Why must I restart my computer in order to be able to enter my PIN?

Question

Why must I restart my computer in order to be able to enter my PIN?

BillP-5809 25

Recently I start up my computer and it asks me to enter my PIN however, it will not accept any of my keystrokes. It requires me to restart my computer which I do and then it works flawlessly. Never had a problem with this before. I have tried changing my PIN and removing my remote keyboard but to no avail. Is this a software issue or is my laptop on the fritz?

Connie Gonzales 0 Reputation points

2025-11-05T21:40:03.3266667+00:00

Hello,

My husband I both are experiencing the same issue on both of our computers. This just started a few days ago. This has never been an issue. I am going to follow instructions below to see if that resolved the issue.
Connie Gonzales 0 Reputation points

2025-11-05T21:49:35.95+00:00

Hello,

I followed the instructions you provided, but I don't have "power options" under the control panel.
Connie Gonzales 0 Reputation points

2025-11-05T21:50:20.68+00:00

Hello,

I followed the instructions you provided, but I don't have "power options" under the control panel.
Connie Gonzales 0 Reputation points

2025-11-05T21:52:56.45+00:00

Sorry, NM I just searched for it and found it. Hopefully this works.

Answer accepted by question author

John Oliver 11,680 Independent Advisor

Hello Bill P, thanks for posting this in our community.

This does sound unusual, but one common cause could be Windows Fast Startup. It can sometimes prevent input devices like keyboards from initializing properly during boot.

To check this, go to Control Panel, then Power Options, and select "Choose what the power buttons do." Click "Change settings that are currently unavailable," then uncheck "Turn on fast startup." Save your changes and reboot your device.

Hopefully, this resolves the issue for you.

Kind regards,

John Oli

Kristi Cramer 0 Reputation points

2025-11-16T18:59:56.8633333+00:00

I have this happening on two of my units, a laptop and a desktop. I've been working at setting up the desktop to serve as a remote computer to be accessed by the laptop, as well as a "live" computer, to be used while sitting at the desk. I tried this on the desktop and and it did not resolve my issue. It specifically happens after I access the computer remotely from another device. (When I haven't been accessing it remotely, it works fine.)

I was just on my laptop yesterday, but today I can't get it to accept keystrokes in the PIN box no matter how many times (about 6 so far) I restart. It's behaving like it's bricked, and no one but me has had access to it. Help!
Kristi Cramer 0 Reputation points

2025-11-19T16:05:03.26+00:00

Well, I figured out the laptop issue--had to delete the keyboard driver(s) and then reboot, so the drivers would automatically be re-added. Which worked.

And on the desktop after remote session issue, I figured out how to access the on-screen keyboard on my desktop so I can at least sign in and make sure everything is saved before rebooting. Not ideal, but better than losing data. (Pinned it to my taskbar so it's easy to find.)

I've tried hitting tab, esc, and ctrl+alt+del, but it behaves as if I don't even have a keyboard. (It's wired, not wireless.) When I hit ctrl+alt+del on the on screen keyboard, it tells me to select an option from my "user tile", but IDK what a user tile even is. Once I reboot, I get it back--but it's still something I'd love to figure out how to solve without rebooting.
john rudge 0 Reputation points

2025-12-04T13:37:01.47+00:00

At last someone has finally given me to the solution regarding signing in after my 5 days of unsuccessful attempts,many thanks
David Lobato 0 Reputation points

2026-05-15T13:44:30.3033333+00:00

If you get it every day, still doubt it since I had to do it after my computer updated Windows 10 yesterday, no problem, and the rest of the day had no issues.

Opened it today and it asked for it. I just rebooted it to remove it. I also went into Control Panel, as advised. My setting were already set at this suggestion, which shows not all suggestions work.

Have something of a background in Mainframe Programming. NO EVERY SUGGESTION works. Many issues I have had with Windows 10 in the last six months were never fixed by 5, 6, 8, suggestions even when it meant going into the registry.

1 additional answer

Your answer

Connie Gonzales 0 Reputation points

2025-11-05T21:40:03.3266667+00:00

Hello,

My husband I both are experiencing the same issue on both of our computers. This just started a few days ago. This has never been an issue. I am going to follow instructions below to see if that resolved the issue.
Connie Gonzales 0 Reputation points

2025-11-05T21:49:35.95+00:00

Hello,

I followed the instructions you provided, but I don't have "power options" under the control panel.
Connie Gonzales 0 Reputation points

2025-11-05T21:50:20.68+00:00

Hello,

I followed the instructions you provided, but I don't have "power options" under the control panel.
Connie Gonzales 0 Reputation points

2025-11-05T21:52:56.45+00:00

Sorry, NM I just searched for it and found it. Hopefully this works.
Kristi Cramer 0 Reputation points

2025-11-16T18:59:56.8633333+00:00

I have this happening on two of my units, a laptop and a desktop. I've been working at setting up the desktop to serve as a remote computer to be accessed by the laptop, as well as a "live" computer, to be used while sitting at the desk. I tried this on the desktop and and it did not resolve my issue. It specifically happens after I access the computer remotely from another device. (When I haven't been accessing it remotely, it works fine.)

I was just on my laptop yesterday, but today I can't get it to accept keystrokes in the PIN box no matter how many times (about 6 so far) I restart. It's behaving like it's bricked, and no one but me has had access to it. Help!
Kristi Cramer 0 Reputation points

2025-11-19T16:05:03.26+00:00

Well, I figured out the laptop issue--had to delete the keyboard driver(s) and then reboot, so the drivers would automatically be re-added. Which worked.

And on the desktop after remote session issue, I figured out how to access the on-screen keyboard on my desktop so I can at least sign in and make sure everything is saved before rebooting. Not ideal, but better than losing data. (Pinned it to my taskbar so it's easy to find.)

I've tried hitting tab, esc, and ctrl+alt+del, but it behaves as if I don't even have a keyboard. (It's wired, not wireless.) When I hit ctrl+alt+del on the on screen keyboard, it tells me to select an option from my "user tile", but IDK what a user tile even is. Once I reboot, I get it back--but it's still something I'd love to figure out how to solve without rebooting.
john rudge 0 Reputation points

2025-12-04T13:37:01.47+00:00

At last someone has finally given me to the solution regarding signing in after my 5 days of unsuccessful attempts,many thanks
David Lobato 0 Reputation points

2026-05-15T13:44:30.3033333+00:00

If you get it every day, still doubt it since I had to do it after my computer updated Windows 10 yesterday, no problem, and the rest of the day had no issues.

Opened it today and it asked for it. I just rebooted it to remove it. I also went into Control Panel, as advised. My setting were already set at this suggestion, which shows not all suggestions work.

Have something of a background in Mainframe Programming. NO EVERY SUGGESTION works. Many issues I have had with Windows 10 in the last six months were never fixed by 5, 6, 8, suggestions even when it meant going into the registry.

Answer 1

BillP-5809 25

Thanks! worked like a charm.

Connie Gonzales 0 Reputation points

2025-11-06T15:34:25.03+00:00

Fixed the issue on our end as well. Thank you.