How to Fix 'Your PIN Is No Longer Available' Error in Windows 11

We've all been there—bleary-eyed, desperately pounding in a four-digit PIN you’ve typed a thousand times, only for Windows 11 to slap you awake with the infuriating message: “Your PIN is no longer available due to a change in the security settings on this device.” Suddenly your relationship with your PC, usually one of mutual understanding (as long as you supply coffee and updates), turns passive-aggressive. What happened? Why has your faithful PIN turned traitor? More importantly, is this the universe telling you to go analog, or just Windows being, well, Windows? Here’s everything you need to know, sprinkled liberally with tips, cautionary tales, and the kind of real-world commentary only seasoned IT pros (and jaded journalists) can offer.

The Curious Case of the Disappearing PIN​

Let’s start with the basics. Your humble Windows PIN is supposed to be an easier, more secure cousin of the traditional password—shorter, device-specific, and resistant to phishing. But when Windows strikes with “Your PIN is no longer available,” it’s usually the victim of its own intricate security ballet. Underneath, you might be dealing with corrupted system files, bungled boot data, meddlesome security updates, or a party-crashing app from the download wilds.
What’s especially fun (read: exasperating) is how suddenly this can happen, with users logging in smoothly one day and blocked out the next. Security is important, of course, but when that security turns into a locked front door with the keys still inside, you have to question who it’s protecting.

Diagnosing the PIN Predicament​

Before we roll up our sleeves, let’s quickly survey what’s causing this wild goose chase with your PIN:

• Corrupted System or Boot Files: Disastrous for the stability of sign-in systems.
• Buggy Security Updates: Microsoft’s enthusiasm for updates is just as likely to fix issues as to create them.
• Multiple PINs Coexisting Unhappily: Welcome to conflict central!
• Missing or Mangled System Files: Sometimes, digital life is truly as fragile as it feels.

If only Microsoft built in an error message like “Your PIN is no longer available because we panicked about security and thought you should too,” forums would be quieter—but our jobs as IT troubleshooters far less interesting.

First Response: Sign In With Your Microsoft Account and Change the PIN​

Windows 11 provides something of a safety net for the absent-minded (or tech-plagued) in the form of your Microsoft Account. Hit “I forgot my PIN” on the login screen and you’re guided to an overlay where you plug in your Microsoft credentials and potentially set everything right.
After logging in, you’ll likely be prompted to create a new PIN right away. Alternatively, navigate to Settings -> Accounts -> Sign-in options and change your PIN from there.
IT Take: Microsoft’s single sign-on strategy is both a gift and a curse. Yes, it’s nice to untangle yourself from PIN hell, but this also cements the idea that your PC is no longer yours unless Redmond says so. Privacy purists, take note: your “local device” is getting ever less local.

Uninstall Latest Updates: The Classic "Blame It on the Patch"​

If all was well until two days ago, and then catastrophe struck post-update, welcome to the Windows Admin Olympics. Using Settings > Windows Update > Update history > Uninstall updates, you can roll back the offending update. Can’t reach the settings app? The Windows Recovery Environment (aka WinRE, friend and foe of many) is your new home, accessible via Shift+Restart from the login screen.
From WinRE, navigate to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Uninstall Updates. Now, select either “Uninstall the latest quality update” or “feature update” and let the time machine do its work.
Wit and Wisdom: In the world of Windows, sometimes progress means retreat. “Patch Tuesday” is both an event and a threat. If only Microsoft gave out medals for every administrator who courageously undoes their handiwork in the name of uptime.

Purge the Offenders: Uninstall Recently Installed Apps​

Not all menaces wear the Windows logo. Sometimes, it’s that free PDF converter (with more toolbars than features) or an “optimizer” that has quietly sabotaged your sign-in. Via Settings > Apps > Installed Apps, you can methodically uninstall your most recent additions. Power users wield tools like BCUninstaller to scorch every last trace.
A Jaded Perspective: In enterprise environments, “freeware” and “system optimizers” have been responsible for more support tickets than actual malware. Maybe IT should just hand out “I told you so” coupons.

Nuke the NGC Folder: For When Only Drastic Measures Will Do​

Obscure tucked-away system folders tend to cause outsized problems. The NGC folder, responsible for housing PIN-related secrets, is one such digital closet. If corruption creeps in, deleting this folder can force Windows to regenerate it and return balance to the sign-in force.
Reboot into Safe Mode (via Shift+Restart into WinRE > Troubleshoot > Startup Settings > Restart > F4 for Safe Mode). Then, navigate to
C:\Windows\ServiceProfiles\LocalService\AppData\Local\Microsoft
and delete the ‘Ngc’ folder.
Expert Analysis: Ever felt like a digital archaeologist, uncovering the secrets Microsoft hides in hidden directories? Why the sign-in system is so delicately wired that zapping a random folder can both break and fix it is one of Windows’ enduring mysteries.

TPM Shenanigans: Enable or Clear Trusted Platform Module​

Hardware-based security is supposed to be invisible, silent, and unerringly reliable. Unless you’re running Windows, in which case TPM issues can lock you out in the rudest possible way. If your device’s TPM is disabled, re-enable it via BIOS/UEFI (usually as ‘TPM’, ‘Intel PTT’, ‘AMD fTPM’, or various other charming aliases). If TPM is enabled and acting up, you might need to clear it via the Security Processor Troubleshooter (found by searching for “Security processor troubleshooting” in the Start menu).
Remember to select the relevant reason—preferably “Windows Hello showed me an error related to TPM”—and confirm via a User Account Control prompt.
IT Reality Check: The Trusted Platform Module is one of those features every device needs but nobody wants to tinker with. Like a car’s airbags, you hope you’ll never have to check if they’re working—until you crash into the PIN wall and need to dig into BIOS at 7 AM. Also, every “clear TPM” step comes with a low-key warning: “This might mess with your encrypted stuff.” Sleep well!

Disabling Password-Less Sign-In: Registry Roulette​

Since Windows loves flipping switches on your behalf, some users may find that passwordless sign-in (as opposed to password-less, which feels like the future of all our accounts) is enabled, blocking other sign-in options. Solution? Time to adventure into the Registry Editor—a rite of passage for all aspiring IT pros.
From WinRE, go to Command Prompt and open Regedit. Load the hive C:\Windows\System32\Config\SOFTWARE (call it “NewKey”) and go to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\NewKey\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\PasswordLess\Device
Change the “DevicePasswordLessBuildVersion” to 0. Finally, unload the hive and reboot.
Journalist’s Note: It’s remarkable that, in 2025, “just tweak the registry” remains a valid solution for a mainstream OS bug. Windows still expects users to moonlight as system engineers, proving some things never change.

Last Resort: Resetting Your PC from WinRE​

When nothing else works, you’re left with the nuclear option—resetting Windows from recovery mode. Thankfully, you can elect to keep your files (your cat photos and tax documents are safe-ish), or start anew if you suspect deeper rot.
Head to WinRE’s Troubleshoot > Reset this PC. Choose between “Keep my files” and “Remove everything". Follow the steps and brace for a reinstall reminiscent of those early-2000s afternoons.
Professional Lament: “Did you back up?” remains the least-answered, most-asked question in IT. The reset option is the ultimate trump card—use it wisely, and with recent backups. Or, at least, prepare for a scavenger hunt to recover your files from the Cloud or old HDDs.

What If It Still Doesn’t Work? A Short FAQ​

Even after an epic troubleshooting odyssey, some PIN issues may persist. You may have clashing PINs, persistent NGC folder woes, or that discomforting sense that a security update went irreversibly sideways. When all else fails, remember:

• Use your Microsoft Account password to bypass the PIN.
• The error may recur with future updates; stay vigilant and proactive.
• Report persistent bugs—collectively, user feedback eventually moves mountains, or at least nudges Microsoft’s bugs-to-fix list.
• Consider local accounts where feasible, unless you love “cloud-first” troubleshooting.

Cynical Closer: Error messages imply resolution is possible. “Your PIN is no longer available” might as well say, “Your PIN joined a commune—good luck getting it back.” Every IT admin knows the real answer to “Why did my PIN stop working?” is, bluntly, “Because it’s Tuesday.”

Real-World Implications & The Broader Pain Point​

Windows 11’s PIN system, meant to simplify and secure, often delivers the exact opposite. For IT admins, this quirky error is both a routine annoyance and a reminder that security is only as user-proof as the average support ticket. As more companies pivot to passwordless, biometrics, and single sign-on, the risks of these fragile credential systems breaking under their own weight will only increase.
It’s also a canary in the coal mine for a larger trend: user credentials are becoming vastly more complex, and recovering from a credential failure is often harder than the original security breach those systems were meant to prevent. When recovery turns into a scavenger hunt through Safe Mode, BIOS menus, and the Registry, both productivity and user confidence plummet.

What’s the Real Fix? (And Should We Ditch the PIN?)​

Let’s not be melodramatic: the PIN system usually works, and most users will never face this error. But its fickle nature, dependency on esoteric file structures, and deep integration with hardware security modules make it a uniquely infuriating pain point when things go wrong. Just because a credential is “only local” doesn’t mean it’s simple to fix.
What the Windows ecosystem needs is a more user-friendly, robust error recovery system—one that can isolate and repair credential issues without forcing users to juggle BIOS settings, NGC folders, updates, and potentially catastrophic resets. Until then, PIN issues will remain fodder for both support queues and late-night IT comedy hours.

Pro Tips for When the Next PIN Panic Hits​

• Keep a secondary admin account on your PC with a traditional password.
• Document any recovery actions for future reference—your future self will thank you.
• Use Microsoft’s built-in troubleshooting tools before resorting to manual fixes.
• Never skip the regular backup routine—especially before major updates or security rollouts.
• Push back on overzealous update schedules in business environments. Sometimes stability beats novelty.

Final Thoughts: The PIN-demonium Continues​

If tech writers were paid by the number of times "reset" was mentioned in troubleshooting guides, we’d retire early. PIN errors in Windows 11, at once wily and mundane, are a stark reminder that no matter how “smart” devices become, troubleshooting remains a deeply human art. As long as PINs disappear, IT professionals will have job security (and ample fodder for gallows humor).
So next time your PIN is no longer available, remember: it's not you, it's Windows. And possibly a rogue update, a misbehaving NGC folder, or an ambitious TPM module. But mostly, it’s Windows—keeping you on your toes, one cryptic error at a time.

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Source: TechPP [Fix] "Your PIN Is No Longer Available" Error on Windows 11 - TechPP