Fix “Something Happened and Your PIN Isn’t Available” in Windows 10

If Windows 10 says “Something happened and your PIN isn’t available,” choose Sign-in options on the lock screen and try your account password. After signing in, reset Windows Hello PIN from the lock screen flow or Settings. The I forgot my PIN option is for Microsoft accounts; a local account generally needs its Windows password first.

Your Windows Hello PIN is different from your account password. This message alone does not mean your Microsoft account or files are lost.

1. Restart, check the connection, and try your password

Restart once from the lock screen with Power > Restart. If you use a Microsoft account, connect to Wi-Fi using the network icon at the lower right; account verification may need internet access. Then select Sign-in options, choose the key-shaped Password option, and enter the password for the account shown.

If you recently changed your Microsoft account password, make sure the PC is online before signing in. A local PIN can work offline, but the password reset and verification flow may require a connection.

2. Reset the PIN from the lock screen

On the PIN screen, select I forgot my PIN. If Windows shows multiple accounts, choose the one whose PIN you need to replace. Follow the identity verification prompts, create a new PIN, and use it to sign in.

Microsoft says this sign-in-screen reset is available for Microsoft accounts, not local accounts. If the link is missing, sign in with your password and use Settings instead. The PIN is separate from the Microsoft account password; resetting one does not reset the other. See Microsoft’s Windows PIN reset instructions.

3. Create a new PIN in Settings

Once you reach the desktop, open Start > Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options. Expand Windows Hello PIN, select I forgot my PIN, complete the verification prompts, and create a new PIN. Choose Change only if you know the current PIN, since that option may ask for it.

If a work or school device blocks the reset, its organization may manage sign-in settings. Ask the IT administrator before changing device policies.

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4. Recover the account password if you forgot it

Recover the password for the account type you use; this is a separate process from replacing the PIN.

• Microsoft account: select I forgot my password on the sign-in screen, or follow Microsoft’s account recovery steps. Verify your identity using a recovery method already attached to the account.
• Local account: choose password sign-in, select OK, then Reset password. Answer the security questions you created with the account, or use a password-reset disk if you made one earlier.

After recovering the password, sign in and reset the PIN from Settings. Microsoft cannot bypass account verification or retrieve a forgotten password. The local-account recovery screen below is for the password, not the PIN.

5. Use Safe Mode only for broader sign-in trouble

Safe Mode is a diagnostic step, not a PIN repair. Windows disables PIN and biometric sign-in in Safe Mode, so you must know the account password. Use it only if other sign-in problems continue after a normal restart.

1. At the sign-in screen, hold Shift while selecting Power > Restart.
2. Choose Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart.
3. After the PC restarts, press 5 or F5 for Safe Mode with Networking, then sign in with your password.

If the desktop loads in Safe Mode, restart normally and retry the PIN reset. Windows Recovery Environment may ask for your BitLocker recovery key on an encrypted PC. Microsoft explains these limits in its Windows sign-in troubleshooting guide.

6. Save startup repair for a PC that will not boot

If Windows reaches the sign-in screen and only the PIN is failing, do not start with Startup Repair or reset the PC. Startup Repair targets problems that prevent Windows from starting; it does not reset a PIN. Use Microsoft’s Startup Repair instructions only when Windows itself will not boot.

After you regain access, restart and install any updates offered for the device. Microsoft says system changes or security updates can sometimes prompt Windows Hello to request a PIN again; its Windows Hello troubleshooting guide recommends resetting the PIN when it fails at sign-in.

Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025. Windows still runs, but standard feature and security updates have ended; eligible enrolled devices may receive updates through Extended Security Updates. Check Microsoft’s Windows 10 support status for current options.

Quick checks if the error returns

• Confirm you selected the correct Windows account and have an internet connection for Microsoft verification.
• Use the account password when the PIN reset link is unavailable.
• Contact your administrator if a work or school policy prevents PIN setup.

For most PIN-only errors, signing in with the account password and creating a replacement PIN is the direct fix.