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
    2018-07-05T10:07:18+00:00

    Unfortunately if you remove the pin, on the next reboot you'll start the same cycle all over again, it will demand you create one again.

    That certainly happened to me also.

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  2. Anonymous
    2018-07-05T08:09:53+00:00

    Unfortunately if you remove the pin, on the next reboot you'll start the same cycle all over again, it will demand you create one again.

    The only way I've found out of the cycle is to first 'verify' your account, then remove the pin.

    Some have said that this only broke the cycle for a few reboots and that later on they were forced to create a pin again.

    The whole issue is that we shouldn't be forced to create one, there should always be an option to skip.

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  3. Anonymous
    2018-07-05T08:02:10+00:00

    There may be a mis understanding about this issue...

    When installing Windows 10 for the first time, after downloading the image via the latest media creation tool (July 2018), the Windows installer requests a PIN be entered.  While you can advance to the pin entry screen, then Cancel back to the first pin request screen. There is NO WAY to cancel pin creation at this time. You MUST create a pin to continue installation. This is clearly a bug, present in the recent installer only.

    However, once you have installed Windows, and you try to add more users to the PC, you will again encounter a SIMILAR issue. This time, after you advance to the Pin entry screen, Cancel back to the previous pin screen an 'I'll set up a PIN later' option appears. This can be clicked to bypass pin creation. This is still an interface bug, as the 'later' option does not appear until you cancel first.

    The first one is a major obstruction, which is why anger levels are high. The second one is just an annoying inconvenience. I too, was installing Windows for another person, so I had to create a pin, then remove it via Settings -> Accounts -> Sign in options.

    Hope this helps explain the issue for MS people listening.

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