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Question

windows 10 pin code not working after anniversary update

Aug 4, 2016 7:17PM PDT

Has anyone experienced this issue and is there a solution. I can log in with my password but not my PIN. After logging in I did a PIN change and tried again - same result. Any ideas?

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Windows 10 pin code not working
Aug 4, 2016 10:37PM PDT

Try the Steps:

To repair your PIN & picture password:
Open File Explorer and browse to this location:

C:\Windows\ServiceProfiles\LocalService\AppData\Local\Microsoft\NGC
Delete everything within that folder
Go to Settings-> Accounts->Sign-in Options
Click Add a PIN again and set your PIN
PIN sign in should work going forward

And Windows 10 Build Current Version ??

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above didn't work for me
Aug 14, 2016 7:02AM PDT

what worked for me

click start then select the user "you" bottom right

click change account settings

then create a new login name / pin

downside is items wont sync between other MS devices
not a problem for me as i use apple mac/phones/ipad etc

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Huh?
Oct 12, 2016 7:08PM PDT

hullchap, your solution doesn't make sense. 1) Why would I want to create a new login in name just to enable (or fix) the PIN for the current user and 2) there is no "new login name" anything on that screen.

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Can't add a PIN
Dec 7, 2016 12:56PM PST

I had the same issue. After I removed the PIN, I tried to add it back. However the ADD button is grayed out and doesn't do anything all. There is no group policy pertaining to it and I'm logged on as the local administrator. How do I regain this function?

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this worked for me
Feb 3, 2017 11:05PM PST

Man,You just saved my day. i had tried several times but to no avail and i ha thought of resetting the OS. This worked for me 100%

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Worked great
Aug 9, 2017 8:29AM PDT

That worked like a charm! Many thanks for sharing the fix.

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Nope
Sep 16, 2017 1:29AM PDT

I do not have permission to enter the folder you mentioned, my response is turning off automatic updates. I will no longer willing to let Microsoft break my stuff. I need the pin to sign in, sorry.

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Answer
(NT) Call Microsoft.
Aug 5, 2016 6:27AM PDT
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thx
Aug 6, 2016 10:21AM PDT

thx

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As I read this article, not for local logins.
Dec 7, 2016 1:19PM PST
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Answer
windows 10 pin
Aug 9, 2016 5:39AM PDT

I had the same problem and it was because when at the log in screen my laptop had no internet access. I logged in with my password and found a fix for the wifi on a Microsoft windows 10 forum. Then the pin worked.

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Answer
Sign in to Windows 10 with Pin
Aug 20, 2016 4:06PM PDT

Hi guys - sorry to simplify this too much but I experienced the same issue and got around it by changing my password to my desired pin number - worked for me

Cheers
Damian

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Doh
Sep 29, 2016 4:46PM PDT

Password and pin are not the same thing. Doh!

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Answer
Pin reset
Aug 26, 2016 6:03AM PDT

I tried changing the pin and it still would not accept it. So I decided to simply remove the pin that was stored and start over. After it was removed I then re-entered the same pin as before
and it worked.

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remove pin
Oct 12, 2016 7:12PM PDT

So how do you remove it?

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Pin reset
Oct 13, 2016 5:10AM PDT

If you have not gotten this fixed yet I went into settings, selected accounts, then sign in options, then pin, and then remove. I removed the pin and then replaced it with the same pin and it worked for me. I have windows 10 pro.

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this was not there before!
Mar 11, 2017 8:06AM PST

thanks
probably Microsoft added it at some point.

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Remove PIN then Add Pin
Oct 21, 2016 5:53AM PDT

This worked a charm for me. To clarify though, the "Remove" button should be right beside the "Change" button which it was in my case. Selecting "Change" and setting PIN didn't work for me, but selecting "Remove", entering my windows account password then selecting "Add PIN", entering the same PIN then entering my windows account password again worked perfectly. Great advice. BTW, any advice to do with deleting non temporary system files, in my opinion, is nonsensical, unpredictable and asking for trouble. Recommend steering clear of such advice.

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Answer
deleting NGC files broke Add Pin option
Sep 29, 2016 4:54PM PDT

Used a pin for 6 months. Now login requires password. Re-added a pin but still asks for password. "Forgot PIN" just defers back to the dialog I'm already on. After many Add PIN attempts and reboots, I decided to try clearing the NGC folder as recommended here. Now the Add PIN option button does nothing, no dialog, nothing. Broken. Restored deleted files. Still broken. ***?

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I've seen a lot of posts on this.
Sep 29, 2016 5:07PM PDT

It appears you can indeed break the login by deleting files. Since "you did this" you may have to do a Windows 10 reset. There are various options there but just like prior Windows it is breakable.

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Answer
Easy fix
Oct 5, 2016 7:06AM PDT

I had this problem too. So I solved it by logging in with my actual microsoft password. Removing the old pin (using microsoft password to delete) then adding it again and presto chango it was active again. It seems September 29, 2016 — KB3194496 (OS Builds 14393.222) breaks the pin. I did contact Microsoft Answer Desk about the issue but all they said was there was cummulative update. (OH you dont say!) but yes I did get more detailed info about the update

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3194496
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/12387/windows-10-update-history

There is a CSV file with files affected on the first link that shows the different files under the "file information for cumulative update 3194496." hyperlink.

One of those files may be related to the PIN files but my guess is the pointer file for it got corrupted or blanked in the update.

Hope this helps.

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Re: Easy Fix
Oct 7, 2016 7:15AM PDT

I could never resolve the PIN issue after the update and ended up rolling back to the previous build and disabling automatic updates. The problem went beyond the PIN on my Surface Pro 4, it also made Office 2016 un-useable. I couldn't open any office programs because apparently the account verification system was broken. Spent about 6 hours with two different MS Support techs yesterday morning and neither could solve the problem, even after removing and re-installing the updates, removing and re-installing office, etc. So if anyone else affected by this you might try rolling back... and disabling updates in Services.

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$)#^@& Microsoft
Oct 12, 2016 8:05PM PDT

Hulk678, how do you remove the old pin and/or remove the old password as you mentioned? Everything seems to be "change" only... which currently do not work anyway in the Sign-In Options dialog.

I can't believe Microsoft update trashed the OS on my new laptop. Besides the PIN no longer working and System Restore getting disabled, waking up from Sleep mode hangs at the little spinning icon. I have to force a hard boot with the power button. I finally just disabled Sleep Mode, which takes some of the mobility out of a mobile device. Even if I reset Windows 10, it will just bring me back to the same Anniversary Update problems. There's too many apps and app settings to redo for me to experiment while away from my office. ***?

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Removing pin
Oct 13, 2016 8:14AM PDT

So when you are at the log in screen if you have a Microsoft account you can change the login option from pin to password. It is under the password/pin field as two icons. The pin lools like a number pad and the password a keyboard. Change to password and log in with your Microsoft password. Then go to security settings to "remove" not "change" your old pin using your Microsoft password as I explained. Then create a new pin. If this is not working at you may have a severely damaged system files. So you can do what is called a "in place system upgrade" so that will keep your old files and reinstall your system. Search for a how-to do a in place Windows 10 upgrade reinstall.

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Wholey rusted operating systems Microsoft!
Oct 14, 2016 8:58PM PDT

B-b-b-ut they disappeared that. Like sneaky computer magicians with there technology and chips you can't eat, because silicon crunches wrong. Seriously though, I do not see that option on my login screen. Very good idea though. I'll keep looking, thanks! Happy

P.S. I wasn't trying to be rude with my joke...it was towards MS's crap they call an OS...but I'm bound like many due to my lacking knowledge of computers.

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Hulk678's solution worked for me:
Oct 16, 2016 11:42AM PDT

I'm reposting an edited version that cuts to the chase of exactly what I did. Thanks!

September 29, 2016 — KB3194496 (OS Builds 14393.222) breaks the pin. --- True! That's exactly when mine broke.

Remove the old PIN (using microsoft password to delete) then add it again.

At the log in screen, change the login option from PIN to password. Under the password/PIN field are two icons. The PIN looks like a number pad and the password a keyboard. Change to password and log in with your Microsoft password. Then go to security settings (Start, gear-cog Settings icon) to "remove" (not "change") your old PIN using your Microsoft password. Then create a new PIN.

This worked, my PIN gets me in as before.

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Answer
what helped me
Aug 20, 2017 3:01AM PDT

1 remove PIN.
2 create the new one.
Just changing it didn't help me but removing and recreating did.

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Answer
Window 10 Pin
Aug 22, 2017 4:42AM PDT

If you face problem regarding windows 10 pin code then You should try the following method and remember one thing never forget you pin code.
1: Open settings and go to Sign In Option
2: Click on Change Button which you can see under the Pin
3: Be careful and Enter your current correct Pin and then Type New Pin in the next tab
4: Again Enter Correct Pin in the next tab and then click OK
5: If you forget you Current Pin then click on I forgot my Pin
6: Then Reset Your Pin and Enjoy