in to Dell Rugged Laptop - Microsoft Q&A