Wondering how to switch the login method from PIN to password?
Imagine someone breaking into your computer system and stealing your most essential documents, files, and emails. Doesn’t that give you shivers down the spine?
Unauthorized access is one of the major problems for computer users worldwide. The consequences of unauthorized access to your personal computer can be dangerous, as the hackers can obtain anything from your pictures to bank account details.
One of the best ways to prevent such situations is using a strong password, as a password provides the first line of defense against unauthorized access. Several computer users use PIN codes instead of passwords, but since PIN codes can be guessed, passwords are a safer option.
If you want to switch from PIN code to password on Windows, you’re in the right place.
We have listed some of the easiest ways to change the login method on your PC below. The steps are simple and will help you complete the task in no time.
Let’s dive right in!
1. Set Password as the Default Sign-in Option.
Typically, PIN codes are set up as the default sign-in option in Windows, which might be why you cannot sign in using a password.
A simple solution to this issue is to set the password as the default sign-in option. When you do so, your system will never ask you for PIN codes again unless you change the setting yourself.
Here is how you can do it:
- Right-click on the Windows key on the Taskbar and select Windows Powershell (Admin) from the list of options available.
- Inside the Powershell window, type the command mentioned below and hit Enter. Don’t forget to note down or take a screenshot of your account’s SID.
wmic useraccount get name,sid
- Next, press Windows + R keys simultaneously to open a Run dialogue box.
- Type ‘regedit’ in the dialogue box and hit Enter.
- Now navigate to the location mentioned below.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Authentication\LogonUI\UserTile
- Locate your account’s SID and double-click on it.
- Doing so will launch an ‘Edit String’ dialogue box. Paste the following string in the text box under Value Data.
{60B78E88-EAD8-445C-9CFD-0B87F74EA6CD}
- Once done, restart your PC and check if, upon login, the password was set as your default login method.
Hopefully, doing so will allow you to switch Windows login method from PIN to password as your preferred sign-in method.
2. Remove the PIN via Settings.
Another easy way to switch from PIN code to password on Windows is to remove the PIN via ‘Settings’. Don’t worry; the steps are quite simple and will only take a few minutes of your time.
Here is all that you need to do:
- Go to Settings and select Accounts.
- Choose Sign-in options from the left panel and look for Windows Hello PIN.
- Click on Windows Hello PIN and select Remove.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.
That’s it. You should now be able to login into Windows with a password.
3. Try Using CleanMyPC.
If you are unable to switch the Windows login method from PIN to password even after following the methods above, then there is a chance that a temporary bug in the system is causing the issue.
Our systems contain duplicate, junk, and unwanted files. If not cleaned, these files get piled up and can cause frequent errors within the system. The best solution to resolve such errors is to deep clean your system using a reliable PC cleaner, and if you are struggling to find one, we highly recommend trying CleanMyPC.
CleanMyPC not just eliminates the unwanted corrupt system files but also improves the overall speed of your PC. Moreover, it comes with a wide range of system maintenance tools such as a multi-uninstaller and speed booster!
Install CleanMyPC now to enhance the performance of your PC!
4. Use Letters and Symbols in PIN Code.
You might be unaware of this, but you can also use letters and symbols in your PIN code instead of numbers. If you cannot switch from PIN code to password on your PC, we suggest changing the PIN code and using letters instead of numbers.
Follow the steps mentioned below to change your PIN code:
- Go to Settings and click on Accounts.
- Choose Sign-in options from the left panel and click on Windows Hello PIN.
- Now select Change, and inside the Windows Security box, checkmark Include letters and symbols.
You can now enter a new password, and hopefully, doing so will resolve the issue.
This brings us to the end of our guide on switching the login method from PIN to password. We hope that the methods mentioned above helped you improve the security of your system. If you have any questions regarding the methods, please let us know in the comment box below.
If this guide helped you, please share it. 🙂
