How to remove PIN (grayed out) on Windows 11

• To remove PIN on Windows 11, open Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options, click “PIN (Windows Hello),” click “Remove,” confirm credentials, and click “OK.”
• To fix the remove PIN button grayed out on Windows 11, turn off the “For improved security, only allow Windows Hello sign-in for Microsoft account on this device” toggle switch on the “Sign-in options” page or the “Passwordless account” option on your Microsoft account online.

Windows 11 requires you to create a PIN to sign in to your account because it’s easier to remember and offers improved security, as it’s only locally relevant. However, if you prefer using a traditional password instead, you can remove the Windows Hello PIN, provided your system meets certain conditions.

The only caveat is that the option to remove the PIN may be unavailable (grayed out) if your Microsoft account is set up as passwordless or if Windows Hello is the only configured sign-in method on the device. In these cases, the system disables the ability to delete the PIN for security reasons.

If you’re looking to use a different PIN, there’s no need to remove it. Instead, you can simply change your current PIN through the Windows Hello settings.

In this guide, I’ll teach you the steps to remove the Windows Hello PIN from your account on Windows 11.

• Remove PIN on Windows 11
• Fix PIN remove button grayed out on Windows 11

Remove PIN on Windows 11

To remove the PIN on Windows 11, use these steps:

1. Open Settings on Windows 11.

2. Click on Accounts.

3. Click the Sign-in options page.

4. Select the “PIN (Windows Hello)” setting under the “Ways to sign in” section.

5. Click the “Remove” button in the “Remove this sign-in option” setting.

   

6. Confirm your account credentials.

7. Click the OK button to remove the PIN.

Once you complete the steps, the PIN will be removed from the account, but you will continue accessing the account with your password.

Fix PIN remove button grayed out on Windows 11

If you use a Microsoft account to access Windows 11, the button to remove the PIN could appear grayed out. The remove button could be grayed out if the passwordless option is enabled on the Windows 11 account or if the passwordless account is enabled on your Microsoft account.

Disable Windows Hello sign-in for Microsoft accounts

To fix the remove PIN button that is grayed out on Windows 11, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.

2. Click on Accounts.

3. Click the Sign-in option page.

4. Turn off the “For improved security, only allow Windows Hello sign-in for Microsoft account on this device” toggle switch under the “Additional settings” section.

   

You may need to restart the Settings app and the computer to apply the changes and enable the option to remove the PIN from the “Sign-in options” page.

Disable passwordless Microsoft account

To disable the passwordless Microsoft account to fix the grayed-out remove PIN button, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.

2. Click on Accounts.

3. Click the Your info tab.

4. Click the Accounts option under the “Related settings” section.

   

5. Click the Security tab.

6. Click the “Manage how I sign in” button.

7. Turn off the Passwordless account option under the “Additional security” section.

   

8. Continue with the on-screen directions.

9. Restart your computer.

After you complete the steps, the “PIN (Windows Hello)” setting will show the remove button on Windows 11.

Update June 6, 2025: This guide has been updated to ensure accuracy and reflect changes to the process.