Windows Hello PIN Not Working or "Something Went Wrong" — How to Fix It

Windows Hello PIN issues often appear out of nowhere — one day your PIN works, the next it's rejected with "Something went wrong" or "This option is temporarily unavailable." These errors are usually caused by a corrupted NGC folder (where Windows stores PIN data) or a mismatch between your Microsoft account and local credentials.

Try Your Microsoft Account Password First

On the login screen, click Sign-in options and choose the key icon to switch to password sign-in. Use your Microsoft account password (the one you use at account.microsoft.com). If that gets you in, your session is intact — the PIN data is just corrupted.

Remove and Reset the PIN

Once signed in with your password:

1. Go to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options.
2. Under PIN (Windows Hello), click Remove to delete the current PIN.
3. After removal, click Set up to create a new PIN.

If the Remove button is greyed out, try the manual method below.

Delete the NGC Folder Manually

The NGC folder stores PIN credentials. Deleting it forces Windows to start fresh.

1. Open File Explorer and navigate to:

C:\Windows\ServiceProfiles\LocalService\AppData\Local\Microsoft

1. You'll need to take ownership of the Ngc folder. Right-click it > Properties > Security > Advanced. Click Change next to Owner and enter your username, then click OK.
2. Grant yourself Full Control, click OK, and then delete the Ngc folder entirely.
3. Restart your PC.

Windows will recreate the folder automatically. Sign in with your password, then go to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options to create a new PIN.

Check for Windows Updates

Some PIN failures are caused by incomplete updates. After getting in with your password, go to Settings > Windows Update and install everything available before setting up a new PIN.

If You're Completely Locked Out

If you can't get in with a password either, you'll need to use a Microsoft account password reset (go to account.microsoft.com from another device) or boot from a recovery drive. See our Ask Us page if you need personalized help.