Can’t log into my windows computer, says pin isn’t available and doesn’t allow me to set up pin. Says retry or come back later.

Question

Can’t log into my windows computer, says pin isn’t available and doesn’t allow me to set up pin. Says retry or come back later.

Kingsmeatandbbqsupplyco 0

I am not able to log into my windows computer. It says that my pin is not available. And when I try to set up my pin, it says I can’t and I should retry. Password isn’t working either.

0 comments

3 answers

Your answer

Answer 1

VPHAN 30,935 Independent Advisor

Hello Kingsmeatandbbqsupplyco,

I'm following up to see if you have managed to regain access to your system. To recap the critical solution path, you must boot the machine into Safe Mode with Networking to bypass the standard Windows Hello driver initiation. Once inside, navigating to C:\Windows\ServiceProfiles\LocalService\AppData\Local\Microsoft and deleting the Ngc folder is the definitive fix for this specific login loop. It is vital that you modify the security permissions of that folder to take ownership from "System" before attempting deletion, otherwise, the file system will deny the request. This process clears the corrupted biometric cache and forces Windows to revert to standard password authentication upon the next normal reboot.

If the issue has been successfully resolved, please consider accepting the answer as it helps other people sharing the same question benefit too. Thank you!

VP

Kingsmeatandbbqsupplyco 0 Reputation points

2025-12-30T04:45:33.8566667+00:00

I’m not sure I know he to reboot the machine in Safe Mode, or access the folder (NGC) you have described.

I will attempt this method. Are there videos to walk me through the process, or a representative that can walk me through the processes over the phone?
VPHAN 30,935 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2025-12-30T06:14:20.5466667+00:00

Since you are locked out of the desktop, the "Shift + Restart" method is the only reliable way to trigger the recovery environment without needing a bootable USB drive. At your login screen, locate the Power icon in the bottom right corner. Press and hold the Shift key on your keyboard, and while holding it down, click Power then Restart. Do not release the Shift key until you see a blue screen titled "Choose an option." From there, select Troubleshoot, then Advanced options, then Startup Settings, and click the Restart button. When the computer reboots and displays a numbered list, press 5 or F5 to select "Safe Mode with Networking." This loads Windows with minimal drivers, often bypassing the specific "PIN not available" error and allowing you to log in with your password.

Once you are on the desktop in Safe Mode, open File Explorer. You must first ensure you can see the necessary system files, so click on View in the top menu bar, select Show, and make sure Hidden items is checked. Navigate through this exact path: C:\Windows\ServiceProfiles\LocalService\AppData\Local\Microsoft. You will see the Ngc folder here. If you try to open or delete it, you will likely get a "Permission Denied" error. To bypass this, right-click the Ngc folder, select Properties, go to the Security tab, and click Advanced. Next to the "Owner" label (which likely says "TrustedInstaller" or "System"), click Change. In the text box, type Everyone, click Check Names, and hit OK. Back in the Advanced Security Settings window, check the box that says "Replace owner on subcontainers and objects" and click Apply. You now own the folder and can delete it.
Kingsmeatandbbqsupplyco 0 Reputation points

2025-12-30T22:37:46.47+00:00

A numbered list does not popup. It sends me to a “Bitlocker” screen.
VPHAN 30,935 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2025-12-31T03:19:34.93+00:00

Hi Kingsmeatandbbqsupplyco,

The appearance of the BitLocker recovery screen is a standard security protocol; because you are attempting to modify the boot behavior (by entering Safe Mode) outside of the normal Windows environment, the system requires proof of ownership to unlock your encrypted drive. You cannot bypass this screen without the 48-digit recovery key, and you must locate this key to proceed to the Safe Mode selection menu.

Since you are locked out of your computer, you must use a smartphone, tablet, or a different computer to retrieve your key. Open a web browser on that secondary device and navigate to aka.ms/myrecoverykey (or log into your Microsoft Account and go to the "Devices" section). Sign in with the exact same email address you use for the locked PC. You will see a list of devices; locate your specific computer name and find the corresponding 48-digit numeric password. Enter this long numeric string into the BitLocker screen on your locked PC and press Enter.

Once the drive unlocks, the system will continue the boot process and finally present you with the "Startup Settings" numbered list you were looking for. At that point, you can press 5 or F5 to enter Safe Mode with Networking. From there, you can proceed with the previously described steps to delete the Ngc folder.
Kingsmeatandbbqsupplyco 0 Reputation points

2025-12-31T15:28:19.3+00:00

I located the code, entered it, got to the list of Startup Settings and entered 5 for Safe Mode with Networking. Computer proceeds to reboot. However, when it does, it simply starts at the same screen to enter our pin. And we’re back exactly where we started. I’ve done this multiple times with the same result. It’s as if it doesn’t reboot in Safe Mode. It goes through all the steps as you recommended. But simply goes back to the same login screen and will not allow me to proceed.
VPHAN 30,935 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2025-12-31T15:39:27.3466667+00:00

If the system is refusing to enter Safe Mode and looping back to the standard lock screen, this indicates a deeper failure in the boot configuration or the Windows User Profile Service. Since the standard startup options are failing, we must utilize the Command Prompt within the Recovery Environment to surgically remove the corrupted credentials without booting the full operating system. We will use a specific technique often called the "Notepad Mini-Explorer" method, which allows you to navigate your files graphically even while in the command line interface.

Return to the "Choose an option" blue screen using the Shift + Restart method. This time, navigate to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Command Prompt. You will be prompted to enter your BitLocker recovery key again; please do so. Once the black Command Prompt window appears, simply type notepad and press Enter. A blank Notepad window will open. Click on File in the top-left corner and select Open. This will launch a file browsing window.

In this "Open" window, first change the "Files of type" dropdown menu at the bottom from "Text Documents (*.txt)" to "All Files". Click on This PC on the left. You must now identify your system drive. In this recovery mode, your actual C: drive might be labeled as D: or E:. Open the drives until you find the one containing the "Windows" and "Users" folders. Once found, navigate to [Drive Letter]:\Windows\ServiceProfiles\LocalService\AppData\Local\Microsoft. If you do not see the "AppData" folder, it is because it is hidden, but you can force entry by typing the path manually into the address bar or ensuring you are looking closely at the file list. However, if you cannot see it, right-click inside the window, attempt to view properties, or simply type the path. A more robust way in this specific interface if hidden folders are invisible is to use the Command Prompt directly.

If the Notepad trick does not show the hidden AppData folder, close Notepad and return to the black Command Prompt window. Type the following command exactly (assuming C: is your system drive, if not, replace C: with D: or E:): rd /s /q C:\Windows\ServiceProfiles\LocalService\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Ngc Press Enter. If it returns no message, the command succeeded. If it says "The system cannot find the file specified," try changing the drive letter to D: and repeat. Once the command completes, close the Command Prompt and select Continue to boot into Windows. This command forcibly deletes the directory holding the corrupted PIN data, which should break the loop and revert your login screen to standard password authentication.

Answer 2

Hello Kingsmeatandbbqsupplyco,

The "PIN is not available" status combined with a password rejection typically points to a corruption in the Ngc folder (where Windows Hello data is stored) or a synchronization failure between the local cache and your Microsoft Account. Since the standard login screen is looping or rejecting inputs, we cannot rely on the standard Settings menu to fix this. We must bypass the standard graphics subsystem and Windows Hello drivers to regain access and purge the corrupted credentials.

First, verify that your password is correct by signing into https://www.google.com/search?q=account.microsoft.com on a separate device. If the password works there, connect your locked computer to the router via an Ethernet cable if possible; Wi-Fi drivers sometimes fail to initialize fully at the lock screen, preventing the PC from syncing your valid password. Once connected, hold down the Shift key on your keyboard and click the Power button > Restart on the screen. Keep holding Shift until the blue "Choose an option" menu appears.

From this recovery menu, navigate to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings and click Restart. When the list of startup options appears, press 5 or F5 to enter Safe Mode with Networking. Safe Mode loads a minimal set of drivers and often bypasses the specific corruption blocking the login service, allowing your password to be accepted even if it failed in normal mode. If BitLocker is enabled, you will be prompted for your recovery key during this boot sequence.

Once logged into Safe Mode, open File Explorer and navigate to C:\Windows\ServiceProfiles\LocalService\AppData\Local\Microsoft. You will likely need to enable "Hidden items" in the View tab to see the AppData folder. Locate the folder named Ngc. This folder contains the corrupted biometric and PIN data. Right-click the Ngc folder and delete it. If Windows denies permission, right-click the folder, select Properties > Security > Advanced, and change the owner from "System" to your current username or "Everyone," checking the box to "Replace owner on subcontainers and objects." After taking ownership, delete the folder entirely.

Restart the computer to return to normal mode. The corruption block should be removed, allowing you to log in with your password. You can then configure a fresh PIN via Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options. If the password continues to fail even in Safe Mode with a confirmed internet connection, the system's local security database (SAM) may be damaged, and you will likely need to perform a Reset this PC > Keep my files operation from the Troubleshoot menu in the recovery environment.

I hope you've found something useful here. If it helps you get more insight into the issue, it's appreciated to accept the answer. Should you have more questions, feel free to leave a message. Have a nice day!

Answer 3

If you're unable to log into your Windows computer and the PIN option is not available, it may be due to the policies related to Windows Hello for Business and convenience PINs. Here are some steps you can take:

Check Policies: If your device is joined to an Active Directory domain and has both the Use Convenience PIN and Use Windows Hello for Business policies enabled, you won't be able to set up a PIN unless the device is also joined to Microsoft Entra ID. To allow the creation of a convenience PIN, ensure that the Use Windows Hello for Business policy is disabled and the Turn on convenience PIN sign-in policy is enabled.
Try Alternative Sign-in Methods: If your PIN and password are not working, you might want to try other sign-in methods. You can use a different account if available or try to reset your password through recovery options.
Network and Credentials Check: Ensure that your device is connected to the network and that your credentials are correct. Sometimes, network issues can prevent successful logins.
Sign Out and Sign In Again: If you can access the login screen, try signing out and then signing back in to see if that resolves the issue.
Restart the Device: A simple restart can sometimes resolve temporary issues with the login process.

If these steps do not resolve the issue, you may need to consult with your IT administrator or seek further technical support.

References:

Share via

Can’t log into my windows computer, says pin isn’t available and doesn’t allow me to set up pin. Says retry or come back later.

3 answers

Your answer