No, I do not want to create a PIN Windows... not now, not ever.
How do I get rid of this annoying nagging "feature" ?
It comes back every few reboots and doesn't let me get past it, I need to reboot.
Posted Mar 9, 2020, 5:02 PM UTC
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[deleted]
28
What i was gonna suggest. Would either be called an advanced or Complex pin
0
Weird none of my windows accounts ask for this... maybe because I use a local account?
26
That’s exactly why.
17
OP may not have a password configured or something. I have never been prompted for a PIN.
4
Probably running a different level or version than you are.
2
THE LATEST! :)
3
I also recall something about this behavior getting A/B tested in different countries at different times.
I think it my have begun roll-out in Germany first, although I have slept since I read that article.
5
How true, it is never as simple as it seems lol
1
Pins are amazing instead of your long password it's a short pin
22
Pins are amazing because if someone spot you entering your pin when you are on vacation and chilling outside with a beer and your laptop, they dont get the password that opens up your entire online microsoft account. Yes, 2FA also solves that. Nothing wrong with another layer of security.
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That to
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Bitlocker.
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Bitlocker is if someone get their hands on your physical drive, they cant read it. Another good layer of security.
.. Which I dont use because it slows down my surface pro drive to the unusable as soon as the drive cache fills. And occasionally corrupts itself, requiring a OS reinstall.
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Good to know, I just turned it on and I have i5-5300u in a 5 year old laptop that's performing as it did before - in regards to the apps I use, which are light...
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Bitlocker does absolutely nothing to prevent your online accounts from having their credentials breached, which a PIN can help prevent.
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Just create it but switch the login method back to password login. It will never ask for your PIN again. If you forget your password, you'll be able to use the PIN for that one time. Then after that reboot/restart it will as for the PIN but just change back to password and password will be the default.
17
Why not just create one? It’s faster to type the PIN than most passwords.
12
Better yet create an 8 digit windows hello pin.
3
Remembering multiple passwords is not an experience many people willingly indulge in.
Especially when you're already on a computer with a biometric scanner that is better than a PIN any day.
1†
The idea behind the PIN is that you make your PIN the one you remember, not the Microsoft account password. That way you don't need to remember your Microsoft account password just to log in to your computer.
12
The idea behind the PIN is that you make your PIN the one you remember, not the Microsoft account password. That way you don't need to remember your Microsoft account password just to log in to your computer.
That's not quite it. Password managers are designed to do this, but not PINs. PINs are device-specific, which means whenever you want to sign into your account online or on a new device, you'll need to remember your password. PINs are certainly not designed so that you can forget your password.
-1
The PIN is meant to be easier and replace the password though. How hard is it for people to remember 4 digits?
5
4 digit pins are brute forceable. It’s what the FBI did to crack those iPhones in the recent stories about Apple encryption.
The pin is fine. Until you lose your machine.
0
You can make a PIN as long as you want, and even include letters. The PIN is not easy to brute force, it disables after a few attempts, so the FBI would just subpoena their way in instead.
5
Windows requires a password after 5(?) failed PIN attempts. It's so you can create a very strong password but not have to type it every time to unlock your PC.
Also Windows pins and passwords are useless on stolen devices that are not properly encrypted anyways.
2
4 digit pins are brute forceable
In principal it is, in practice Windows prevents this.
2
my understanding is that you need to create the PIN as a backup but biometrics should be usable with Windows Hello?
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Because I don’t trust 4 digit PINs?
-2†
That only matters if you cannot control who has physical access to your device.
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Like someone who steals your laptop?
3
When someone steals the device they can access all the data without password if it's not encrypted, a password or pin won't help then
2
Well stolen devices fall under the unable to control access to it. However if you get the PIN wrong so many times you do have to use a password.
Also you shouldn't be betting on Windows user accounts to protect your data. Even with a strong password it's easily bypassed with access to the disk. Especially if the bios isn't configured securely and bitlocker isn't enabled.
Best security for a laptop is to have it prompt for bitlocker passphrase to boot and password the bios.
1
Who claims PINs are 4 digit?
1
The PIN is meant to be easier and replace the password though. How hard is it for people to remember 4 digits?
Several people in this thread.
2
I remember being nagged for it. Then I created the pin and now I use it everyday. It's made my life easier. Just do it, you won't regret it.
I hate being nagged for shit (fuck you Youtube Premium), but in this instance it actually was worth doing the thing.
4
The amount of support I get at my shop as a result of this is astounding.
User will create Microsoft account, bind it, set a pin (because Microsoft tells them its easier) then one day, we need to login to safe mode and lo and behold, asks for a password.
You ask the client what their password is and they swear up and down that all they've ever had was a pin.
Such a bad idea. If someone has a password let them use that password and not a pin instead.
4
That is finally fixed in the upcoming 2004 version... You can use the pin to log on to safe mode...
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[deleted]
1
Sounds like a case of PEBKAC
3†
- Create it.
- Forget about it.
3
Just create it lol. Imagine using a computer without any password or security
2†
Right? It's not like OP has to ever actually use it.
Make it the same as your password and continue on with life as normal.
People complain about the smallest things, it's hilarious.
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Pin != Password
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[deleted]
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I usually just set up the pin and change the login method back to password.
1
Don't use a microsoft account.
1†
A tough ask if you're constantly switching between devices and need your files and other data to move with you.
-1
As a windows account I mean.
Sure, connect to OneDrive if you use it, but don't use it as your windows account.
0
Using it as a windows account allows you to sync up your settings, emails, calendar, purchases or subscriptions, and other stuff across devices. As someone who frequently hops between a laptop and desktop, that's pretty useful.
2
Bad advice
-1†
Under the password entry box on the lock screen there is an option you can click on labelled "sign in options" - when you expand that you will see two icons, one for password one for pin. Click on the password icon and it won't ask for a PIN.
1
Just create one, you can still use your password
1
With the newest update (the big one) it allows you to disable it, but as i was forces to use a pin for several years now, i got used to it...
1
Someone linked me this : https://www.windowscentral.com/how-switch-local-account-microsoft-account-windows-10
I do not remember switching to an MS account but it was the case.
Switched it back to local. All fine now.
1
This sounds like it's a not using a local account issue, or is it doing it for both?
0
Easiest way is to use a local account and not a Microsoft Live/Office365 account. I've never been prompted when using a local account.
Microsoft has made it even harder to create a local account now. You need to physically disconnect the network in order to get the option to create a local account.
Microsoft really really really wants your login details and metrics.
Open cmd as admin:
net user (name) /add
net user localgroup Administrators (name) /add
net user (name) * (then enter your desired password)
Then yeet the live account and enjoy the local one
This actually isn’t true. There’s a selection at the bottom screen I think it’s like “join your computer to a domain” that will make a local account whether connected to network or not. I’ve done this numerous times in the past few weeks. I’m on board with the hate of how dumb they are making it though.
Yes, but note this is only for pro version of Windows.
I’m pretty sure they’re making it easier in the 2004 update
I just installed a Win10 1909 and for an offline account you just have to click "offline" in the bottom left.
Internet was connected via Ethernet the whole time
[deleted]
You are probably using Pro instead of Home. Home removed the option entirely.
I just enter [email protected] and a random password, says error and lets me create a local account
I was always able to skip MS account in my VMs. Maybe it's just a thing with Europe windows, and the option doesn't appear in America windows
No, I literally just set up a VM a day or two ago in the US and it allowed me to skip the MSA login. I think the difference is that I was installing Pro, while most people here are likely installing Home. It wouldn't surprise me if that option is more hidden for Home.
Should be criminal IMHO. No issue for them to offer both, they have enough telemetry either way.
Not me, PiHole FTW!
And even if you later reconnect your network cable, it'll try to upgrade you to an online account.
If you absolutely insist of not being connected to the Internet you can just install Linux or just unplug the Ethernet cable. This is 2020. Get over it or buy a tinfoil hat.
An apple is not an orange.
Wanting a local account is a perfectly valid scenario, and your comment doesn't relate at all.
Speaking of Apple that is an even worse scenario with offline accounts. It's 2020. Get over it or install Linux. I honestly don't get you tinfoil hats people. Sure, if it is some sensitive business data, but as a private person, nobody gives a damn about your doggy pictures or cooking recipes.
A year later we will hear you whining about that you lost your data because you didn't have cloud backup. It's the endless cycle of this forum.
It's easy to get this all out of proportion - not wanting a 'cloud' account, but then logging in and opening Chrome and going to Facebook. I personally don't want a cloud account for Windows because I see no value in it to me. I don't particularly want to go syncing things between devices.
I quit Chrome in 2017 and quit Facebook back in 2015. Some way or another you are still connected to the Internet anyway.
The benefits of having an online account is that it at least saves some of your account settings. Using an "offline" account is just futile. You are always connected anyways.
best wait till you understand the conversation Junior.
Jandrese meant disconnect from the network so that you *can* get prompted to create the local account during windows 10 install. Once that's done you re-connect the network and go on with the install normally.
We don't begrudge your blind allowance of microsoft, and every other entity's easy tracking of you, everything you buy, sell, or do, don't begrudge us the same in reverse.
Whatever tinfoil hat. If you don't like telemetry, which you are probably misinterpreting, then don't install Windows in the first place, jerk.
Also remember when you make a local account with a password, it's good to use security questions in case password forgot. Had a using always using a PIN when it came time to enter password to install Office 365 they couldn't remember password. "I always just enter my PIN!" Hah pin is nice but never typing your password you will forget it.