Windows 11’s catalogue of oddities continues to grow: according to a newly published Microsoft support notice, installing the August 2025 preview update — or any cumulative update released thereafter — causes the password-login icon on the lock screen to simply vanish.
Under normal circumstances, if a user has set up a PIN, Windows displays the PIN option first. But if the user forgets the PIN, they can switch to password login by clicking the password icon that appears beside the PIN option.
The issue arises because this password icon disappears entirely. Visually, it appears as though PIN login is the only available method. Microsoft’s investigation found that the icon itself is missing, but the functionality behind it still exists — meaning users can still switch to password login by clicking the “empty” space where the icon should be.
While this quirk does not cause a critical failure, it has nonetheless proved troublesome. Many users, unable to locate the missing icon, resort to selecting the “Forgot PIN” flow and resetting their credentials using their password — an unnecessarily cumbersome and frustrating process.
Microsoft is currently investigating the root cause and plans to issue a fix in an upcoming release. Given the relatively simple nature of the bug, the company expects that the next cumulative update — likely arriving later this month — will restore the missing password-login icon.
Related Posts:
- Stealthy New Android Trojan Disguised as Popular Apps Steals Your Data
- A Brighter Future for Dark Mode: Android 16 Will Force Apps to Go Dark
- Hackers Fake ChatGPT App to Spread Windows, and Android Malware
- Google Play Upgrades: Find Widget Apps Easier, New Search & Icons