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
    2018-06-24T09:04:29+00:00

    My wife's HP desktop has just started this rubbish.  When she logs on with her password, it goes to blue screen with wording about how much safer a pin is since it is only stored on the computer not in the cloud.  Clicking Next since there is no other way out of the screen takes us to another blue screen which eventually gives us the option of making a pin or 'Do this later'.  Doing it later means that she has to do it every time she logs on.  This is Windows 10 Home latest update.  My PC has Windows 10 Pro and does not give me the Pin screen (Yet).  Why did it start after the update had been in place for at least a week?  Why does it do it at all?  Why cant Microsoft let us make decisions for ourselves - I hate Macs for this very reason.  They do NOT know best.

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  2. Anonymous
    2018-06-24T07:54:00+00:00

    To skip the PIN creation in the latest Windows 10 install:

    1. Click "Set a PIN"
    2. Press back/Escape
    3. The system will ask you if you wanted to cancel the PIN creation process. Say yes and click "Do This Later".

    This used to work, but I am sitting here with a fresh Win 10 1803 installation, and I cannot skip the pin. Neither clicking Cancel nor Escape lets me move past the PIN setup, while previous Win 10 setup builds allowed me to continue past this point.

    I really hate some of Microsoft's decisions. How many ******* passwords do we need?

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  3. Anonymous
    2018-06-23T03:57:38+00:00

    I previously tried that, and it worked for a few days, before it began requesting that I create a PIN every time.

    I've given up, at this point.

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  4. Anonymous
    2018-06-23T03:48:07+00:00

    Just reinstalled Wondows 10 , getting forced to use a pin. So I created a pin and removed it ... restarted the mschinm and got promted to enter a pin ..no.way around this

    Try this...

    Leave the PIN in place

    Go to Settings -> Account -> Verify

    Run through the verification process

    Reboot

    Now remove PIN

    Reboot - Should not be asked again

    Worked on my test install.

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