Change your PIN from the Settings app

The fastest way to change your Windows PIN is through Settings. Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "settings," then select the Settings app. Go to Accounts in the left menu, then select Sign-in options.

Under the "PIN (Windows Hello)" section, you'll see a button that says Change. Click it. Windows will ask you to enter your current PIN to confirm it's really you making the change. Type your current PIN and select Next.

Now enter your new PIN twice — once to set it, and once to confirm it matches. Your new PIN can be numbers only, or you can mix in letters and symbols if you want something harder to guess. Select Next, then Finish. Your PIN is now changed and will take effect the next time you sign in.

Key Takeaways

  • You can change your PIN through Settings by going to Accounts, then Sign-in options, then clicking Change under the PIN section.
  • Windows will ask you to enter your current PIN before letting you set a new one, so you need to remember what it is now.
  • Your new PIN can be numbers only, or you can add letters and symbols to make it stronger.
  • The change takes effect the next time you sign in — you don't need to restart your computer.
  • If you forget your current PIN, you'll need to reset it using your password or a recovery key instead of changing it.

What to do if you forgot your current PIN

If you can't remember your current PIN, you can't use the Change button because Windows requires you to enter the old one first. Instead, you need to reset it. Go to Settings, then Accounts, then Sign-in options. Under the PIN section, click I forgot my PIN.

Windows will walk you through verifying who you are. You can use your Microsoft account password, a security key, or a recovery code — whichever method you set up when you created your PIN. Once Windows confirms your identity, you can set a brand new PIN without knowing the old one.

PIN requirements and what works

Windows PINs must be at least four characters long. You can use only numbers (like 1234), or you can mix numbers with letters and symbols (like Blue$2024 or P@ss99). Spaces don't work in PINs, and Windows is case-sensitive, meaning it treats uppercase and lowercase letters as different.

A PIN made of only numbers is simpler to type but easier to guess. Adding letters and symbols makes it stronger, especially if you avoid obvious patterns like your birth year or a sequence like 1111. Think of something you can remember but that wouldn't be obvious to someone watching you type.

Why you might want to change your PIN

You might change your PIN if you think someone saw you type it, if you've been using the same one for a long time, or if you want to replace a PIN that's too simple. Changing it regularly is a good security habit, especially if you share your computer with others or use it in public spaces.

If you suspect someone knows your PIN, change it right away. If you're selling or giving away your computer, remove your PIN entirely or reset Windows so the next owner can set up their own sign-in method.

Difference between a PIN and a password

Your Windows PIN is different from your Microsoft account password. The PIN only works on your specific computer — it's stored locally on your device. Your password works anywhere you sign into Microsoft services, like Outlook or OneDrive, and it's stored on Microsoft's servers.

You can have both a PIN and a password. The PIN is usually faster to type when you're signing in at home, while the password is what you use if you sign in on a different computer or on the web. Changing one does not change the other.

Troubleshooting if the change won't save

If you click Finish but the change doesn't seem to stick, make sure you typed the new PIN the same way both times. Windows requires the two entries to match exactly — if one has a capital letter and the other doesn't, it will reject them as different.

If Settings keeps crashing or freezing when you try to change your PIN, restart your computer and try again. If the problem continues, you may have a corrupted Settings file. In that case, try resetting your PIN using the "I forgot my PIN" option instead, which uses a different part of Windows to process the change.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my PIN without knowing the old one?

Not through the Change button — that requires your current PIN. But you can use the "I forgot my PIN" option, which lets you verify your identity with your Microsoft password or recovery code instead. This resets your PIN so you can create a new one.

Do I need to restart my computer after changing my PIN?

No. The change takes effect immediately. You'll use your new PIN the next time you sign in, whether that's after locking your screen or restarting later. You don't need to do anything else.

What happens if I change my PIN but then forget the new one?

Use the "I forgot my PIN" option again. You'll verify your identity with your Microsoft password or recovery code, and Windows will let you set another new PIN. You can do this as many times as you need to.

Can I use the same PIN I used before?

Yes, Windows allows you to reuse an old PIN. However, if you're changing your PIN for security reasons — because you think someone knows it — you should pick something completely different.

Is a PIN more secure than a password?

A PIN is local to your computer, so it's only useful if someone has physical access to your device. A password is used across multiple services, so a strong password protects more of your accounts. For your computer specifically, a longer PIN with letters and symbols is harder to guess than a short number-only PIN.