How to Remove PIN from Windows 11 when the Option for it is Greyed Out

One of the many security features of Windows 11 is using a PIN to sign in. Windows Hello PIN, Facial recognition, and Fingerprint recognition are the 3 sign-in methods offered by Windows Hello. If you are setting up a new Windows 11 device and want to log into your Microsoft account, Microsoft will enforce the use of a PIN to sign in instead of your account password. Also if you are planning to use the Fingerprint or Facial recognition feature, a PIN is a must.

The reason Microsoft encourages PIN usage this much is that, according to them, the PIN is much safer than a password. This is based on the fact that the PIN can be used only to access the device it is attached to. In case your PIN gets stolen, your Microsoft account and all the data will remain secure. If you wish to remove the PIN from your PC but find out that the remove option in settings is greyed out, this guide will show you how to work around this problem.

Remove PIN by Disabling Windows Hello Sign-in Requirement

The process of removing PIN is very quick and not at all complicated. It can be done by going to the Sign-in options settings.

First, open the Settings app by pressing Windows+i on your keyboard or by searching for ‘Settings’ in Windows Search and selecting it from the search results.

On the Settings Window, click on ‘Accounts’ from the left panel and then select ‘Sign-in Options’ from the right panel.

If you select PIN from the sign-in options, you will see that the ‘Remove’ option is greyed out.

Now, the reason the Remove option is greyed out is because the option to only allow Windows Hello sign-in for Microsoft accounts is enabled on your PC.

This was preventing you from removing the PIN sign-in method. To turn it off, look for the ‘For improved security, only allow Windows Hello sign-in for Microsoft accounts…’ option under the Additional settings section and Turn Off the toggle switch next to it.

After tuning off the Windows Hello sign-in requirement, close the settings window for the changes to take effect.

Then, reopen the Settings app, go back to the Sign-in options menu, and select the PIN option. You will see that the ‘Remove’ option is no more greyed out. Additionally, you will see that new sign-in options are also available.

Click on the ‘Remove’ button under PIN settings. You’ll get a few warning points about the disadvantages of removing the PIN. If you’re sure, click on the ‘Remove’ button again to remove the PIN.

You’ll then get a Window Security prompt to enter your linked Microsoft Account password. Input your account password in the respective field and click on OK to proceed.

And that’s it. Your Sign-in PIN will be removed from your Windows 11 PC.

Remove PIN Using ‘I Forgot my PIN’ Option

You could also use the “I Forgot my PIN” option to remove PIN on your Windows 11 PC without disabling the Windows Hello sign-in requirement.

First, open up settings by pressing Windows+i. Navigate back to the Sign-in options menu by selecting ‘Accounts’ from the left panel and then selecting ‘Sign-in options’.

Select ‘PIN’ from the sign-in options and then click on ‘I forgot my PIN’.

A new will appear called a Microsoft account. From there, click on ‘Continue’.

After that, you have to sign in to your Microsoft account to verify your identity. To do that, put your Microsoft account password inside the ‘Password’ text box and click on ‘Sign in’.

Now a dialog box will come up asking you to set up a new PIN. Instead of setting a new PIN, click on ‘Cancel’.

After that, click on cross or ‘X’ at the top-right side of the window and close it.

Now you can see that the PIN has been removed and you can leave it as it is or set up a new one.

Note: After you remove your pin, you will have to use your Microsoft Account password or your Local account password from the next time you sign into your Windows 11 computer.