Bug that forces you to set a pin when installing Windows 10

Anonymous
2018-01-05T17:52:41+00:00

You guys might want to step up your testing efforts. This is a pretty obvious bug IMO. To be clear, I want to use my password and not a pin. But the UI says, "We think you will like it."... well I don't. Normally there is an option to set a pin later.... Well, this goes away permanently if you initially try to authenticate using the Windows Authenticator app.

I am prompted to set a pin, with no button to skip or proceed without one. If I bring up the dialog and cancel, that doesn't help either... You are basically stuck on that screen. I can't finish the installation because the only option to proceed is to create a pin which will replace my password -- I don't want to do that. 

So to be clear:

Install Windows 10 and enter your name and password during installation... You can skip setting a pin.

Install Windows 10 and enter your name and then select authenticate with the authenticator... I successfully authenticate and then I am asked to set a pin. The option to skip is not there as in the first scenario. Starting the process over and entering a password instead does not help. It seems the option to skip is never available again. The only thing I could do was to wipe the install and start over.

Sure I could have set a pin and removed it later, but I didn't want to do that. I don't want it messing with my login. 

Also asking me to file an issue on connect is not going to happen -- sorry. If you guys want to take the time to file it, then go for it. Hopefully you guys will investigate.

Ironically even this forum has a bug... When you edit an issue -- it resets the Windows version and topic.

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Install and upgrade

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Anonymous
2018-05-11T22:28:29+00:00

Hi Arap,

Setting up a pin on your device makes it more secured. One important difference between a password and a Hello PIN is that the PIN is tied to the specific device on which it was set up. Read more in this documentation:

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security/identity-protection/hello-for-business/hello-why-pin-is-better-than-password

Thus, you still have option to remove it once you've done setting it up for the first time. Kindly follow the steps below:

  1. Open the Settings app, and click/tap on the Accounts icon.
  2. Select Sign-in options on the left side, and click/tap on the Remove button under PIN on the right side.
  3. Click/tap on Remove to confirm.
  4. Type in your Microsoft account password to verify, and click/tap on OK.

Additionally, you can refer answers mentioned in this thread:

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_10-update/i-dont-want-a-pin-number/902c5b3d-42d4-4fc8-b34e-71200e0b362d

Let us know how it turns out.

Note: Microsoft has updated the information in this reply to benefit users facing this issue.

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  1. Anonymous
    2018-07-05T23:42:17+00:00

    You can use an alphanumeric pin. It can be the same as your old password. 

    Good info.  But why didn't the demand require that we change passwords rather than that we adopt a pin which, in everyone's experience, is a number and has four digits?

    I reported this issue originally so I get the frustration. PIN is a bad term for it. They should have called it Device Password or something. 

    It seems pointless but it's not. Basically you have a Microsoft Account that has a password. You can go online and view your email with this password as well as access various services.. I think everyone is clear on that. Now you go to setup your machine but you want to have all your Microsoft information on it. Well you could just login using your Microsoft Account password, but if you did that and the machine was compromised with a virus, someone could use a keylogger and access your Microsoft account online. However, with a secondary password that is only good for your machine, that password is useless online and on any other device your Microsoft Account is configured for. 

    The PIN basically ties your Microsoft Account to your device using a password that is only good for that device.

    Forcing people do it is stupid, but the end result is better security.

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  2. Anonymous
    2018-07-05T23:33:00+00:00

    You can use an alphanumeric pin. It can be the same as your old password. 

    Good info.  But why didn't the demand require that we change passwords rather than that we adopt a pin which, in everyone's experience, is a number and has four digits?

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  3. Anonymous
    2018-07-05T23:28:13+00:00

    Exactly so.  Perhaps we will learn the reason for this foolishness at some point.  Meanwhile, I am grateful that the demand that I buy into the equation you mentioned just vanished after I had refused numerous times.

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  4. Anonymous
    2018-07-05T21:21:19+00:00

    You can use an alphanumeric pin. It can be the same as your old password.

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