FIX: 'Something happened and your PIN isn't available' in 'Diagnostic Startup' mode.
If you can't login with PIN after setting "Diagnostic startup" in "msconfig" utility in Windows 11/10, due to error "Something happened and your PIN isn't available", read this tutorial to fix the problem.
Symptom: After switching from Normal startup to Diagnostic startup mode in the System Configuration utility (msconfig.exe) and restarting the computer, you unable to log in using your PIN because of the following error:
- Something happened and your PIN isn't available. Click to set up your PIN again.
How to FIX: "Your PIN isn't available" after starting Windows 11/10 in Diagnostic startup mode.
Below you will find various methods to solve login problems when you face the error "your PIN isn't available" after restarting Windows in diagnostic startup mode.
Method 1. Login to Windows using your Password.
The first method to fix the "your PIN isn't available" problem after setting Windows to start in 'diagnostic startup' mode in "msconfig" utility, is to use your account password to login to Windows. To do that:*
* Note: This method only works if you are using a local user account and not a Microsoft account, but you can try it. (This is normal because in "Diagnostic boot" many Windows services are not running and the network is not working to verify your password with Microsoft servers).
1. In the login screen, click Sign-in options *
* Note: If the "Sign-in options" option is not available, skip to next method.
2. Then click the Key icon.
3. Finally, type your password* and hit Enter to login to Windows.
* Note: If you're using a Microsoft Account, type your MS account password and if you can't login skip to next method.
4. After entering to Windows, press the Windows + R keys to open the 'Run' command box.
5. Type "msconfig" and press Enter.
6. Select Normal startup and hit OK.
7. Restart your PC.
8. On logon screen type your PIN to login to Windows.*
* Note: To prevent this problem from occurring again when you start Windows in "Diagnostic startup" mode, read the instructions in the "Additional Help" section at the end of this article.
Method 2. Exit from Diagnostic startup from Command Prompt.
The next method to fix the "PIN isn't available" issue after restarting Windows in diagnostic startup mode, is to open a command prompt from the "Accessibility" button/icon and then to exit from the diagnostic startup mode using "msconfig". To do this:
1. Hold down the SHIFT key on your keyboard and then go to Power and click Restart, to force Windows to boot into Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE).
2. In WinRE, go to Troubleshoot > Advanced options and click Command prompt
3. In command prompt type the following commands in order (press Enter after each command).
-
move c:windowssystem32utilman.exe c:
-
copy c:windowssystem32cmd.exe c:windowssystem32utilman.exe
-
exit
4. Now, click Continue to Windows to load Windows (or turn off and turn on your PC again)
5. On the Sign-in screen click the Accessibility icon.
6. In the Command prompt window that opens, type "msconfig" and hit Enter.
7. Select Normal startup and hit OK.
8. Restart your PC.
9. After restarting, you should be able to type your PIN to login to Windows.
10. After entering Windows, move the "utilman.exe" file from the "C:" drive to the "C:WindowsSystem32" folder and you're done!*
* Note: To avoid this problem to happen again when starting Windows in "Diagnostic boot" mode, read the instructions in Additional Help section at the end of this article.
Method 3. Gain access to PC using hidden Administrator account.
Another, but more complicated, method to fix the "your PIN is not available" problem when starting Windows 10/11 in 'diagnostic startup' mode, is to activate the hidden administrator account and use it to exit from the "Diagnostic startup" mode. To this, follow the steps below:
Step 1. Enable Hidden Admin Account.
1. Follow the instructions in this article to activate the hidden "Administrator" account by modifying the Windows Registry offline.
Step 2. Login to Windows using the Administrator account.
1. After activating the "Administrator" account, restart your computer and on the login screen, click the "Administrator" user to login in Windows.
2. After signing in to Windows, press the Windows + R keys to open the 'Run' command box.
3. Type "msconfig" and press Enter.
4. Select Normal startup and hit OK.
5. Restart your PC.
6. On logon screen type your PIN to login to Windows.
8. Once entering in Windows, go ahead and disable the "Administrator" account to avoid security risks. To do that, open Command Prompt as administrator and give this command:
- net user administrator /active:no
Additional help.
To be able to log in with your password the next time you start Windows in "diagnostic startup" mode, do the following:
1. Press the Windows + R keys to open the 'Run' command box.
2. Type "regedit"
3. In Registry Editor navigate to the following path:
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionPasswordLessDevice
4. Open the DevicePasswordLessBuildVersion REG_DWORD and set its value data to "2".
5. When done, click OK, close the Registry Editor and restart the PC.
That's it! Which method worked for you?
Let me know if this guide has helped you by leaving your comment about your experience. Please like and share this guide to help others.
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June 4, 2025 @ 4:15 am
Thank you
I did a combination, and use "Shift + F10" to get command prompt and after that run msconfig. _