How to Change the PIN You Use to Sign In to Windows 11

What you need: A Windows 11 computer whose sign-in box says PIN, the PIN you type there now, and a new PIN of at least 4 digits that you will remember.

Steps

1. Click Start (the Windows logo) on the taskbar at the bottom of the screen.
2. Type Settings, then click Settings in the search results to open it.
3. Click Accounts on the left, then click Sign-in options.
4. Click PIN (Windows Hello). The row opens and shows a Change PIN button.
5. Click Change PIN. A Windows Security window opens with the title Change your PIN.
6. Click the PIN box at the top of the window and type the PIN you use now. The digits appear as dots, which is normal.
7. Click the New PIN box and type your new PIN. Then click the Confirm PIN box and type the new PIN again. If Include letters and symbols has a check mark, click it to remove the check mark.
8. Click OK. The window closes when your new PIN is saved.
9. If the window stays open with a red message under a box, click that box, press the Backspace key until the box is empty, and type the PIN again: the PIN you use now in PIN, or your new PIN in New PIN and Confirm PIN (choose a different new PIN if the message asks for one). Then click OK. If the PIN box keeps showing a red message, click Cancel. Your PIN stays as it was.
10. To check the new PIN, click Start, then click Power (the circle with a short line at the top) near the bottom-right of the Start menu.
11. Click Lock, not Sleep, Shut down or Restart. If Lock is not in the menu, click your name at the bottom-left of the Start menu instead, then click Lock. The lock screen appears, with a large clock and a picture.
12. Click anywhere on the screen. Your name appears with a box for your PIN.
13. Type your new PIN. Windows signs you in as soon as you finish typing it. If it does not, press the Enter key. If a message says the PIN is incorrect, click OK and type the new PIN again slowly.

Expected result: Windows accepts your new PIN and opens, with the taskbar along the bottom of the screen. From now on, type the new PIN whenever Windows asks for your PIN.