PIN isn't available on my GMKtec device


wiganken

wiganken

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Sunday 1st Nov in the morning I signed-in okay with my PIN.
Tried again after lunch and got a PIN isn’t available message (photo 1).
I had not made any changes myself. Just web browsing, checking emails.
This is the same for all three user profiles.

Restarted device but no different.
When I click on Sign-in options I am able to sign-in with my password.
If I click on Sign-in options and select PIN then I see a different message (photo 2).

Setting up my PIN again has no effect and I still have no available PIN.

I tried the following steps: -

Sfc /scannow - No integrity violations.
DISM…Scanhealth - The component store is repairable.
DISM….Restorehealth - Completed successfully.
Shutdown then on again - No change the PIN is not available on all three user accounts.
Restored from yesterday’s Macrium image (When PIN was available) but no different.
I cleared the TPM via tpm.msc and restarted the device but no different.
Checked in BIOS that TPM 2.0 is found (photo 3).

I haven’t done a Repair Install yet. May try that tomorrow.
Could a Group Policy setting have changed on its own?
I can sign-in via password but does anyone know how to make PIN sign-in work again?

PIN isn't available (2).webp



TPM 2.webp
 

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  • PIN isn't available (1).webp
    PIN isn't available (1).webp
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    Windows 11 ProAMD Ryzen 9 8945HS32GB DDR5 SO-DIMMIntegrated AMD Radeon 780M (4.00 GHz)
    OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    GMKtec K11
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS
    Memory
    32GB DDR5 SO-DIMM
    Graphics Card(s)
    Integrated AMD Radeon 780M (4.00 GHz)
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    ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED 14" Laptop - UX3405CA-QL192W
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    Intel® Core™ Ultra 7 - 255H processor
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    16 GB LPDDR5 SDRAM
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    Intel Arc 140T onboard graphics
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I just noticed that photo1 isn't showing in OP but it should be? So here it is again: -

Photos in post #1 are photos 2 and 3.

PIN isn't available (1).webp
 

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    Windows 11 ProAMD Ryzen 9 8945HS32GB DDR5 SO-DIMMIntegrated AMD Radeon 780M (4.00 GHz)
    OS
    Windows 11 Pro
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    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    GMKtec K11
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS
    Memory
    32GB DDR5 SO-DIMM
    Graphics Card(s)
    Integrated AMD Radeon 780M (4.00 GHz)
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    Benq 2250HM
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    1920 x 1080
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    1 TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD
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  • At a glance

    Windows 11 HomeIntel® Core™ Ultra 7 - 255H processor16 GB LPDDR5 SDRAMIntel Arc 140T onboard graphics
    Operating System
    Windows 11 Home
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED 14" Laptop - UX3405CA-QL192W
    CPU
    Intel® Core™ Ultra 7 - 255H processor
    Memory
    16 GB LPDDR5 SDRAM
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel Arc 140T onboard graphics
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1200 (16:10 WUXGA resolution) OLED Touchscreen
    Hard Drives
    1TB SSD
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wiganken said:
Sunday 1st Nov in the morning I signed-in okay with my PIN.
Tried again after lunch and got a PIN isn’t available message (photo 1).
I had not made any changes myself. Just web browsing, checking emails.
This is the same for all three user profiles.

Restarted device but no different.
When I click on Sign-in options I am able to sign-in with my password.....
Click to expand...
This can happen if a security setting has changed, such as a reset of the TPM (maybe a bios update?).


wiganken said:
Setting up my PIN again has no effect and I still have no available PIN.
Click to expand...
That should work, it has for me the few times I've seen this. You must remove the PIN completely first though, then set up a new one. Just changing the PIN is not enough.
 

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    UPDATE - 11 April 2026: due to lid hinges starting to break up this laptop has been retired from active duty. The OS with all software and files has been migrated to my System Seven in 'Other systems' to carry on as my general purpose 'main machine'.

    I've now clean installed 25H2 and used Garlin's scripts to update Secure Boot to CA 2023 and revoke the PCA 2011 certificates. It's new role is to test secure boot issues.

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    Intel® Core™ i5-520M
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    Also running Insider Experimental 263xx and 29xxx builds and Windows 10 as native boot .vhdx.
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    My SYSTEM SEVEN is a Lenovo Thinkpad T580, 1920x1080 touchscreen, Intel Core i7-8650U, 16GB RAM, 512GB NVMe SSD + 2nd 512GB NVMe SSD, a supported device for Windows 11. This is my current general purpose 'main machine'. The installed Windows 11 Home from my System One has been migrated to this machine. As its new home has an existing digital licence for Pro I've been able to upgrade the migrated OS from Home to Pro.
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    My SYSTEM EIGHT is a 2-in-1 convertible Lenovo Yoga 11e (5th gen) type 20LN, Celeron N4120, 8GB RAM, 512GB NVMe ssd, a supported device for Windows 11. Currently running Windows 11 Pro, plus Insider Beta, Experimental 263xx and 29xxx builds as native boot vhdx.
Hi Wiganken,
Sorry to hear you've run into this frustrating loop, especially when it's suddenly hitting all three of your user profiles at once! It sounds like you've already done some brilliant troubleshooting with the built-in Windows repair tools, Macrium, and checking your BIOS.
When a PIN goes missing like this across the board, it usually means the hidden, protected system folder where Windows stores Hello data (called the Ngc folder) has become corrupted. Because it's a deep-level data corruption, Windows gets confused and won't let you just add a new PIN over the top of it.
Since you can still log in with your password, you should be able to fix this right from your desktop by clearing out that folder. Here is the best way to do it:
Step 1: Navigate to the hidden Windows Hello folder
  1. Open your File Explorer and paste this path into the address bar at the top, then press Enter:
    C:\Windows\ServiceProfiles\LocalService\AppData\Local\Microsoft
  2. Look for a folder named Ngc.
Step 2: Clear the folder contents.
  1. Open the Ngc folder and delete everything inside it.
  2. Note on permissions: Because it's a secure folder, Windows might give you a "Permission Denied" pop-up. If it does, you will need to take ownership of the folder first:
    • Right-click the Ngc folder and select Properties.
    • Go to the Security tab and click Advanced.
    • Next to "Owner," click Change.
    • Type your main administrator username into the box, click Check Names, and click OK.
    • Check the box that says "Replace owner on subcontainers and objects" right below the owner's name.
    • Click Apply and OK. You should now be allowed to go inside and delete the files.
Step 3: Create your new PIN
  1. Once the Ngc folder is completely empty, open your Windows Settings (Win + I).
  2. Go to Accounts and then Sign-in options.
  3. Click on PIN (Windows Hello).
  4. Click Set up (if it asks you to remove a previous one first, go ahead and click remove, then set up) and create your new PIN.
Give the computer a quick restart after that, and your PIN sign-in option should be back to normal for you. Let us know how it goes!
 

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Bree said:
You must remove the PIN completely first though
Click to expand...
Thank you but how do I do this? Do you mean I should click on Remove button for Remove this sign-in option? It sounds as if that would prevent me using a PIN altogether, which is not what I want. I only want to remove the PIN so I can set up a new PIN.

Remove this sign-in option.webp


Would a repair install via Windows Update fix it?

Reinstall.webp
 
Last edited:

My Computers My Computers

System One System Two

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 ProAMD Ryzen 9 8945HS32GB DDR5 SO-DIMMIntegrated AMD Radeon 780M (4.00 GHz)
    OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    GMKtec K11
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS
    Memory
    32GB DDR5 SO-DIMM
    Graphics Card(s)
    Integrated AMD Radeon 780M (4.00 GHz)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 2250HM
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    1 TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD
    Antivirus
    Bit Defender Total Security

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 HomeIntel® Core™ Ultra 7 - 255H processor16 GB LPDDR5 SDRAMIntel Arc 140T onboard graphics
    Operating System
    Windows 11 Home
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED 14" Laptop - UX3405CA-QL192W
    CPU
    Intel® Core™ Ultra 7 - 255H processor
    Memory
    16 GB LPDDR5 SDRAM
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel Arc 140T onboard graphics
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1200 (16:10 WUXGA resolution) OLED Touchscreen
    Hard Drives
    1TB SSD
    Antivirus
    Bit Defender Total Security
AmericanPharaoh said:
f it does, you will need to take ownership of the folder first:
Click to expand...
Thanks but isn't it a bad idea to take ownership of system folders because Windows will no longer have access to a folder it no longer owns?
 

My Computers My Computers

System One System Two

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 ProAMD Ryzen 9 8945HS32GB DDR5 SO-DIMMIntegrated AMD Radeon 780M (4.00 GHz)
    OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    GMKtec K11
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS
    Memory
    32GB DDR5 SO-DIMM
    Graphics Card(s)
    Integrated AMD Radeon 780M (4.00 GHz)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 2250HM
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    1 TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD
    Antivirus
    Bit Defender Total Security

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 HomeIntel® Core™ Ultra 7 - 255H processor16 GB LPDDR5 SDRAMIntel Arc 140T onboard graphics
    Operating System
    Windows 11 Home
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED 14" Laptop - UX3405CA-QL192W
    CPU
    Intel® Core™ Ultra 7 - 255H processor
    Memory
    16 GB LPDDR5 SDRAM
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel Arc 140T onboard graphics
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1200 (16:10 WUXGA resolution) OLED Touchscreen
    Hard Drives
    1TB SSD
    Antivirus
    Bit Defender Total Security
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