Unable to Set-Up Pin for Windows 11.

Chris_S · Jan 9, 2023

Hi All,

I purchased a brand new Asus Tuf A15 laptop last week, I cannot set-up the sign-in PIN. When I wish to use the laptop I have to sign-in to my Microsoft Account first at the sign-in screen, then request for a code to be sent out (via phone) for that to be entered before gaining access every time. I realise the later is due to the two-factor authentication I set up years ago.

I have had a good look at the excellent Tutorials here (thanks Shawn) and have also been searching the net for an answer, but so far no luck, hence why I'm here.

I have tried the following:

(1) Command Prompt: Clean up Image/Restore health/ then ran SFC.

(2) Renamed the Ngc folder so a new one was created, even though the original folder was empty.

(3) I carried out a System Restore (retaining the files etc).

All of those have not helped. When trying to Set-Up a PIN (whether it's at the sign-in screen or from the desktop all I get is "Something went wrong" retry! (see screenshot)

I didn't really want to do a System Retore, surely this shouldn't be necessary with a brand new machine. Due to not being able to get into Safe Mode (either with or without Network) I was hoping it would have helped, however it made no difference I still can't access Safe Mode (see added screenshot) I get as far as the Sign-In page.

Any suggestions of help would be very much appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

Chris.

bronskimac · Jan 9, 2023

I think it may be at the Microsoft end. I did a clean instal on a Windows 10 PC with a new motherboard today, and I'm having the same problem.

csun · Jan 9, 2023

How to use two-step verification with your Microsoft account - Microsoft Support

Get answers to some basic questions about what two-step verification is, and how to set it up and use it to help keep your Microsoft account more secure.

support.microsoft.com

I realise the later is due to the two-factor authentication I set up years ago.

Have you tried turning off the 2FA ? And then turn back on. Did not realize 2FA auto carried from device to device.

Would also contact ASUS Customer Service.

MisterEd · Jan 9, 2023

I just bought a new ASUS Tuf A15 laptop a couple months ago. The first thing I did was set it to log in with a local account. I have Microsoft account but I don't use it to log in. I have a password for my local account but use a PIN instead.

Chris_S · Jan 10, 2023

bronskimac said:
I think it may be at the Microsoft end. I did a clean instal on a Windows 10 PC with a new motherboard today, and I'm having the same problem.

I also think it's something to do with the O/S, may be an update from Microsoft that's not 100% compatible with everything else, who know's?.
If I could access Safe-Mode I feel I may be able to set-up the PIN there.

Sorry to hear you are also having problems.
Oddly enough I set-up a sign-in PIN on a new Dell Inspiron laptop (Windows 11 Home) only 3mths ago, no problem with that.

Thanks for your reply.

Chris_S · Jan 10, 2023

csun said:
How to use two-step verification with your Microsoft account - Microsoft Support

Get answers to some basic questions about what two-step verification is, and how to set it up and use it to help keep your Microsoft account more secure.

support.microsoft.com

I realise the later is due to the two-factor authentication I set up years ago.

Have you tried turning off the 2FA ? And then turn back on. Did not realize 2FA auto carried from device to device.

Would also contact ASUS Customer Service.

That was very good thinking, one thing I hadn't thought about.

I have now tried that, it didn't cure the problem of unable to set-up a PIN, but it's removed the bit where I have to enter a code via my phone which makes it much easier to gain access, I only have to log-in to my Microsoft Account now.

Thank you very much for that suggestion.

I will contact ASUS Customer Services.

Chris_S · Jan 10, 2023

MisterEd said:
I just bought a new ASUS Tuf A15 laptop a couple months ago. The first thing I did was set it to log in with a local account. I have Microsoft account but I don't use it to log in. I have a password for my local account but use a PIN instead.

I have no choice but to use the Microsoft Account to log-in, that's the problem. I tried setting up a Local Account from the Desktop, but it won't let me create that either. As soon as I have signed into the M/S Account up pops the Set-Up for setting up a PIN. I enter my PIN number in both boxes, all I get is Something Went Wrong, and Retry, also you then have the option to skip that.

OAT · Jan 10, 2023

Hey Chris,
Do you have that reg key by any chance?
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\PolicyManager\default\Settings\AllowSignInOptions
If not create with DWORD value =1.

MisterEd · Jan 10, 2023

I don't know why the OP is having a problem creating a PIN. All I know I have the same laptop and didn't have a problem.

BTW, I checked the registry key @OAT mentions. I do have the registry key AllowSignInOptions but its value is not set.

Other than my desktop that is now back to Windows 10 the Asus TUF A15 laptop is my only computer with Windows 11. However, I had a lot of practice with Windows 11 both Home and Pro using virtual machines on my main desktop. Through a lot of reading and trial and error I figured out how to get around Windows 11's insistence that I start with a Microsoft account. During the initial setup of the Asus TUF A15 laptop I used what I learned to set it up with a local account. I later added a PIN.

csun · Jan 10, 2023

@MisterEd Do you have 2 factor authentication ? Seems to be the issue with the OP.

MisterEd · Jan 10, 2023

csun said:
@MisterEd Do you have 2 factor authentication ? Seems to be the issue with the OP.

No. What if the OP logged into his Microsoft account using his browser and turned off 2FA? Would that help with his problem with Windows? If he wanted he could always turn 2FA back on later if he wanted.

csun · Jan 10, 2023

MisterEd said:
No. What if the OP logged into his Microsoft account using his browser and turned off 2FA? Would that help with his problem with Windows? If he wanted he could always turn 2FA back on later if he wanted.

Check post #6.

MisterEd · Jan 10, 2023

csun said:
Check post #6.

Sorry I missed that. Still I don't think I was ever required to create a PIN. At first I only had a local account with a username and password. I later added a PIN only because I wanted to.

bronskimac · Jan 11, 2023

On my Windows 10 machine that kept refusing to set a PIN, I finally reinstalled Windows using a Gmail address instead of my Microsoft Hotmail one. Very odd, but it worked.

Chris_S · Jan 11, 2023

OAT said:
Hey Chris,
Do you have that reg key by any chance?
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\PolicyManager\default\Settings\AllowSignInOptions
If not create with DWORD value =1.

It looks like I do have this key?

Chris_S · Jan 11, 2023

bronskimac said:
On my Windows 10 machine that kept refusing to set a PIN, I finally reinstalled Windows using a Gmail address instead of my Microsoft Hotmail one. Very odd, but it worked.

Many thanks for the update on your issue, as you say very odd, but glad you have fixed the problem.

Out of interest have you set the PIN up on your Administrator Account? or created a Local Account and set the PIN on that?

bronskimac · Jan 11, 2023

Chris_S said:
Many thanks for the update on your issue, as you say very odd, but glad you have fixed the problem.

Out of interest have you set the PIN up on your Administrator Account? or created a Local Account and set the PIN on that?

Admin account.

Chris_S · Jan 12, 2023

bronskimac said:
Admin account.

bronskimac said:

Admin account.

Click to expand...

Thanks for confirming, that's the same as I have the PIN set on my Desktop PC.

Chris_S · Jan 16, 2023

After a lot of head scratching and reading I now have a working sign-in PIN on my Administrator Acc.

I followed this which is taken from this link 6 posts down: Redirecting

The problem was I didn't have access to turn this off as it was greyed out "For improved security, only allow Windows Hello sign-in for Microsoft accounts on this device
(Recommended)"