No PIN and no login option

Debbie Carol 0 Reputation points
2026-08-22T00:39:33.98+00:00

Hello,

I bought a laptop at the end of 2024 and cost me a good penny. I used it with my previous empoluer outlook and office 365. I had set up my pin and password which stop working the day I quit my previous job. When the employer cancelled the outlook account I lost all options to log in to my cpomuter. I cannot do face recognition, nor old pin, nor reset during start up, nothing. Any ideas on how to log in to my laptop? I cannot even sign in with a different microsoft account.

Any suggestions or help will be greatly appreciated.

Windows for home | Other | Security and privacy
0 comments

2 answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. GsN5034 - IA 75,585 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-08-22T01:56:17.23+00:00

    Hello, thank you for reaching out to Microsoft Q&A.

    As the Work account is disconnected from your device, you will no longer be able to sign in to the computer.

    If it is your Personal laptop, you will have to do a full system recovery and set up Windows with your Personal Microsoft account.

    Note: Running a System recovery will reset your PC to factory defaults and erase all data on the HDD.

    To run a System Recovery -

    1. Turn on your computer. When you see your PC manufacturer's logo or the Windows logo, press and hold the power button on your device to turn off your computer.
    2. Repeat the same steps 2-3 times.
    3. Then, next time, allow your device to fully boot into the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) page.

    In WinRE, select Troubleshoot > Reset this PC > Remove everything, then proceed with a local reinstall.

    Resetting the device may take some time to complete. Once done, set up Windows with your Personal Microsoft account.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments

  2. AI answer

    2026-08-22T00:39:51.51+00:00

    If the work account was only used for Microsoft 365 apps, that alone should not remove Windows sign-in. The supported recovery path is to use another available Windows sign-in method, then reset the PIN.

    Try these steps in order:

    1. On the Windows sign-in screen, look for another sign-in method such as Password.
      • If available, sign in with the password for the Windows account on the device.
      • If Windows Hello was set up, fingerprint, face recognition, or PIN can also be used when available.
    2. If the sign-in screen shows I forgot my password or I forgot my PIN, use that option.
      • Windows supports resetting a password or PIN directly from the sign-in screen.
    3. If the device uses a Microsoft account and the password is no longer working, use the Sign-in Helper to identify the account issue and follow the recovery steps.
      • If the password was forgotten, use the password reset flow.
      • If the username was forgotten, use the account lookup flow.
      • If verification codes are failing, use the verification code troubleshooting steps.
    4. If sign-in succeeds with a password, reset the PIN afterward:
      • Go to Start > Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options.
      • Select PIN (Windows Hello) and choose I forgot my PIN.
    5. If fingerprint sign-in was previously working but no longer works, sign in with the PIN first, then either:
      • Add another fingerprint: Start > Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options > Fingerprint recognition (Windows Hello) > Add another
      • Or remove and set up the fingerprint again: Start > Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options > Fingerprint recognition (Windows Hello) > Remove, then Set up
    6. If Windows Hello worked before and then stopped, a recently installed app, driver, or update might be the cause. A restore or reset of the PC is a supported option. This can cause data loss, so it should be treated as a last resort.

    Important supported limitation: Microsoft support cannot retrieve or bypass a lost or forgotten password.

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

    Was this answer helpful?

Your answer

Answers can be marked as 'Accepted' by the question author and 'Recommended' by moderators, which helps users know the answer solved the author's problem.