This error mainly occurs due to unsupported Windows updates, but in some cases, the issue may be more critical and require in-depth troubleshooting. As such, if you see Windows login error 0x80280013, here are some steps to fix the issue.

What Causes the Windows Login Error 0x80280013?

The Windows Hello PIN is the most preferred way to sign in to an account. However, you may encounter an issue where you see the error 0x80280013 even after entering the correct PIN.

Some of the common culprits responsible for this error are:

You will likely face the issue if you’re using an outdated Windows or there’s a problem with the current update. The Ngc folder can get corrupted for various reasons and cause login errors. The error 0x80280013 can also appear if TPM is disabled on your computer.

Now, let’s get into all the potential fixes that can troubleshoot the error code.

1. Update or Roll Back the Last Windows Update

The first thing you can do to eliminate the error code is to download the latest Windows update. There’s a possibility that the error has resulted from a bug in the current Windows version. You can eliminate this bug by downloading any available Windows update.

Open the Settings menu, and choose Windows Update from the left panel. Click Check for Updates.

Windows will now search for and display all the pending updates. Go ahead and install them.

Alternatively, the error can also appear if there’s an issue in the most recently-installed Windows update. The solution, in this case, is to revert the update. You can do it by following the below steps:

Open the Start menu, type Control Panel and press Enter. Head towards Programs > Programs and Features. Click View installed updates in the left panel. Click the Uninstall button next to the recently installed update, and then click Uninstall again to confirm your selection.

Next, restart your computer using one of the methods for restarting Windows and check if the log in issue is fixed or not.

2. Clear the Ngc Folder

As aforementioned, there are multiple ways to unlock your computer. But if you use the PIN code, your computer will create a dedicated folder to store all the PIN information. This folder is called the Ngc folder.

However, the Ngc folder can sometimes get corrupted and stop you from logging into your computer. To fix this, you will have to clear the content of the Ngc folder. Here’s how:

Note: You need to be logged in as an administrator to access and delete the Ngc folder.

Open the Run dialog box (see how to open the Windows Run dialog box for more information,) copy-paste the following location in the search bar, and click OK. C:\Windows\ServiceProfiles\LocalService\AppData\Local\Microsoft Right-click on the Ngc folder, and choose the Delete icon from the context menu.

That’s it. Try to log in again and check if you’re still facing the problem.

3. Adjust the TPM Settings

The Trusted Platform Module (TPM) uses cryptographic keys to keep your computer safe and secure. The TPM hardware-layer encryption must be enabled if you want to use Windows PIN login. Here’s how to enable it:

In the Run dialog box, type tpm. msc and press Enter. In the TPM management window, click Action in the top bar and choose Prepare the TPM from the context menu.

Reboot your computer to save the changes.

If the “Prepare the TPM” option is grayed out, don’t worry; that means that TPM is already configured on your computer.

4. Disable Fast Startup

Most boot or login issues are often fixed by disabling Fast Startup, a feature to speed up your computer boot speed. There are many ways to disable Fast Startup on Windows, but here’s one of the simpler methods:

Open the Control Panel, and head towards System and Security > Power Options. Click Choose what the power button does in the left panel. Click the Change settings that are currently unavailable link. Uncheck the Turn on fast startup box under the Shutdown settings section. Click Save changes.

Fast Startup should now be disabled. Restart your PC and try logging in again.

5. Turn On the Convenience PIN Sign-In Feature

The convenience PIN sign-in policy setting lets you decide which domain user is allowed to sign in using a PIN code. If this setting is disabled, there’s no way you can PIN login.

You can enable this policy setting by following the below steps:

In the Run dialog box, type gpedit. msc and press Enter. Navigate to Local Computer Policy > Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Logon. Locate and double-click on Turn on convenience PIN sign-in. Click Enable and then Apply > OK.

If you can’t open the Local Group Policy Editor, there’s a good chance you’re using Windows Home. If so, check out how to access the Local Group Policy Editor in Windows Home and try again.

6. Enable the IPsec Policy Agent Service

The next solution on the list is to enable the IPsec Policy Agent service. Here’s how to do it:

Launch the Start Menu, type Services in the search bar, and press Enter. Locate and double-click on the IPsec Policy Agent service. Click the drop-down icon next to Startup type and choose Automatic from the context menu. Click the Start button under the Service status. Click on Apply > OK to save the changes.

7. Reset the PIN

If you’re still facing the problem, you’re left with no option other than to reset the PIN. You can do it by following the below instructions:

Open the Settings menu by pressing the Win + I hotkeys. Choose Accounts from the left panel. Choose Sign-in options under Account settings. Click the drop-down icon next to PIN (Windows Hello). Select the I forgot my PIN link. Click Continue in the Microsoft account prompt. Enter the code sent to your email. Set up a new PIN.

Fixing Windows Login Error 0x80280013

It’s very common to face login issues on Windows. It may occur due to a corrupt Ngc folder, outdated Windows update, or the Fast Startup feature. Regardless of what’s causing the Windows login error 0x80280013, you can quickly troubleshoot it using the above fixes.

Sometimes Windows Hello can stop working entirely. Thankfully, it’s easy to bring it back on working track again.