Windows Upgrade Help and more

Has there been a recent update to how the Windows Hello PIN works? I went to log in today and the process felt different from last week. It asked for my PIN in a new screen before I even got to the desktop, which it never did before. I just want to confirm if this is a new feature or if something might be wrong with my settings.

Quick tip: Yeah, that's a recent change for some users. It's a new security feature rolling out that asks for the PIN earlier in the boot process to better protect your credentials. Might vary by setup.

Agreed. You could also check your sign-in options in settings to see if "Require Windows Hello sign-in for Microsoft accounts" got turned on.

Hey there! That's a good question, and you're not imagining things. This is a known change introduced with a recent Windows security update (primarily for Windows 11, but also some Win 10 versions). It's called "Enhanced PIN Security" or "PIN at Startup."

**What's new:** Previously, your PIN unlocked your account *after* the system booted. Now, for devices with certain security hardware (like a TPM chip), the PIN is required *during* the boot process itself, before Windows loads. This adds a layer of protection against some types of attacks.

**To check if this is the intended feature:**
1. Go to **Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options**.
2. Look for a setting called "Require Windows Hello sign-in for Microsoft accounts" or "For improved security, allow Windows Hello to sign you in..."
3. You might see a note explaining the change. If this setting is on, that's likely the cause.

If you don't see this setting and the new prompt feels like an error (e.g., it's a plain text box, not the usual Hello interface), it could be a glitch. Try a simple restart first. If it persists, you can run the **System File Checker** by opening Command Prompt as Admin and typing `sfc /scannow`.

It's most probably just the new security feature working as designed! It takes a little getting used to, but it's for the better. Let us know if the prompt looks wrong or you're still unsure—we can troubleshoot further

Agreed. Yeah, that's exactly right. One quick tip: if you ever want to check which update caused a change, you can look at your update history in Settings. Let me know if that works.

Yeah, and if you're curious about the specifics, the update notes in that history often mention "security improvements" for changes like this. Good luck!

Agreed. One extra tip: if that new screen ever feels off, just reboot first—it can sometimes be a temporary glitch with the update.

Yeah, and you can also double-check your sign-in options in Settings to make sure nothing got switched around after an update.

+1 I had the same problem after last week's update. It turned out to be a new security step for my account. Good luck!

Can confirm. Yeah, it's part of a recent security update that changed the flow for some accounts.