How to by-pass MS login PIN

WIAWSNB

Ok, I expect this to be a non-starter, as we obviously cannot have folk knowing how to get around other folk's login details. But…

This involves a deceased's estate, for which a relative has been granted Probate and must now carry out their executor's duties.

The deceased left their laptop, which will almost certainly (certainly…) hold info on investments they made over the past few years, info which is hard to obtain from any other source. Their lappie is MS Password protected.

I have 'chatted' with MS, and the guy there surprised me by taking me through as much as he could to try and cancel the PIN - it was via cmd and stuff - but we were nobbled by (I think) the C: drive itself requiring a password. He then suggested making an application to MS for obtaining/cancelling the existing password, and relative is currently doing this (tho' notices that it's meant to be the account owner who applies…)

I note that there are 'methods' on t'web, but don't really want to go there if it can be avoided. I'd like this to be as open and 'legit' as possible, whilst appreciating it might not actually be, I don't know; Google apparently just won't release Gmail passwords unless there are exceptional (legal) circumstances, and that is understandable.

For anyone who can possibly help, I can provide evidence - Grant of Probate and that kind of stuff - if required.

Ta.

Grey_Critic

Several years ago a friend asked me a similar question - A friend of his son had a stroke and his laptop got damaged when he fell.

He needed to recover the data as he used it for work.but could not remember his PIN and his laptop was damaged beyond repaior anyway.

I contacted our local computer repair shop (I know them personally and use them myself) and explained the situation. They were able to access and recover all the data onto a seperate hard drive and it cost £40 for his time.

Perhaps you should consider that route.

The young man who had the stroke has now recovered and back working.

bazdvd

just 9999 combinations, spend a day trying them all.

flaneurs_lobster

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81988551#Comment_81988551

Can be 999999, might take a bit longer.

I contacted our local computer repair shop (I know them personally and use them myself) and explained the situation. They were able to access and recover all the data onto a seperate hard drive and it cost £40 for his time.

Perhaps you should consider that route.

That'll only work if the drive is not encrypted, Bitlocker is pretty hard to crack.

bazdvd

Usually a 4-digit numeric code.

bazdvd

obviously try date ranges first so first 2 numbers 1-31 and last 2 numbers 1-12

flaneurs_lobster

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81988588#Comment_81988588

Why not write them down as you test each one, then you won't forget where you got to…..

bazdvd

01-01 01-02 01-03 01-04 all the way to 12

then 02-01 02-02 02-03 …..all the way to 12

Then use 03, 04, 05 all the way to 31.

brewerdave

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81988584#Comment_81988584

My Win 11 has got a 6 digit PIN - Sure 6 was a requirement when I first set up

bazdvd

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81988635#Comment_81988635

that would be down to your group policy settings. It defaults to 4 numbers

A Windows 11 PIN is

typically 4 digits by default, but it can be set to any length between 4 and 127 digits. Users can configure the minimum PIN length to be longer (e.g., 6 digits) through

Windows Group Policy

or registry settings, but the default minimum is 4

Vitor

Trying codes is very unlikely to work unless you have a very good idea how the deceased constructed them, for example birthdays or repeated family patterns. Repeated wrong attempts are more likely to trigger anti-hammering and lockout the device for longer and longer periods.

The OP is better using the formal route Microsoft offers for legal representatives of an estate. If the deceased used OneDrive, key documents may have been synced to Microsoft cloud storage, and Microsoft may consider a request for account content through the proper legal process. It is not guaranteed, though.

Separately, if the C: drive is protected by BitLocker, the 48-digit recovery key may have been saved in the deceased person’s Microsoft account. That is often the cleanest legitimate route if the executor can establish lawful access or pursue Microsoft’s formal process.

The Windows Hello PIN itself is different. It is device-bound and Microsoft will not have the PIN to disclose.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/account-billing/accessing-outlook-com-onedrive-and-other-microsoft-services-when-someone-has-died-ebbd2860-917e-4b39-9913-212362da6b2f

Worth setting up access to your executor -

Preserve your digital legacy with OneDrive - Microsoft Support

Google offers a broadly similar “inactive account”/legacy planning route, so it is worth setting this up in advance for your own executor rather than leaving them with this problem.