Here we go again. Another update failure is plaguing Windows users, with Microsoft forced yet again to issue advice on user workarounds to bypass a failure. There’s no fix available, and it affects a wide array of Windows PCs. The issue dates back to August — any update since then may trigger the failure on your PC.
“Windows 11’s recent updates have been nothing less than a disaster,” Windows Latest says. The password failure follows the WinRE failures and multiple emergency updates.
Microsoft admits that after updating your PC, “you might notice that the password icon is not visible in the sign-in options on the lock screen. If you hover over the space where the icon should appear, you’ll see that the password button is still available.”
It’s there — it’s just hidden. Microsoft “is working to resolve this issue and will provide information when it’s available.” For now, you just need to hunt out the password icon.
Windows Latest says “Microsoft’s workaround for the missing password icon on the Windows 11 login screen is actually funny. The company really wants you to guess where the password icon is… and if you are still unable to find it, try clicking randomly on the lock screen. It’ll trigger the password field… hopefully.”
You likely won’t need this password icon often if you sign in with your Windows Hello PIN. Unfortunately, when you do need it, you may find it fails to appear.
Microsoft hasn’t said how many users are affected, but it’s a lot. All PCs running any of the below update versions are now impacted:
- “KB5068861 | Build 26200.7171 / 26100.7171 | Released on November 11
- KB5067036 | Builds 26200.7019 / 26100.7019 | Released on October 28
- KB5070773 | Builds 26200.6901 / 26100.6901 | Released on October 20
- KB5066835 | Builds 26200.6899 / 26100.6899 | Released on October 14
- KB5065789 | Build 26100.6725 | Released on September 29
- KB5068221 | Build 26100.6588 | Released on September 22
- KB5065426 | Build 26100.6584 | Released on September 9
- KB5064081 | Build 26100.5074 | Released on August 29”
