Fix PIN No Longer Available Error in Windows 10

If you see “Your PIN is no longer available” when trying to sign in to Windows 10, it usually means the system lost the PIN’s cryptographic key, often after a Windows update or a change in security settings. This guide walks you through the most reliable fixes, from simply re-adding the PIN to rebuilding the security folder that stores it. You’ll need to be able to sign in with your Microsoft account password or a local account password, and you’ll need administrator access on the PC.

What You’ll Need

Your Microsoft account password (or local account password) to sign in when the PIN fails.
Administrator privileges on the Windows 10 device.
Access to the Settings app and Command Prompt (or PowerShell).
A stable internet connection if you use a Microsoft account (for verification).

Step-by-Step

Sign in with your password. When the PIN error appears, click “Sign-in options” on the login screen, then choose the password icon (keyboard icon) and enter your Microsoft account or local account password. If you’ve forgotten that password, you’ll need to reset it via Microsoft’s online recovery page before proceeding.
Remove the existing PIN. Once signed in, go to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options. Under the “PIN” section, click Remove. Confirm when prompted. Windows will ask you to verify your account password to complete the removal.
Restart your PC. After removing the PIN, restart Windows to clear any temporary state that might still reference the old PIN.
Set up a new PIN. After restart, go back to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options. Under “PIN”, click Add. You’ll be asked to verify your password again, then you can create a new PIN (choose a different one if possible).
If the error persists, clear the NGC folder. The PIN data is stored in the NGC folder under C:\Windows\ServiceProfiles\LocalService\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Ngc. If this folder gets corrupted, the PIN becomes unusable. To reset it, you must take ownership and delete its contents. Open Command Prompt as administrator (right-click Start > Command Prompt (Admin) or PowerShell (Admin)).
Take ownership of the NGC folder. In the admin command prompt, type the following commands one by one, pressing Enter after each:
```
takeown /f C:\Windows\ServiceProfiles\LocalService\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Ngc /r /d y
icacls C:\Windows\ServiceProfiles\LocalService\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Ngc /grant administrators:F /t /c /q
```
These commands give your administrator account full control over the folder.
Delete the contents of the NGC folder. Now type del /f /q /s C:\Windows\ServiceProfiles\LocalService\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Ngc\*.* and press Enter. This clears all PIN-related data. Do not delete the folder itself, only its contents.
Restart again. After deleting the NGC contents, restart your PC. Windows will rebuild the folder automatically.
Re-add your PIN. Sign in with your password again, then go to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options and add a new PIN as in step 4.
If the error still appears, run the Windows Update troubleshooter. Sometimes the issue is caused by a pending update that didn’t install correctly. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooters, select Windows Update, and run the troubleshooter. Then check for updates and install any pending ones.

Common Mistakes

Deleting the NGC folder itself instead of just its contents can cause more sign-in problems. Always use del on the contents, not rmdir on the folder.
Skipping the restart after removal often means the new PIN doesn’t stick. Always restart between removing and re-adding.
Using a PIN that is too similar to the old one might not help if the issue is a corrupted profile; try a completely different PIN.
Not running Command Prompt as administrator will result in “Access Denied” errors when trying to modify the NGC folder.
Forgetting to sign in with your password first – if you can’t get past the lock screen, you can’t access Settings. Use the password option on the sign-in screen.

Tips

Keep your Microsoft account password handy – even if you normally use a PIN, you should know your account password for recovery.
Create a password reset disk for local accounts (if you use a local account) to avoid being locked out.
Check if your device is joined to a domain – if so, group policy might be disabling PINs. Contact your IT admin.
Make sure Windows is fully updated – Microsoft has released fixes for PIN issues in cumulative updates.
If you have BitLocker enabled, you may need your recovery key after deleting NGC contents, so have it ready.

Troubleshooting

If the steps above don’t resolve the error, try these additional measures:

Run the “Sign-in options” troubleshooter – Go to Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooters, then select “Sign-in options” and run it.
Create a new local administrator account – In an admin command prompt, type net user NewUser NewPassword /add and net localgroup administrators NewUser /add. Then sign in with that account and see if the PIN works there. If it does, the issue is tied to your original profile.
Use System Restore – If you know the PIN worked a few days ago, restore your PC to a point before the problem started. Go to Control Panel > Recovery > Open System Restore.
Reset your PC – As a last resort, you can reset Windows 10 while keeping your files (Settings > Update & Security > Recovery > Reset this PC). This reinstalls Windows but preserves your personal files. Back up important data before doing this.
Check for third-party security software – Some antivirus or security suites can interfere with Windows Hello. Temporarily disable them to test.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did my PIN stop working suddenly?
The most common cause is a Windows update that changes the security policies or resets the NGC folder’s permissions. Other causes include corrupted user profile, or changes to the device’s Trusted Platform Module (TPM) settings.

Will I lose any files by removing the PIN?
No. Removing and re-adding a PIN only affects the sign-in method. Your files, apps, and settings remain untouched.

Can I use my PIN on another computer?
No. A Windows Hello PIN is tied to the specific device it was created on. Each device requires its own PIN setup.

What if I don’t have a Microsoft account password?
If you use a local account, you should have set a password when creating the account. If you forgot it, you can reset it by booting into Safe Mode and using the built-in Administrator account, or by using a password reset disk.

Is it safe to delete the NGC folder contents?
Yes, as long as you only delete the contents and not the folder itself. Windows will recreate the necessary files when you set up a new PIN. However, you may need to re-enter your BitLocker recovery key if you have BitLocker enabled.

How long does the fix take?
Usually 10-15 minutes, including restarts. If you need to reset your PC, it can take an hour or more.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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