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

Anonymous

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.

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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Anonymous

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:

Open the Settings app, and click/tap on the Accounts icon.
Select Sign-in options on the left side, and click/tap on the Remove button under PIN on the right side.
Click/tap on Remove to confirm.
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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141 additional answers

Anonymous

2018-05-23T13:00:52+00:00

if you have resume on your computer hit the power button during this phase ... then hit it again to resume, it will tell you 'something went wrong' you should have the ability to skip for now

the pin is secure for it's purpose, but ramming it down peoples throats isnt good UX,
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Anonymous

2018-05-24T11:59:13+00:00

Hi Marc,

If you want to skip creating PIN during Windows 10 installation process, we encourage you to submit your concern using Feedback Hub. You can either vote on an existing submission or submit a new issue. When you submit a feedback item, we gather additional details and information about your issue that will help determine what’s causing it and address it. Feedback items regularly receive Microsoft responses on the submissions in the Feedback app so you can see what we are doing about your feedback. Please revisit frequently to see the status of your feedback items.

Regards.

Can you explain to me why you guys think setting up a PIN is more secure than my randomly generated alphanumeric 12 digit password that I've had memorized for years?

I'd much rather have the option to continue using my current sign-in method and not deal with having to cancel out of your 'create a PIN' screen every time I unlock my computer, rather than have Microsoft trying to take away my freedom to sign in however I want.
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Anonymous

2018-05-24T13:32:11+00:00

It is rediculous this PIN setup.

I had to accept it, after the installation I removed it, and now it keeps on asking to install a PIN when I restart the computer.

It looks like a disease which is following you all the time.

SHAME on YOU Microsoft.

Does anyone knows how I can get rid of this request for the PIN when I startup the computer.
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Anonymous

2018-05-24T13:50:19+00:00

What's not altogether clear here is that there are two ways you can set up windows 10 to deal with logins. You can either sign in using a Microsoft account, or a "local" account which just lives on the one machine - which is what Windows has done previously for years. This PIN hoo-haa is a function of using a Microsoft login rather than a local one, so you need to swap back. Full instructions here:

https://www.zdnet.com/article/windows-10-tip-switch-back-to-a-local-account-from-a-microsoft-account/

This might throw up some issues if you're using Microsoft cloud services - I don't know, don't use them myself. But it took me two days to work this out, and I've been blessedly free of the PIN hassle since.
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