Safe Mode - Something happened and your PIN isn't available


Anaksy

Well-known member
Member
Local time
7:57 PM
Posts
81
OS
Windows 11 Home
Hey Guys,

While trying to access Windows in safe mode I get this message "Something happened and your PIN isn't available". And clicking on "Set up my PIN" does nothing. Do you guys know how to fix this so I can access safe mode again?
P.S.: I am able to access Windows in "normal" mode without any problems.

Img.jpg
 
Windows Build/Version
Version 24H2 (OS Build 26100.2033)

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Home
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 7700
    Motherboard
    ASUS TUF GAMING B650M-PLUS WIFI
    Memory
    Kingstone Fury 4x8 32GB DDR5 6000MT/s
    Graphics Card(s)
    XFX SPEEDSTER MERC 310 AMD Radeon™ RX 7900 XT
    Screen Resolution
    2k
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 990 PRO
    SAMSUNG MZVLQ512HBLU-00B
    PSU
    CORSAIR RM750e
    Case
    LIAN LI & DAN A3-mATX
Pins are stored in the TPM, this is a guess but safe mode disables a lot of services by design and the service that validates pins is probably disabled in safe mode. A password should work though
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Linux Mint
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    System76 Lemur Pro
Pins are stored in the TPM, this is a guess but safe mode disables a lot of services by design and the service that validates pins is probably disabled in safe mode. A password should work though
I've used safe mode with a PIN, in fact I don't know my password without looking so it's the only way I can log in
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 25H2 (RP channel)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    MSI
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D 8-core
    Motherboard
    MEG X870E Godlike
    Memory
    64GB Corsair Titanium 6000/CL30
    Graphics Card(s)
    MSI Suprim 5080 SOC
    Sound Card
    Soundblaster AE-9
    Monitor(s) Displays
    ASUS TUF Gaming VG289Q
    Screen Resolution
    3840x2160
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 9100 Pro 4TB (gen 5 x4, system drive/games)
    Samsung 990 Pro 2TB
    Samsung 980 Pro 2TB
    Samsung 870 Evo 4TB
    Samsung 870 Evo 2TB
    Samsung T9 4TB
    PSU
    Seasonic PX-2200
    Case
    Bequiet! Dark Base Pro 901
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-D15S Chromax black
    Keyboard
    Logitech G915 X (wired)
    Mouse
    Logitech G903 with PowerPlay charger
    Internet Speed
    900Mb/sec
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
I've used safe mode with a PIN, in fact I don't know my password without looking so it's the only way I can log in
Exactly. I have always entered safe mode with PIN. I only noticed this problem after 24h2.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Home
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 7700
    Motherboard
    ASUS TUF GAMING B650M-PLUS WIFI
    Memory
    Kingstone Fury 4x8 32GB DDR5 6000MT/s
    Graphics Card(s)
    XFX SPEEDSTER MERC 310 AMD Radeon™ RX 7900 XT
    Screen Resolution
    2k
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 990 PRO
    SAMSUNG MZVLQ512HBLU-00B
    PSU
    CORSAIR RM750e
    Case
    LIAN LI & DAN A3-mATX
I found this thread in reddit LINK. It appears that some people are having the same issue after a 24H2 clean install. Preventing them from accessing safe mode.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Home
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 7700
    Motherboard
    ASUS TUF GAMING B650M-PLUS WIFI
    Memory
    Kingstone Fury 4x8 32GB DDR5 6000MT/s
    Graphics Card(s)
    XFX SPEEDSTER MERC 310 AMD Radeon™ RX 7900 XT
    Screen Resolution
    2k
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 990 PRO
    SAMSUNG MZVLQ512HBLU-00B
    PSU
    CORSAIR RM750e
    Case
    LIAN LI & DAN A3-mATX
I kind of found a solution, by doing the following:

  1. Go to settings app
  2. under Accounts> sign-in options
  3. Additional settings
  4. turn off only allow windows hello sign-in
  5. Now you have both pin and password option and you can enter safe mode with password
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Home
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 7700
    Motherboard
    ASUS TUF GAMING B650M-PLUS WIFI
    Memory
    Kingstone Fury 4x8 32GB DDR5 6000MT/s
    Graphics Card(s)
    XFX SPEEDSTER MERC 310 AMD Radeon™ RX 7900 XT
    Screen Resolution
    2k
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 990 PRO
    SAMSUNG MZVLQ512HBLU-00B
    PSU
    CORSAIR RM750e
    Case
    LIAN LI & DAN A3-mATX

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 25H2 (RP channel)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    MSI
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D 8-core
    Motherboard
    MEG X870E Godlike
    Memory
    64GB Corsair Titanium 6000/CL30
    Graphics Card(s)
    MSI Suprim 5080 SOC
    Sound Card
    Soundblaster AE-9
    Monitor(s) Displays
    ASUS TUF Gaming VG289Q
    Screen Resolution
    3840x2160
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 9100 Pro 4TB (gen 5 x4, system drive/games)
    Samsung 990 Pro 2TB
    Samsung 980 Pro 2TB
    Samsung 870 Evo 4TB
    Samsung 870 Evo 2TB
    Samsung T9 4TB
    PSU
    Seasonic PX-2200
    Case
    Bequiet! Dark Base Pro 901
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-D15S Chromax black
    Keyboard
    Logitech G915 X (wired)
    Mouse
    Logitech G903 with PowerPlay charger
    Internet Speed
    900Mb/sec
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Home
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 7700
    Motherboard
    ASUS TUF GAMING B650M-PLUS WIFI
    Memory
    Kingstone Fury 4x8 32GB DDR5 6000MT/s
    Graphics Card(s)
    XFX SPEEDSTER MERC 310 AMD Radeon™ RX 7900 XT
    Screen Resolution
    2k
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 990 PRO
    SAMSUNG MZVLQ512HBLU-00B
    PSU
    CORSAIR RM750e
    Case
    LIAN LI & DAN A3-mATX

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 25H2 (RP channel)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    MSI
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D 8-core
    Motherboard
    MEG X870E Godlike
    Memory
    64GB Corsair Titanium 6000/CL30
    Graphics Card(s)
    MSI Suprim 5080 SOC
    Sound Card
    Soundblaster AE-9
    Monitor(s) Displays
    ASUS TUF Gaming VG289Q
    Screen Resolution
    3840x2160
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 9100 Pro 4TB (gen 5 x4, system drive/games)
    Samsung 990 Pro 2TB
    Samsung 980 Pro 2TB
    Samsung 870 Evo 4TB
    Samsung 870 Evo 2TB
    Samsung T9 4TB
    PSU
    Seasonic PX-2200
    Case
    Bequiet! Dark Base Pro 901
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-D15S Chromax black
    Keyboard
    Logitech G915 X (wired)
    Mouse
    Logitech G903 with PowerPlay charger
    Internet Speed
    900Mb/sec
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
As one person wrote on Reddit, this is most likely due to the fact that the TPM has some "tails" from the previous Windows installation, namely that same PIN code. There is a way to "clear" it. Try do the following:
  1. Remove PIN and disable Bitlocker if enabled. (IMPORTANT)
  2. Went to BIOS and disabled Security Processor (this disables TPM, careful: You'll lose existing PIN, Bitlocker will stop working, so follow step 1)
  3. Set a PIN.
  4. Went to BIOS and re-enabled Security Processor.
  5. Now PIN works on both normal and safe-mode
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 24H2
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
I kind of found a solution, by doing the following:

  1. Go to settings app
  2. under Accounts> sign-in options
  3. Additional settings
  4. turn off only allow windows hello sign-in
  5. Now you have both pin and password option and you can enter safe mode with password
Just had to do this - it’s ridiculous when you need to install a graphics driver in safe mode because you can’t get to the desktop due to a black screen. Luckily after quitting safe mode and restarting, the screen stayed on long enough for me to change this setting and install the new graphics driver.

This setting should be flagged to be done for all new installs! Because not being able to access safe mode is not on.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Home 25H2
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion 14-ce3606sa
    CPU
    Core i5-1035G1
    Memory
    32gb
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 870 evo sata ssd
    Cooling
    Could be better
    Internet Speed
    50 mbps Starlink
    Browser
    Firefox
    Other Info
    Originally came installed with a 500gb H10 Optane ssd
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Home
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion ce3606sa
    CPU
    Intel Core i5-1035G1
    Memory
    16gb
    Hard Drives
    Hynix Gold P31 2TB
    Internet Speed
    200mbps Starlink
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender
  • Like
Reactions: OAT
This setting should be flagged to be done for all new installs! Because not being able to access safe mode is not on.
I would agree with you except I have multiple systems and none of them require safe mode for a GPU update/installation.
In fact, I can't remember the last one that required it.
But you are right, users should be warned that signing in with Hello in Safe Mode will not work.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    All Branches but Release
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Nitro ANV15-51
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS 3200-4500 Mhz 8 cores x 2
    Motherboard
    Sportage_RBH
    Memory
    32 GB DDR5
    Graphics Card(s)
    Radeon Graphic / NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 8 GB GDDR6
    Sound Card
    AMD/Realtek(R) Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Integrated Monitor (15.3"vis)
    Screen Resolution
    FHD 1920X1080 16:9 144Hz
    Hard Drives
    KINGSTON OM8SEP4512Q-AA 1TB
    Western Digital 256GB
    PSU
    19V DC 6.32 A 120 W
    Cooling
    Dual Fans
    Mouse
    MS Bluetooth
    Internet Speed
    Fiber 1GB Cox -us & 1GB Orange-fr
    Browser
    Edge Canary- Firefox Nightly-Chrome Dev-Chrome Dev
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Beta
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Asus X751BP
    CPU
    AMD A9-9420
    Memory
    8 GB of DDR4
    Graphics card(s)
    AMD Radeon R5
    Screen Resolution
    1600x900
    Hard Drives
    Seagate 1 TB
You should always have and know your password because Windows Hello isn't foolproof, even in normal mode.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Win 11 Pro 25H2, Build 26200.8655
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Home Brew
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 14500
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte B760M G P WIFI
    Memory
    64GB DDR4
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce RTX 4060
    Sound Card
    Chipset Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG 45" Ultragear, Acer 24" 1080p
    Screen Resolution
    5120x1440, 1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Crucial P310 2TB 2280 PCIe Gen4 3D NAND NVMe M.2 SSD (O/S)
    Silicon Power 2TB US75 NVMe PCIe Gen4 M.2 2280 SSD (backup)
    Crucial BX500 2TB 3D NAND (2nd backup)
    Seagate 4TB Ironwolf, rotating HDD archive files
    External off-line backup Drives: 2 NVMe 4TB drives in external enclosures
    PSU
    Thermaltake Toughpower GF3 750W
    Case
    LIAN LI LANCOOL 216 E-ATX PC Case
    Cooling
    Lots of fans!
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Comfort Curve 2000
    Mouse
    Logitech G305
    Internet Speed
    Verizon FiOS 1GB
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Malware Bytes & Windows Defender Security
  • Operating System
    Win 11 Pro 25H2, Build 26200.8524
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Home Brew
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 14400
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte B760M DS3H AX
    Memory
    32GB DDR5
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel 700 Embedded GPU
    Sound Card
    Realtek Embedded
    Monitor(s) Displays
    27" HP 1080p
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Crucial P310 2TB 2280 PCIe Gen4 eD NAND PCIe SSD
    Samsung EVO 990 2TB NVMe Gen4 SSD
    Samsung 2TB SATA SSD
    PSU
    Thermaltake Smart BM3 650W
    Case
    Okinos Micro ATX Case
    Cooling
    Fans
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Comfort Curve 2000
    Mouse
    Logitech G305
    Internet Speed
    Verizon FiOS 1GB
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Malware Bytes & Windows Defender Security
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