How to by-pass MS login PIN

bazdvd

If the relative was an IT person it could be more than 4 but they were just an average user its going to be 4

GDB2222

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

A lot of people use year of birth of some member of the family. That's one reason why 30% of PINs start with the digit 1.

So, I'd start with the birth years of all the family members you can think of, and you might get lucky quite quickly.

Windows doesn't lock you out permanently if you try an incorrect pin, but it does add a delay of 5 minutes. So, trying lots of PINs could take a really long time.

Emmia

You're all assuming that the lock screen pin is numerical. My pin for my laptop uses both letters and numbers.

born_again

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81988786#Comment_81988786

PIN on mime is a finger print..🤷‍♀️

GDB2222

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81988802#Comment_81988802

Has the funeral taken place?

born_again

Hope it's not a cremation.

Apologies to OP.

libra10

We had a similar problem with my brother-in-law's PC, after he had passed away.

We were eventually allowed access to both his PC and ipad, by contacting customer services of both Apple and Microsoft, though we had to wait a month before we were eventually allowed access.

The post is here, hope it helps

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6627031/microsoft-and-apple-security-update/p1

WIAWSNB

Yes, cremated!

The 'dates' idea is neat - I never considered how that could narrow it down.

Pretty sure it's 4 numbers only.

Cheers - we'll try the formal approach to MS too, see what happens.

Cheers.

Newcad

This Thread should be a heads-up for all computer users.

If you have a will then put your passwords, etc. as an attachment, and update it if you change them.

If you don't have a will then have them wrtten down where they can be found if anything happens to you.

(Yes writting such security details down is fine at home, where someone would have to have broken in anyway to read/steal them. It's ar work that you shouldn't write passwords or PINs down).

I go further and have left a list of fora that I would want my carer/executor to post a message on if necessary so that others know why I'm no longer posting there.

Grey_Critic

When our sons sorted out our affairs - Wills - POAs etc and youngest asked us to put together a document we called *Essential Information*

It lists bank accounts, Investments, passwords, copies of all the various documents etc. A copy is kept in the safe as well as on the computer and I review it on a regular basis and email an updated copy to them.

Surprising how many people do the Wills/POAs and forget the rest.