Windows 11 must be configured to require a minimum PIN length of six characters or greater.
Overview
| Finding ID | Version | Rule ID | IA Controls | Severity |
| V-253401 | WN11-CC-000260 | SV-253401r1210296_rule | CCI-000366 | medium |
| Description | ||||
| Windows allows the use of PINs and biometrics for authentication without sending a password to a network or website where it could be compromised. Longer minimum PIN lengths increase the available combinations an attacker would have to attempt. Shorter minimum length significantly reduces the strength. Note: A different registry location is needed when systems are managed by Intune versus GPO. | ||||
| STIG | Date | |||
| Microsoft Windows 11 Security Technical Implementation Guide | 2026-05-19 | |||
Details
Check Text (C-253401r1210296_chk)
If the following registry value does not exist or is not configured as specified, this is a finding:
Registry Hive: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
Registry Path: \SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\PassportForWork\PINComplexity\ (For GPO-managed systems)
Or
Registry Path: \SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Policies\PassportForWork\[guid]\device\policies\PINComplexity (For Intune-managed systems)
Value Name: MinimumPINLength
Type: REG_DWORD
Value: 6 (or greater)
Fix Text (F-56804r1210219_fix)
For GPO-managed systems:
Configure the policy value for Computer Configuration >> Administrative Templates >> System >> PIN Complexity >> "Minimum PIN length" to "6" or greater.
For Intune-managed systems:
Revise the Intune policy to set the minimum PIN length to "6" or greater.