Password Hint not showing in Windows 11

A password hint which user sets in Windows 11/10 is visible when a wrong password is entered at the Windows logon screen. This helps jog the user’s memory to remember the correct password. However, some users have complained that the password hint is not visible at all on their Windows login screen despite multiple unsuccessful login attempts. If you also face this problem and the password hint is not showing in your Windows 11/10 system, this post is helpful.

Password Hint not showing in Windows 11/10

You can use these two options if the password hint is not showing on your Windows 11/10 login screen:

1. Are you using a Microsoft account?
2. Recreate your account password.
3. Repair System files.

Let’s check these options.

1] Are you using a Microsoft account?

It is important to know that a password hint is visible only if you are using a Local account on a Windows 11/10 PC and you have set a Password Hint. It does not appear if you are using a Microsoft account.

So, if you are using a Microsoft account, then this could be the reason that the password hint doesn’t appear on an unsuccessful login attempt. If the Password Hint is impotant to you, you need to use a Local user account.

You can switch from a Microsoft account to a Local user account as follows:

1. Open the Setting app using the Win+I hotkey
2. Access the Accounts category
3. Select the Your Info page
4. Under the Account settings section, select Sign in with a local account instead
5. In the confirmation window, press the Next button
6. Enter your PIN to move to the next step
7. Now you can add a username, password, and password hint of your choice.

Complete the process to change your Microsoft account to a local account on your Windows PC. This will solve your issue and the next time you enter a wrong password; a password hint will appear.

In case, you don’t want to switch from your Microsoft account, you can create a new Local account on your Windows PC.

2] Recreate your account password

If the password hint does not appear even after accessing a local account, then recreate your account password in Windows 11/10. Follow these steps:

1. Login to your local account
2. Use the Win+I hotkey to open the Settings app
3. Navigate to Accounts > Sign-in options > Password
4. Click on the Change button
5. In the Change your password screen, enter the current password, and press Next
6. In the next screen, enter a new password, confirm the password, and add a password hint. You can add the same password again if you want
7. Press the Next button
8. Press the Finish button.

This will bring back the password hint in your Windows 11/10 PC.

In case you have forgotten your Windows password and can’t log in, you can reset your Windows password without logging in using the I forgot my PIN, Reset password link/option, and other ways.

3] Repair System files

If nothing helps, maybe your system files have become corrupted, in which case you need to repair your Windows OS files using SFC scan, DISM tool, Windows Update or Reset This PC option.

Read: How to reset Local Account password on Windows using Installation Media

How to see the Password Hint in Windows 11?

In the Windows logon screen, click on the Password field, and press Enter. Alternatively, you can also enter an incorrect password intentionally and hit the Enter key. You will see a message saying “The password is incorrect. Try again”. Press the OK button. Now you will see the password hint set by you just below the password field.

Why is my Password input not showing Windows 11?

If the Password box is not showing up or the login screen does not appear in your Windows 11/10 system, use Ctrl+Alt+Del hotkey, and see if it works. If not, you should disable Fast Startup, or run Startup Repair. Alternatively, you can also reset your PC or perform a system restore to fix the problem.

Read next: The username or password is incorrect error on Windows PC startup.