Surface Pro 7 forgot PIN

[Velvis]

Someone reached out to me because their Surface Pro facial recognition stopped working. They don't know their PIN or password.

Is there anyway around this?

 

[britechguy]

They don't know their PIN or password.

If they don't know either one of these, and the account in use is not a Microsoft Account linked Windows user account, you are well and truly screwed.

If it is an MS-Account-Linked Windows User Account, and you can get into the Microsoft Account (even via the recovery process) then you can log in on the computer with that password (another reason I favor the MS-Account-Linked Windows User Account). I've saved a couple of clients' posteriors by doing MS Account Recovery to get a password they could use to log in to that account as well as the PC(s) that are using Windows user accounts linked to it.

 

[Markverhyden]

Did they set it up themselves? If so it's most likely it was setup with a MS account. That being said it's conceivable it got corrupted during an update which isn't good news.

 

[johnrobert]

If all fails, and it's not encrypted recover data then reinstall.

On another note recovering my Apple ID been waiting over 2 weeks getting a call tonight at 8.02 pm
I knew ID a month ago got so bamboozled with reinstall of iMacs it left my brain.

 

[frase]

Surface Pros are Kryptonite to me personally.

 

[britechguy]

Surface Pros are Kryptonite to me personally.

Based upon what's been posted on this site, it would appear you're far from alone!

Somehow I have yet to have a single Surface device land in my lap, and I'm happy to keep that trend in place.

 

[britechguy]

@Velvis,

Please do report back on the resolution (or lack thereof).

 

[HCHTech]

Based upon what's been posted on this site, it would appear you're far from alone!

Not alone. They are troublesome little devices, essentially unrepairable - but hey, at least they are expensive!

 

[fincoder]

If they don't know either one of these, and the account in use is not a Microsoft Account linked Windows user account, you are well and truly screwed.

Far from screwed, would just need to remove the password using one of several methods (or recover data and reinstall OS). Easier even than recovering an MS account password.

I use PCUnlocker for password removal because apart from local accounts it can also get past a MS Account linked login (by forcing the account to local without password). The trickiest bit would be getting the Surface Pro to boot from USB!

 

[britechguy]

@fincoder,

Different strokes for different folks.

I have stopped doing anything whatsoever that involves actual bypassing of security measures, particularly ones as basic as passwords. That's really something that each tech has to decide for themselves.

I consider this a learning opportunity for "the afflicted party." Your credentials are your, and only your, keys to your kingdom(s). Protect them and know them, or perish.

 

[frase]

Far from screwed, would just need to remove the password using one of several methods (or recover data and reinstall OS). Easier even than recovering an MS account password.

I use PCUnlocker for password removal because apart from local accounts it can also get past a MS Account linked login (by forcing the account to local without password). The trickiest bit would be getting the Surface Pro to boot from USB!

Therein lies the issue Surface Pro be damned to Tartarus!