To keep your Windows 11 computer secure, you should use a strong, complex password for your Microsoft account. However, typing a 16-character alphanumeric password every single time you wake your computer from sleep or boot it up in the morning is incredibly tedious.
Microsoft recognizes this friction and encourages the use of Windows Hello PINs. A PIN is tied locally to the specific physical device (unlike your Microsoft password, which unlocks your account globally across the internet). Because the PIN only works on that exact laptop or desktop, a 4-to-6 digit number is considered highly secure against remote hackers while offering you lightning-fast login times.
How to Set Up a Windows Hello PIN
- Open the Settings app on your Windows 11 PC (press Windows Key + I).
- In the left-hand navigation sidebar, click on Accounts.
- Scroll down to the “Account settings” section and click on Sign-in options.
- Click on PIN (Windows Hello) to expand the section.
- Click the Set up button.
- Windows will prompt you to verify your identity by entering your current, full Microsoft account password. Enter it and click OK.
- A “Set up a PIN” dialogue box will appear. Enter a new, memorable PIN in the top box, and type it again in the bottom box to confirm. (By default, PINs are numbers only, but you can check the “Include letters and symbols” box if you wish).
- Click OK.
Your PIN is now active. The next time you lock your screen (Windows Key + L) or restart the computer, you will bypass the password screen entirely. Instead, simply type your PIN. You don’t even need to press Enter; the moment you type the final digit, the desktop will instantly unlock.
How to Remove or Change Your PIN
If you ever suspect someone has learned your PIN, changing it is fast.
Navigate back to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options > PIN (Windows Hello). You will now see two buttons: Change PIN (which requires you to enter your old PIN before creating a new one) and Remove (which deletes the PIN entirely, reverting your computer back to requiring your full Microsoft password for every login).