The Frustrating Issue: Windows 11 “Remove PIN” is Greyed Out

Windows 11 users may have encountered a frustrating issue where the “Remove PIN” option is greyed out, making it impossible to remove a PIN from their account. This can be problematic for those who no longer wish to use a PIN for sign-in purposes or who have forgotten their PIN. Fortunately, there are methods to resolve this issue and allow for the removal of a PIN from a Windows 11 account.

Method 1 : Disabling the Option Only allow Windows Hello sign-in to Resolve the Remove PIN Greyed Out Issue

If you are facing the issue where the “Remove PIN” option is greyed out in Windows 11, one possible solution is to disable the “Only allow Windows Hello sign-in” option. This can be done by following the step-by-step guide below.

Step 1: Press the Windows + I keys on your keyboard to open the Settings menu.

Step 2: In the Settings menu, click on the Accounts option.

Step 3: In the left sidebar, click on Sign-in options.

Step 4: Under the Require Windows Hello sign-in for Microsoft accounts section, toggle off the switch for Only allow Windows Hello sign-in.

Once you have disabled this option, try removing your PIN again and see if the issue persists. If it does, you can try the alternative method mentioned in the next chapter.

If you are facing the issue of the “Remove” button being grayed out when attempting to remove a PIN in Windows 11, you can utilize the Group Policy Editor to resolve this problem. Enabling the “Turn on convenience PIN sign-in” setting through Group Policy can help fix the grayed out “Remove” button issue and allow you to remove the PIN from your Windows 11 system.

Here is a step-by-step guide on how to enable the Group Policy setting and fix the grayed out “Remove” button problem:

Step 1: Press the

keys simultaneously to open the Run dialog box. Type

and click OK or press Enter to open the Group Policy Editor.

Step 2: In the Group Policy Editor window, navigate to the following path: Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Logon.

Step 3: In the right pane of the Group Policy Editor, locate and double-click the Turn on convenience PIN sign-in policy. This policy controls the availability of the convenience PIN sign-in option on the sign-in screen.

Step 4: In the Turn on convenience PIN sign-in window, select the Enabled option. Enabling this option allows the use of the convenience PIN sign-in.

Step 5: Click Apply and OK to save the changes and close the Group Policy Editor.

Once you have enabled the “Turn on convenience PIN sign-in” policy, go back to the Windows 11 settings and try to remove the PIN again. The “Remove” button should no longer be grayed out, allowing you to successfully remove the PIN from your system.

Enabling this Group Policy setting not only resolves the grayed out “Remove” button issue but also provides control over the availability of the convenience PIN sign-in feature based on your preferences.

If you have forgotten your PIN, you can utilize the “I forgot my PIN” feature to set up a new PIN. To do this, sign in to your account using your password, navigate to the Sign-in Options in the settings, click on “I forgot my PIN,” and follow the prompts to set up a new PIN.

To summarize, using the Group Policy Editor and enabling the “Turn on convenience PIN sign-in” setting is an effective solution for resolving the grayed out “Remove” button issue when trying to remove a PIN in Windows 11. Simply follow the step-by-step guide provided to enable the policy and regain control over your sign-in options in Windows 11.

Method 3: Troubleshooting with Renee PassNow for Forgotten Password

In addition to using Group Policy to fix the Remove PIN Greyed Out Issue, there is another option that can be used if the user has forgotten their password. This method involves using Renee PassNow, a password reset tool that can help troubleshoot and resolve the issue.

Forgetting passwords can happen to anyone, and it can be frustrating when faced with a greyed out Remove PIN option. In this case, using Renee PassNow can be a quick and easy solution. This software is user-friendly and does not require any technical knowledge, making it a suitable option for all types of users.

To reset your Windows password using Renee PassNow, follow these steps:

Step 1: Download and Install Renee PassNow
Start by downloading Renee PassNow from the official website and install it on a different computer that you can access. You can choose the appropriate version based on your computer’s operating system.

Step 2: Create a Bootable USB or CD/DVD
Launch Renee PassNow and insert a USB flash drive or blank CD/DVD into the computer. Select the option to create a bootable media. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.

Step 3: Boot the Locked Server from the Bootable Media
Insert the bootable USB or CD/DVD into the locked Windows computer. Restart the computer and enter the BIOS settings by pressing the appropriate key (usually F2 or Delete). Configure the boot order to prioritize the bootable media.

Common Server:

Common Computers:

Step 4: Select password reset function
After successfully booting from the bootable media, Renee PassNow will load. Select “PassNow!” function after booting from the new created Windows password reset disk.

Step 5: Resetting the Password
Choose the user account for which you want to reset the password. Then, click on the “Clear Password” button. Renee PassNow will remove or reset the password for the selected user account.

Step 6: Reboot the PC
Once the password is reset, remove the bootable media from the PC and restart the computer. You will now be able to log in to Windows Account without a password.

Conclusion

Renee PassNow is a reliable and effective solution for troubleshooting forgotten passwords and resolving the Remove PIN Greyed Out Issue in Windows 11. It is a convenient option that can quickly solve the problem without the need for complicated procedures or technical knowledge.

Hence, if you forget your password and are unable to access the Remove PIN option, using Renee PassNow can be a great alternative to fix the issue and regain access to your account.

In the previous section, we discussed how to use Renee PassNow to troubleshoot and remove a forgotten PIN on Windows 11. However, if you don’t have access to this software or prefer to use a built-in option, there is another way to remove the PIN and resolve any greyed out issues. This method involves using the “I forgot my PIN” option, which is available on the Windows 11 login screen.

Step 1: Access the “I Forgot My PIN” Option

The first step is to turn on your computer and navigate to the Windows 11 login screen. Here, you will see a list of users and a “Sign-in options” button located below the password field. Click on this button to expand a list of sign-in options, which should include “PIN” and “I forgot my PIN“. Click on the latter option to proceed.

Step 2: Verify Your Identity

After clicking on “I forgot my PIN“, you will be prompted to verify your identity. Depending on your computer settings, you may be asked to enter your Microsoft account password, a security code sent to your email or phone, or answer security questions. This is to ensure that you are the rightful owner of the account and have permission to remove the PIN.

Step 3: Remove PIN

Once you have successfully verified your identity, you will be directed to a page where you can remove your PIN. Click on the “Remove” button next to your PIN and confirm the action when prompted. This will remove the PIN from your account and return you to the login screen.

Step 4: Confirm Removal

After removing the PIN, you will be asked to confirm the action by entering your account password. This is an added security measure to prevent unauthorized access to your computer. Enter your password and click on “OK” to confirm the removal of the PIN.

Step 5: Log-in with Password

Once you have successfully removed the PIN, you can now log-in to your computer using your account password. You will no longer be prompted to enter a PIN and the issue of the “Remove” button being greyed out should be resolved.

So, if you forget your PIN and are unable to remove it through other methods, using the “I forgot my PIN” option is a simple and effective solution to remove the PIN and resolve any greyed out issues. Just make sure to remember your account password and keep it secure.

Method 5: Final solution - Removing the PIN Using the Ngc Folder

If you have tried the previous methods and still can’t remove the PIN on your Windows 11, don’t worry, there is another solution you can try. This method involves accessing the Ngc folder on your computer and changing some settings to remove the PIN.

Step 1 : Accessing the Ngc Folder

To begin, you will need to access the Ngc folder on your computer. This folder contains important files related to your PIN and can help in resolving the greyed out issue. To access this folder, follow these steps:

1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.

2. Type

and press Enter.

3. This will open the Microsoft folder. Here, you will find the Ngc folder.

Step 2 : Removing the PIN from the Ngc Folder

Now that you have accessed the Ngc folder, you can proceed with removing the PIN. Follow these steps:

1. Find the Settings.dat file in the Ngc folder and delete it.

2. Next, find and delete the Settings.dat.LOG1 and Settings.dat.LOG2 files.

3. Then, find the Settings.dat.TM.blf and Settings.dat.TMContainer00000000000000000001.regtrans-ms files and delete them as well.

4. Finally, restart your computer for the changes to take effect.

Step 3 : Resolving the Greyed Out Issue

Once your computer has restarted, you should be able to remove the PIN from your Windows 11 without any issues. This method is known to resolve the greyed out issue that users face while trying to remove the PIN.

Important Note: Deleting any files from the Ngc folder can potentially affect your computer’s system, security, or user settings. It is recommended to take a backup of these files before deleting them. Additionally, proceed with caution and make sure you are deleting the correct files.

In conclusion, if you are having trouble removing the PIN on your Windows 11 and the previous methods have not worked, try accessing and deleting files from the Ngc folder. This method has been proven to be effective in resolving the greyed out issue and allowing users to remove their PIN.

Conclusion

In conclusion, resolving the greyed out Remove PIN option in Windows 11 can be achieved through various methods depending on the situation. For those who remember their password, disabling the Only allow Windows Hello sign-in option or using Group Policy to enable the Turn on convenience PIN sign-in setting can help fix the issue. However, for those who forget their password, using third-party tools like Renee PassNow or the I forgot my PIN option can be effective solutions. Additionally, attempting to remove options in the Ngc folder can also help in removing the PIN. With these troubleshooting methods, users can easily resolve the greyed out Remove PIN issue and continue using their devices without any hindrance. Remember to always keep your password and security settings updated to avoid similar problems in the future.