- Windows 11 has a bug in login options on the lock screen
- You have made the password icon disappear somehow.
- The icon is still there, and Microsoft’s advice is to essentially feel around for it.
Windows 11 has had its fair share of strange bugs, particularly since version 24H2 arrived, and a very peculiar glitch recently appeared, and what’s equally strange is Microsoft’s workaround here.
Windows Latest noticed the issue, which pertains to the Windows Hello login options on the lock screen for Windows 11 devices.
This screen allows you to sign in using biometric means (facial recognition or fingerprint) or using a PIN, although if you can’t remember that PIN, there is a backup feature to use your Microsoft account password.
However, on some Windows 11 PCs that have installed the August Preview Update or the Full September Update, or later, this password option has disappeared (according to this thread on Reddit).
Microsoft explains in the August Preview Update Known Issues: “You may 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 will see that the password button is still available. Select this placeholder to open the password text box and enter your password. After entering your password, you can sign in normally.”
Analysis: Stealth Icons
In other words, the password icon has somehow become invisible, but it’s still there and working, sort of, since the icon itself isn’t there, but you’ll see a blank box where it’s normally located, which, when clicked, works to activate the password field.
So, if you need to access the backup password login option, Microsoft’s advice is to place your mouse cursor over where the icon should be and you’ll see the outline of the button to click on. It’s a bit like ‘Where’s Waldo?’ except you’re looking for a much less colorful character.
Perhaps this could be a new minigame in Windows 11: icons flash on and off the desktop randomly, and you have to be quick enough to hit them before they disappear.
It’s a very strange mistake, which some people blame on AI code, a growing trend since Microsoft admitted it’s using AI for some coding tasks, and it feels equally strange that Microsoft is giving “move the mouse cursor and hope for the best” advice. Admittedly, it’s a niche problem: not many people will use that password icon, and there haven’t been many complaints about the issue, which is presumably why it’s gone unnoticed.
Still, if you are one of the people affected and were wondering what was happening, now you know. It’s also good to see that Microsoft is currently “working to resolve this issue” according to its support document, possibly having a group of programmers randomly move their cursors through the Windows 11 codebase in the hopes of eventually finding the right part to play with to find a resolution. No?
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