Reset the Windows Hello PIN first using your account password, then remove and re-register the fingerprint after the new PIN works.
1. Restore the PIN
Because creating a new PIN through the normal setup has already failed, use the PIN reset option instead.
If you can sign in to Windows:
- Sign in with your password.
- Open Start β Settings β Accounts β Sign-in options.
- Expand PIN (Windows Hello).
- Select I forgot my PINβnot Change PIN.
- Verify your Microsoft account when prompted and create a new PIN.
- Lock the PC with Windows key + L, then verify that the new PIN works.
The Windows sign-in PIN is separate from your Microsoft account password. The reset process verifies your account before creating a replacement PIN.^1^
If you cannot reach the desktop:
- On the sign-in screen, select I forgot my PIN below the PIN box and complete the prompts.
- If that option is absent, select Sign-in options β Enter your password.
- After reaching the desktop, reset the PIN through Settings as described above.
The sign-in-screen PIN reset is available for Microsoft accounts; a local account must first sign in using its password.^1^
2. Rebuild fingerprint enrollment
Do this only after confirming that the reset PIN works:
- Clean and dry the fingerprint reader.
- Open Settings β Accounts β Sign-in options.
- Expand Fingerprint recognition (Windows Hello).
- Select Remove to delete the existing fingerprint enrollment.
- Restart the computer.
- Return to the same page and select Set up.
- Scan the finger from several different angles with light pressure.
- If enrollment succeeds, select Add a finger and register a second finger as a backup.
Microsoft recommends signing in with a PIN or password and then re-registering fingerprints when fingerprint recognition fails.^2^
3. If PIN reset or fingerprint setup still refuses
- Open Settings β Windows Update β Check for updates, install available Windows and device-driver updates, and restart. Fingerprint problems can require an updated device driver.^2^
- If this is a work- or school-managed computer, contact its IT administrator because organizational Windows Hello policies may control enrollment.
- If using an external/USB fingerprint reader on Windows 11 version 24H2 or later, check Settings β Accounts β Sign-in options β Additional settings β Enhanced sign-in security. A reader that does not support Enhanced sign-in security may require that setting to be turned off. Warning: turning it off removes existing Enhanced sign-in security enrollments and associated credentials, including passkeys, which must then be set up again.^3^
- If both PIN reset and fingerprint enrollment continue failing, use Contact Microsoft Support from the PIN recovery page rather than manually deleting Windows credential folders.^1^
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