How to Fix Windows PIN Not Working or "Something Went Wrong" on Windows
Windows Hello PIN not accepted, "Something went wrong" at sign-in, or PIN option missing? Fix Windows PIN login problems on Windows 10 and 11.
Symptoms
You might be experiencing this problem if you notice:
- •"Something went wrong and your PIN isn't available" at login screen
- •PIN is correct but Windows says it's wrong after update
- •PIN option greyed out or missing from sign-in options
- •"This sign-in option is disabled because of failed sign-in attempts"
- •Windows asks for PIN but only shows password field
- •PIN setup fails with error 0x80090027 or 0x80070032
- •PIN works for login but not for Microsoft Store or app purchases
Common Causes
- ⚠Windows Update corrupted the NGC (PIN data) folder
- ⚠Trusted Platform Module (TPM) communication error
- ⚠NGC container permissions corrupted after user profile changes
- ⚠Group Policy disabling convenience PIN sign-in
- ⚠Too many failed PIN attempts triggering lockout
- ⚠Microsoft account sync issues affecting PIN validation
- ⚠Corrupted Windows Hello cryptographic keys
Solutions
Solution 1: Reset PIN from Lock Screen
- 1At the lock screen: click "I forgot my PIN"
- 2Sign in with your Microsoft account password
- 3Follow the prompts to set a new PIN
- 4If you don't see "I forgot my PIN": press Enter on the password field and use your Microsoft account password instead
- 5This resets the NGC container and creates fresh cryptographic keys
Solution 2: Delete NGC Folder (Reset PIN Data)
- 1Sign in with your Microsoft account password (not PIN)
- 2Open File Explorer → navigate to: C:\Windows\ServiceProfiles\LocalService\AppData\Local\Microsoft
- 3You need to take ownership of the Ngc folder first:
- 4Right-click Ngc → Properties → Security → Advanced → Change owner to your account
- 5Then delete the entire Ngc folder
- 6Restart the computer
- 7Go to Settings → Accounts → Sign-in options → Windows Hello PIN → Set up
- 8Create a new PIN — this rebuilds the NGC container from scratch
Solution 3: Check TPM Status
- 1Press Win+R → type tpm.msc → Enter
- 2Check if TPM status says "The TPM is ready for use"
- 3If TPM is not found: it may be disabled in BIOS → enable it
- 4If TPM shows errors: click "Clear TPM" (this removes all PIN and biometric data)
- 5After clearing: restart and set up Windows Hello PIN again
- 6Note: Clearing TPM will require you to re-register all Windows Hello sign-in methods
Solution 4: Fix via Group Policy
- 1Press Win+R → type gpedit.msc → Enter (Pro/Enterprise only)
- 2Navigate to: Computer Configuration → Administrative Templates → System → Logon
- 3Find "Turn on convenience PIN sign-in" → set to Enabled
- 4Also check: Computer Configuration → Administrative Templates → Windows Components → Windows Hello for Business
- 5Ensure policies are not disabling PIN authentication
- 6Run: gpupdate /force and restart
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