- The Windows 11 update KB5064081 causes the password button icon to not be displayed on the lock screen.
- The flaw affects computers with multiple active login options (PIN, fingerprint, security key, etc.).
- The password button still exists and can be activated by hovering the mouse over the area where the icon should appear.
- Microsoft acknowledges the problem in Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2 and is working on a patch with no confirmed date.
Windows 11 users they have suddenly found that The option to log in with a password seems to have disappeared lock screen After installing the latest system updates, the password login icon stops displaying, which It causes quite a bit of confusion. when trying to log into the team.
What's striking about this is that, even though the icon is not visible, The actual password button is still thereIt's a purely visual issue related to a recent patch, which complicates the login process. It does not completely block access to the computer.Microsoft has already acknowledged the flaw and has published an explanation in its support documentation.
What's happening with the password button in Windows 11?
Microsoft has confirmed a Windows 11 error that hides the icon associated with password login on the lock screen. The bug was detected after updates released from August 2025 onwards, especially the KB5064081 preview update and subsequent patches.
Under normal conditions, Windows 11 only displays the password-specific icon when there is multiple authentication methods configuredFor example, a Windows Hello PIN, fingerprint, facial recognition, physical security key, or the traditional password. If the user only uses the password, the system directly displays the field for entering it, and the additional icon is not needed.
With the current vulnerability, on systems where multiple login methods have been enabled, the The password icon disappears from the options list. from the lock screen. Visually, it appears that the password can no longer be used, although in reality the control is still present and functional; it's just not displayed correctly.
According to the company itself, what is generated is a kind of “empty space” where the icon should be seenThat gap acts as an invisible placeholder: if the user hovers the cursor over or clicks in that area, the password field is enabled and they can log in normally.
Update KB5064081: Affected versions and scope of the bug
The problem is mainly associated with the Windows 5064081 update KB11, a preview build unrelated to security patches that began rolling out in late August 2025. Microsoft indicates that the anomalous behavior is observed on computers with Windows 11 24H2 and Windows 11 25H2 who have received this patch or subsequent patches based on it.
It's worth noting that not all Windows 11 users are affected. The error manifests itself primarily when Multiple login credentials coexist on the same computerIf only the password is used, the lock screen simply displays the corresponding text box and the error goes completely unnoticed.
In contrast, those who combine PIN, password, and perhaps biometrics or a security key are the ones noticing the most. The password option no longer appears among the login alternatives.Tapping on “Show login options” on the lock screen offers other ways to authenticate, but the password icon is not displayed, even though the system still supports that login method.
In its support notes, Microsoft explains that after installing KB5064081 or later updates based on it, “The password icon may not be visible among the login options on the lock screen.”He adds that it is a known flaw and that he is working on a definitive solution, although without committing to a specific date.
How to continue logging in with password despite the invisible icon
Until a patch is released to fix the bug, users can continue using their password with a simple trick. As Microsoft explains, The password button continues to exist in the backgroundThe associated icon is simply not displayed in the list of login methods.
To activate that hidden button you have to Move the mouse over the area where the password icon used to appear Within the login options section, just below the Windows Hello PIN field. As soon as the cursor hovers over that point, the system detects a clickable control and allows you to select it, even though nothing is visible.
Once you click on that “ghost icon”, it opens text box where you enter your usual account passwordFrom there, the process is the same as always: you enter the password, confirm it, and access the Windows 11 desktop as usual. The bug, therefore, complicates the experience but doesn't prevent the password from being used.
In some cases, users comment that it is enough to Click randomly around the PIN area to make the password field appear. It's not an elegant solution, but it serves as a temporary fix while Microsoft finishes preparing an update that restores the icon's visibility.
Context: More recent problems with Windows 11 updates
This incident with the password button adds to a List of issues related to recent updates of Windows 11. The same patch branch that includes KB5064081 had already caused, according to the company, strange behavior when playing DRM-protected video and occasional failures in Blu-ray, DVD or digital television applications, and problems such as the Microsoft Store won't open.
They have also been documented Errors in the installation of applications for accounts without administrator privilegesThese issues stem from unexpected User Account Control (UAC) notifications. Additionally, performance problems have been reported with some streaming programs and software that relies on technologies like NDI, both in Windows 10 and Windows 11, with noticeable frame rate drops and stuttering in certain scenarios.
These rulings have reignited the debate about the quality of Windows updates and internal testing processesIn recent years, and especially after the pandemic and various waves of restructuring within the company, doubts have increased about the size and role of the teams dedicated to operating system validation and quality control.
In the specific case of the password icon failure, it's an annoying problem but with a relatively simple solution, which doesn't stop many users from wondering how. Such a basic detail of the lock screen has managed to pass the previous filters before the patch reached the distribution channel.
Reminder: Change your Windows password from the console
Although the missing icon is now the main focus, it's worth remembering that Windows still offers alternative methods for managing passwords Beyond the usual graphical interface, one of the most direct methods is to use the console, whether it's the classic Command Prompt or more advanced tools like PowerShell, now grouped under Windows Terminal.
Accessing the command line in Windows can be done in user mode or administrator modeThe second option grants full system permissions, so use it with caution. To open it, simply search for "Command Prompt" in the Start menu or right-click the Start icon and choose the advanced option to run it as administrator.
Once the console is open, it is possible Change the password of a local account with a single commandThe basic format is: net user USERNAME NEWPASSWORDBy replacing those values with the actual account name and the new password you want to set, the system updates the password without having to enter any graphical configuration panel.
If the account name includes spaces, you must Place it in double quotes so that the command is interpreted correctlyThis allows you to modify passwords for local accounts and even accounts with administrator privileges, provided you run the console with the appropriate permissions. To view all accounts present on the computer, you can use the command net user without additional parameters.
The next time you log in to that account, Windows will ask for the newly configured passwordRegardless of whether the option icon appears correctly on screen or not, this provides an additional means of control while issues such as the current one are being resolved.
The failure of the password button in Windows 11 illustrates just how far A seemingly minor detail can cause confusion when the system starts upespecially when it coincides with other bugs introduced by recent updates; while Microsoft finishes rolling out the patch that restores the login icon to normalUsers can continue to use the invisible clickable area and tools such as the console to maintain control over their passwords and access to their computers.
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