How to Make Windows 11 Use Password Instead of PIN

About Windows 11 password and PIN

"I want to change from using my PIN for login on my computer to using my password. I have searched and followed the instructions in the various questions/threads here but there is no password option in the sign-in options tab and the remove pin button is grayed out so I can't click it."

Windows 11 offers users a range of sign-in options, including using a PIN or password. While choosing a password instead of a PIN is often considered faster and more convenient, some users may be inclined to use a password for a number of reasons.

For enhanced security, users may consider converting to a password. A password may be less likely to be guessed or cracked than a PIN because it is longer and more complex in composition. Additionally, some institutions may mandate passwords in order to comply with regulatory requirements.

Users may also consider migrating to passwords if they have forgotten their PIN and lack a Microsoft account associated with their device. If this happens, the passcode may become the only way to access the device.

In this guide, you will find how to make Windows 11 use password instead of PIN step by step. After that, you can directly type the password on the login screen to sign in. Let's get started!

How to make Windows 11 use password instead of PIN?

First of all, you should remove the PIN on Windows 11. Here are the steps:

Step 1. Open the Settings app. Go to Accounts > Sign-in options.

Step 2. Here, turn off the ‘For improved security, only allow Windows Hello sign-in for Microsoft accounts on this device’ option.

Step 3. Once you complete the steps, the PIN will be removed from the account. Then, when you start your PC, the Windows 11 login screen will display a Sign-in options link.

Step 4. Click on the Sign-in options link and then click the password icon. Finally, type your password and press the Enter key to access your system.

Bonus reading: What to do if you forgot password in Windows 11

After making Windows 11 use password instead of PIN, you may encounter another problem: what if password is lost or forgotten? If you have the same issue or have such worry, you can’t miss this part that offers the best way to regain the access to your Windows 11.

That is to reset the forgotten password with a reliable Windows password reset tool called AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional. It 100% works on all versions of Windows 11/10/8/7/XP/Vista computers, allowing you to create a password reset USB to reset or remove the password, even if you have been locked out of the Windows 11 PC.

Here is a demo version and stepwise guide on how to perform a password reset in Windows 11:

Step 1. Connect a USB to a running Windows computer. Install and launch AOMEI Partition Assistant. At the top pane, select "Tools" > "Reset Windows Password".

Step 2. In the pop-up window, click "Next" to create a WinPE bootable media.

Step 3. Here we tick "USB Boot Device", choose your prepared USB and click "Proceed" to move on.

Step 4. Note that the USB flash drive needs to be formatted so you will lose all data on it. If there is important data on it, please make a backup and redo; if not, click "OK" to continue.

Step 5. When the bootable USB is created successfully, unplug it and connect it to your laptop. Boot the PC from this USB, and you will see the interface of AOMEI Partition Assistant appear automatically. Click "Reset Windows Password", select the Windows system you would like to operate, and click "Next".

Step 6. Then, select the account you would like to operate and select the feature you want to use: "Remove Account Password" or "Reset Account Password". Here we choose "Reset Account Password" and click "Next".

Step 7. Type the new password and confirm it, then click "Yes". After that, you are able to log in to your computer with this new password.

Conclusion

Making Windows 11 use password instead of PIN is fairly straightforward. You can follow the detailed steps that have been displayed above. Besides, there is a Windows unlock tool named AOMEI Partition Assistant to deal with password reset.

It is worth mentioning that AOMEI software is also a good helper in fixing other Windows 11 problems such as the white screen of death, GPT not recognized, 100% disk usage, etc.