How to fix Windows Helo Fingerprint and PIN not appearing as Sign In options.

Question

How to fix Windows Helo Fingerprint and PIN not appearing as Sign In options.

Arandora 20

After a reinstall of Windows 11 the fingerprint and PIN options of Windows Helo do not change from Set Up or appear as options on the Sign In screen. Only the password appears. I am using a Lenovo IdeaPad 2-in-1 14AHP9 laptop with AMD Ryzen processor.

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3 answers

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Answer 1

Open Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options and check whether PIN (Windows Hello), Fingerprint recognition (Windows Hello), or Facial recognition (Windows Hello) still only show Set up.
Set up PIN (Windows Hello) first. Windows Hello sign-in methods depend on PIN being configured.
If fingerprint still does not become available, remove and re-add the fingerprint enrollment:
- Go to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options
- Open Fingerprint recognition (Windows Hello)
- Select Remove if present
- Then select Set up and enroll the fingerprint again
If fingerprint setup starts but fails, check the fingerprint reader driver:
- Open Device Manager
- Expand Biometric devices
- Right-click the fingerprint device and select Uninstall device
- Restart the PC so Windows can reinstall the driver
- Then return to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options and try fingerprint setup again
If the fingerprint option says Windows cannot find a compatible scanner, make sure the biometric device is present under Biometric devices in Device Manager. If it is missing or not working, update or reinstall the fingerprint driver.
If the device uses an external fingerprint reader or camera, go to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options > Additional settings and check the external device / Enhanced sign-in security setting:
- On systems showing Sign in with an external camera or fingerprint reader, turn that setting on for external devices
- On systems showing Enhanced sign-in security, a non-ESS external device may require turning Enhanced sign-in security off
Warning: disabling Enhanced sign-in security removes existing ESS enrollments and associated credentials such as passkeys. They can be set up again afterward.
If biometric authentication still does not work, verify the Windows Hello secure components:
- Open System Information > System Summary and confirm Virtualization Based Security is Running
- Open System Information > Software Environment > Running Tasks and check for bioiso.exe and ngciso.exe
If those checks fail, restart the biometric service:
- First remove the PIN in Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options
- Open Command Prompt as administrator
- Run:
```
     net stop wbiosrvc && net start wbiosrvc
```
- Then set up the PIN again and retry fingerprint enrollment
For the sign-in screen itself, Windows Hello methods appear after they are successfully configured in Sign-in options. If only password appears, complete PIN setup first, then fingerprint setup.
If facial recognition is also used and recognition is unreliable, in Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options > Facial recognition (Windows Hello) select Improve recognition or remove and set it up again.

Answer 2

Jeronimo Fuerte 48,710 Independent Advisor

What happens when you select Set up under PIN (Windows Hello) on your Lenovo—does nothing open, does the window close during verification, or does it accept a new PIN and then return to “Set up”? Please share any error message or a screenshot with personal information hidden. Also, did you reinstall Windows 11 through Reset this PC, Lenovo’s recovery process, or a clean installation from USB? These details will help identify where setup is failing.

One additional troubleshooting option is to test PIN setup in a temporary local Windows account. Open Settings > Accounts > Other users > Add account, select I don’t have this person’s sign-in information, then Add a user without a Microsoft account, and create an account with a password. Sign in to that account, try configuring a PIN under Accounts > Sign-in options, and, if setup completes, press Windows + L to check whether PIN sign-in appears. If it works there, that would suggest an issue involving your original profile or its account verification. If the temporary account also returns to “Set up,” please report whether it fails at the same stage; that would point us toward a broader Windows Hello configuration problem.

Arandora 20 Reputation points

2026-11-12T11:03:20.9866667+00:00

When I select PIN it opens a pasword prompt which I complete this opens with a window to complete a New PIN and confirm it. OK it returns to Set Up in PIN option. I have tried this twice as recommended in some replies elsewhere. I then go to the Fingerprint option, complete fingerprint input on my reader with no problem, which ends with stating the need for a PIN for it to work with a Set Up box to complete. I have done this by both completing this entry then PIN again and closing the fingerprint window without completing Set Up and then New PIN Set Up again. Neither work. Added another Account but same result PIN fails to Change after Set Up completes. Same with fingerprint. It seems neither the PIN nor the Fingerprint are actually saved as they are not challenged when the same input is used several times now. On a previous laptop having set hp Helo correctly and used the fingerprint regularly, I once had to reload it. Ehen I tried the same finger it was not accepted as it corresponded to one already saved and I had to use another finger.

I have taken into account all AI's recommendations except bioiso.exe is not listed and ngciso.exe is not available after Refreshing System Information.
Jeronimo Fuerte 48,710 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-11-13T01:28:04.73+00:00

Thank you for testing the second account and explaining what happens after PIN setup. Because the same behavior occurs in both accounts, the cause may involve a Windows component shared between profiles. Your findings about bioiso.exe and ngciso.exe are useful; Could you also confirm whether you reinstalled Windows using Reset this PC, Lenovo recovery, or a USB installation?

As a next check, press Windows + R, enter tpm.msc, and tell me what appears under Status and Specification Version. Please only check the information for now; clearing the TPM can affect security keys and existing credentials. If the TPM reports that it is ready, open Command Prompt as administrator and run DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth. Once it completes successfully, run sfc /scannow, then restart and test PIN setup once more.

Please share the result of each command and whether the PIN remains configured afterward.

Answer 3

Arandora 20

After reinstalling Windows 11 on Lenovo laptop the Windows Helo PIN and fingerprint fail to set up and be included in the Sign In options.

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