Fix Couldn't turn on the camera. Please sign in with your PIN

Windows Hello is a biometrics-based technology that enables Windows 11/10 users to authenticate secure access to their devices, apps, online services, and networks with just a fingerprint, facial recognition, PIN, or iris scan. It is a relatively new way to log into your Windows 11/10 Computer without a Password or Passcode. Windows Hello is a more user-friendly, secure, and reliable method to access critical Windows devices and services. Not all the PC has Windows capability. Windows Hello requires specific hardware requirements. Most of the Modern PCs and Laptops support Windows hello. Windows Hello offers different sign-in options like Windows Hello Face, Windows Hello Fingerprint, Windows Hello PIN, and Security Key. If you are using a laptop with a built-in camera you can setup Windows Hello Face as a sign-in method. This method uses facial recognition to get you in and working in under two seconds. This feature allows users to log in using facial recognition, without even touching the Keyboard or mouse. Sometimes you may face an error while Signing using Windows Hello Face, recently one user received the following error “Couldn’t turn on the camera. Please sign in with your PIN” while using Windows Hello Face. This article will guide you to fix Couldn’t turn on the camera. Please sign in with your PIN in Windows 11.

Table of Contents

Fix Couldn’t turn on the camera. Please sign in with your PIN Error:

Windows Hello face feature requires three main components to work properly. Windows Hello drivers, and Windows Hello service should be in running condition. And Windows Hello feature. If there is any problem with any of these components you may encounter this error. Follow the below-mentioned resolution methods one by one to fix this issue.

Solution 1: Disable and Re-Enable Webcam

Sometimes due to the drivers’ update, the camera won’t detect by Windows Hello Face, Re-Enabling the Webcam has worked out for many users to fix the issue.

Open Run command by pressing Windows + R and type devmgmt.msc and hit enter, This command will open the Device Manager.

Expand the Cameras and right click on Integrated Webcam and choose Disable device.

Disable webcam-Couldn't turn on the camera

Once the camera is disabled, right-click on the Webcam and choose Enable device.

Enable Webcam-Couldn't turn on the camera

Restart your system once, to install all pending driver or Windows updates.

Solution 2: Uninstall and Reinstall the Webcam Drivers

Open Run command by pressing Windows + R and type devmgmt.msc and hit enter, This command will open the Device Manager.

Expand the Cameras and right click on Integrated Webcam and choose Uninstall device.

Go to your laptop manufacturer’s website and download the updated webcam driver and install it, restart your system once after the driver installation.

Solution 3: Install Windows Biometric Driver Files

Open Windows Explorer by pressing Windows + E and now navigate to the following path.

C:\Windows\System32\WinBioPlugIns\FaceDriver

Here you can find two inf files as mentioned below.

HelloFace.inf
HelloFaceMigration.inf

Once you found the HelloFace.inf file then right-click on the file and choose Install.

After the installation, restart the PC once. Now Windows Hello face feature should be working fine.

Solution 4: Enable Windows Biometrics

Open Run command by pressing Windows + R and type gpedit.msc and hit enter, This command will open the Group Policy Editor.

Now navigate to the following path.

Computer Configuration > Administrative templates > Windows Components > Biometrics

From the left-hand side click on Biometrics and from the right-hand side look for the policy named Allow the use of biometrics.

Double-click on Allow the use of biometrics and make sure the policy is not set to disabled,

If it’s disabled choose Enabled or Not configured.

Click on Apply and OK.

Solution 5: Reset Windows Hello Biometric Database

Note: This method will reset Windows Hello for every user registered on the PC.

First Stop the Windows Biometric Service, Open Run command by pressing Windows + R and type Services.msc and hit enter.

In the Windows service management console look for Windows Biometric Service. Right-click on the service and Stop the Service.

Now Navigate to the following File Explorer path,

C:\Windows\System32\WinBioDatabase

Copy all the files from the WinBioDatabase folder and save it somewhere else. Now delete all the files from the WinBioDatabase folder.

reset windows biometric-Couldn't turn on the camera

Once you delete all the files, start the Windows Biometric Service. Now again register the Windows Hello Face again.

Go to Start > Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options, click on Windows Hello Face and register it.

Solution 6: Reinstall Windows Hello Face

This is the final option, if none of the above solutions worked out for you, then you can use this solution, Uninstall Facial Recognition (Windows Hello) and reinstall it.

Open Windows Settings go to Apps > Optional features.

Look for Facial Recognition (Windows Hello), Click on Uninstall.