Why does Windows 11 make me wait for face unlock to fail before I can type my PIN?

A new Windows 11 test build puts the PIN box on the lock screen at the same time as face and fingerprint scanning, so whichever works first signs you in — no more waiting for the camera to give up. What build 26340.9882 changes, and what you can do on your PC today.

You’re in a dim kitchen, your laptop camera can’t see you, and you sit there watching it try — and try — before it will even let you type. Short answer: Microsoft is finally fixing that wait. In a new Windows 11 test build, the PIN box is ready at the same time as face or fingerprint scanning, so whichever works first signs you in.Why it matters: Until now you often had to wait for Windows Hello face or fingerprint recognition to finish or fail, or click Sign-in options and pick PIN yourself.

Running them side by side removes a small delay you hit every single day, and clearer sign-in guidance should mean fewer locked-out moments at the worst time.The details: This is in Windows 11 Insider Experimental Build 26340.9882, released November 6, 2026, based on Windows 11 version 26H2. After installing it, the lock screen says “Look at the camera or enter your PIN,” and Microsoft’s notes say you can “use whichever method works first.” After a restart you will still need your PIN first; after that, biometrics work as usual. Microsoft has not said when this reaches regular Windows 11 PCs, and Experimental builds can be buggy, so most people should wait.What you can do on your PC today:1.

Skip the wait manually. On your current PC, click “Sign-in options” on the lock screen and choose PIN instead of waiting for the camera.2. Set up both methods.

In Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options, make sure face or fingerprint and PIN are both set up, so you always have a fallback.3. Keep your PIN somewhere safe offline. You will need it after every restart, so write it down somewhere secure at home.4.

Try the test build only if you are comfortable. Experimental builds can be buggy — use a spare machine or VM with files backed up first, via Settings > Windows Update > Windows Insider Program.Pro tip: If face unlock fails in low light, don’t keep re-trying in the dark — use the PIN once, then re-enroll your face in better light later.Ad’s take: This is the kind of fix I love — not flashy, just removing a frustration you feel ten times a day. First one that works wins; that’s how sign-in should have always been.