How to unlock keyboard at log-in PIN

Select Accessibility in the lower-right corner of the Windows 11 sign-in screen, choose On-Screen Keyboard, and enter the PIN by clicking the displayed keys with your mouse. ^1^

If the on-screen keyboard works

1. Sign in using the on-screen keyboard.
2. Open Start → Settings → Windows Update → Check for updates and install available updates.
3. Open Start, search for Device Manager, and select it.
4. Expand Keyboards, right-click the physical keyboard, select Update driver, and follow the prompts. ^2^
5. Restart the computer and test the physical keyboard at the sign-in screen.

If the keys produce the wrong characters rather than no characters, check the input-language icon on the sign-in screen and select the correct keyboard layout. Changing the Windows display language can also change the keyboard layout. ^3^

Sign in with your password instead

Select Sign-in options, then select the key/password icon and enter the Microsoft-account or local-account password. After signing in, the PIN can be reset through:

Start → Settings → Accounts → Sign-in options → PIN (Windows Hello) → I forgot my PIN. ^4^

On some Windows 11 systems updated in or after August 2025, the password icon can be invisible. If Sign-in options contains a blank space where an icon should be, hover over it and select the placeholder to open the password field. ^5^

If neither keyboard works

For a USB or wireless keyboard:

• Disconnect it, wait briefly, and reconnect it.
• Try another USB port and bypass any USB hub.
• For a USB wireless keyboard, unplug its receiver, wait about 10 seconds, and reconnect it.
• Check its batteries or charge.
• Test the keyboard on another computer. If it also fails there, it may need replacement. ^2^

If you still cannot sign in

Start Windows in Safe Mode:

1. At the sign-in screen, hold Shift while selecting Power → Restart.
2. Select Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Startup Settings → Restart.
3. Select 5 or press F5 for Safe Mode with Networking.
4. Sign in using the account password. PIN and biometric sign-in are unavailable in Safe Mode. ^6^
5. Run Windows Update and update the keyboard through Device Manager.

An encrypted device may request its BitLocker recovery key while entering recovery options. Do not edit the registry merely to expose another sign-in method; that is unnecessary unless a specific, confirmed Windows configuration issue requires it.

References

1. [Windows 11](https://support.microsoft.com/accessibility/windows/use-the-on-screen-keyboard-osk-to-type)
2. Mouse and keyboard problems in Windows | Microsoft Support
3. [Windows 11](https://support.microsoft.com/windows/hardware/input-devices/manage-the-language-and-keyboard-input-layout-settings-in-windows#install-a-language-pack)
4. User Account Access in Windows | Microsoft Support
5. October 20, 2025—KB5070773 (OS Builds 26200.6901 and 26100.6901) Out-of-band | Microsoft Support
6. Troubleshoot Problems Signing In to Windows | Microsoft Support