Issue w/sign in after "repair"

Sign in once with the newly changed Microsoft-account password while the laptop is online, then replace the incorrect netplwiz automatic-logon entry with Microsoft Sysinternals Autologon.

1. Restore access with the new password

After a Microsoft-account password change, Windows 11 requires one successful password sign-in before Windows Hello becomes available again.^1^

1. On the sign-in screen, connect the laptop to the internet using the Network/Wi-Fi icon.
2. Select the account that normally opens your desktop—not the duplicate that reports an incorrect password.
3. Select Sign-in options.
4. Select the Password icon rather than PIN or face recognition.
5. Enter the new Microsoft-account password.

Windows supports password, PIN, and biometric sign-in, but a Microsoft account must use its Microsoft-account password when password authentication is selected.^2^

Do not delete either displayed entry yet. Two sign-in tiles can be produced by a bad automatic-logon configuration and do not necessarily represent two actual Windows accounts.

2. Replace the broken automatic-logon configuration

Since netplwiz created the current problem, do not edit it again or manually change Winlogon registry values. Use Microsoft’s Sysinternals Autologon utility instead:

1. Sign in to the working desktop.
2. Download and run Autologon from the official Sysinternals page.
3. Select Disable first. This clears the existing automatic-logon configuration.
4. Run Autologon again.
5. Enter the username shown for the working Windows account and the new password.
6. Select Enable, then restart the laptop.

At the next startup, Windows should use the newly stored credentials and open the correct account automatically. Autologon stores the password as an LSA secret rather than putting it directly in the Winlogon password value.^3^

Autologon does not validate the credentials when they are entered. If startup still reports an incorrect password, hold Shift during startup to bypass automatic logon, sign in manually, and run Autologon again with the exact working username and password.

Security warning: Automatic logon allows anyone with physical access to the laptop to open the account, and an administrator can retrieve and decrypt its stored credentials.^3^

3. Stop the unwanted Windows Hello prompts

After automatic logon is working:

1. Open Settings → Accounts → Sign-in options.
2. Under Additional settings, turn off Only allow Windows Hello sign-in for Microsoft accounts on this device. When enabled, this setting disables password use for the Microsoft account.^4^
3. Expand Facial recognition (Windows Hello) and select Remove if face recognition was configured.
4. Expand PIN (Windows Hello) and select Remove if that option is available and the PIN is unwanted.

Do not remove the PIN until password sign-in and automatic logon are both confirmed working.

If the duplicate remains after Autologon is corrected

If both tiles still appear even though automatic logon now succeeds, relink the existing Windows profile rather than deleting it:

1. Open Settings → Accounts → Your info.
2. Select Sign in with a local account instead and complete the prompts.
3. Restart the computer.
4. Return to Settings → Accounts → Your info.
5. Select Sign in with a Microsoft account instead and reconnect the original Microsoft account.
6. Restart again.

This sequence resolved a closely matching Windows 11 case involving duplicate sign-in tiles and invalid automatic-logon credentials.^5^

If the password option is unavailable or the working account cannot be opened, use Shift + Restart → Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Startup Settings → Restart → F5 for Safe Mode with Networking. Safe Mode accepts a password, not PIN or biometric authentication.^6^

References

1. how to fix your pin is required to sign in - pin not set up, won't accept password or fingerprint - Microsoft Q&A
2. User Account Access in Windows | Microsoft Support
3. Autologon v3.10
4. [Windows 11](https://support.microsoft.com/accounts-billing/security/sign-in-options-in-windows)
5. Two Profiles on Login and trying to login automatically without password on windows 11 - Microsoft Q&A
6. Troubleshoot Problems Signing In to Windows | Microsoft Support