How to Fix Windows Pin “Error Code: 0x80040154”

Windows Hello, a biometrics-based security software available for Windows 10 and Windows 11, permits users to log in to devices, apps, online services, and networks with their PINs, fingerprints, iris scans, and facial recognition. Recently, several users have reported encountering the error code 0x80040154 when trying to set up a PIN for Windows Hello.

According to our investigation, the problem typically occurs due to corrupt files in the NGC folder, disabled TPM, generic corruption errors, and outdated operating systems. In this guide, we will walk you through the troubleshooting methods in detail, so let’s get started!

Install the Pending Updates

If you are encountering the error code 0x80040154, the first thing that you need to do is install the pending updates. It is common for such errors to show up if you are using an outdated version of your operating system. 

New updates are packed with bug fixes and the latest features, and thus installing them should fix the error at hand for you.

Here is how you can install the pending updates: 

1. Press Windows + I keys simultaneously on your keyboard to open Windows Settings.
2. In the Settings window, select Updates & Security.
   

   

3. Now click on the Check for updates and wait for the scan to complete. If any updates are found, install them and check if the issue is resolved.
   

   

Empty the NGC Folder

Ngc is the destination for all information concerning your PIN settings in Windows 10. In the event of PIN-related issues like the error code 0x80040154, you can delete the Ngc folder to solve the problem. This will enable you to delete all data related to your current PIN settings, and then refresh the settings.

1. Open a Run dialog box by pressing Windows + R keys simultaneously on your keyboard.
2. In the text field of the dialog box, type ‘C:\Windows\ServiceProfiles\LocalService\AppData\Local\Microsoft\NGC’ and hit OK.
   

   

3. Once you are inside the NGC folder, delete all its contents. 
4. Finally, restart your PC and check if doing so resolves the issue.

Set up TPM on Your Device

A trusted platform module (TPM) offers security functions based on hardware, and it must be configured prior to Windows Hello access on your device. If TPM is disabled on your PC, you would not be able to use services like Windows Hello.

Follow these steps to get started:

1. Open a Run dialog box by pressing Windows + R keys simultaneously on your keyboard.
2. In the text field of the dialog box, type tpm.msc to launch the Trusted Platform Module (TPM) Management tool.
   

   

3. Click on Action at the top of the window, then select Prepare the TPM from the context menu.
   

   

4. You will be asked to restart your computer and follow the instructions that appear during the startup process.
5. Hit the Restart button and then follow the on-screen instructions to proceed. 
6. After reboot, check if Windows Hello still displays the error code 0x80040154.

Modify Windows Registry

The PIN login process for domain users was reset for many users after the Anniversary Update for Windows 10 was released. You might be one of those users, which means that you will have to re-enable the PIN login before you can use Windows Hello on Windows 10.

To do so, we will be modifying Windows Registry, and since the Registry Editor is an administrative tool, we highly recommend creating a Registry backup before proceeding. 

Once you have created the backup, follow these steps to proceed:

1. Press Windows + R keys simultaneously on your keyboard to open a Run dialog box.
2. In the text field of the dialog box, type regedit and hit Enter to launch the Registry Editor.
   

   

3. Once you are inside the Registry Editor, navigate to the location mentioned below.
   

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\System

4. Now locate the AllowDomainPINLogo in the right pane. If you cannot locate it, right-click in the right pane and select the New > DWORD (32-bit) Value option.

   

5. Rename this newly created value as AllowDomainPINLogo and double-click on it.
6. Type 1 under Value data and set the base to Hexadecimal.
   

   

7. Hit OK and then restart your PC. Hopefully, this will fix the error code 0x80040154. 

Verify Your Microsoft Account

You might also fail to use Windows Hello if your Microsoft account on Windows is not verified. The solution to this is simple – all that you need to do is verify the account.

Here is how you can do that:

1. Launch Windows Settings by pressing Windows + I keys simultaneously. 
2. In the Settings window, click on Accounts.
   

   

3. Now select Your Info tab and then click on Verify under You need to verify your identity on this PC.
   

   

4. Once the account is verified, restart your PC.
5. Upon reboot try using Windows Hello again.

Perform a Repair / Clean Install

If you still haven’t been able to fix the issue, there’s a pretty good chance that your system is suffering from an underlying system corruption issue that cannot be solved conventionally.

It is most efficient to follow a procedure that will allow you to update all components of your system to get rid of the error code 0x80040154. In order to accomplish this, there are two options:

• Clean install – In this procedure, you do not need installation media. However,  with this method, you will lose everything including your files, games, applications, and user preferences.
• Repair Install – This approach, which is referred to as in-place repair, is more tedious and requires you to create an installation disc that is compatible with your operating system. The benefit is that you can keep your media, your applications, your games, and so on.