There are moments in technology when something small creates a surprisingly big inconvenience, and the latest Windows 11 bug fits that description perfectly. This issue quietly started showing up after Microsoft released its optional August 2025 update, and although it doesn’t lock you out of your PC entirely, it can leave you confused at the lock screen — staring at a login page that refuses to show your password option.
In today’s story-style walkthrough, let’s take a calm and detailed look at what’s happening, why this bug affects only certain users, and the workaround Microsoft has suggested until an official fix arrives.
1️⃣ Understanding the Issue
Before diving into settings or troubleshooting, it helps to slow down and understand the background of the problem. Windows 11’s lock screen is designed to offer multiple sign-in methods — PIN, fingerprint, face unlock (Windows Hello), and the traditional password. Most users prefer using a PIN or biometric method because it’s quick and convenient.
But here’s the catch: sometimes you need your password instead. Maybe Windows Hello fails, maybe your fingerprint reader acts up, or maybe you simply can’t remember your PIN. Under normal circumstances, you would click “Sign-in options” and switch from one method to another.
However, after installing the optional KB5064081 update (and any updates released after it), an unexpected visual glitch makes the password icon completely invisible — as if it never existed.
Technically, the icon is still there. It’s present, clickable, and functional. But visually? It has vanished.
This is where the confusion begins.
2️⃣ How This Bug Actually Appears on Your PC
Let’s walk through a normal sign-in experience before the bug, because understanding the expected behaviour makes the problem easier to visualize.
Before the Bug
You wake your PC, the lock screen appears, and you’re greeted with whichever Windows Hello option you’ve configured — usually a PIN prompt.
If you want to use your password instead, you click:
Show sign-in options → Password icon → Password text field
Simple, predictable, and familiar.
After Installing KB5064081
Now things change slightly, but in a way that can easily confuse anyone:
- The password key icon that should appear in the sign-in options is missing.
- Clicking the sign-in options still works, but the icon you expect to see has become completely invisible.
- The password text field will appear only if you hover your mouse over the empty space where the icon should be.
Visually nothing is there. Functionally everything is still there.
This unusual disconnect creates the feeling that Windows has removed your password method entirely — even though it hasn’t.
3️⃣ Why Only Some Users Experience This
Here’s an important detail. This bug does not affect every Windows 11 user. Instead, it primarily shows up for those who:
- Use Windows Hello PIN, face unlock, or fingerprint login
- Have installed the August 2025 optional non-security update, KB5064081
- Have not disabled password as a fallback method
This means if you depend on PIN or biometrics regularly, you’re more likely to notice the missing password icon.
Users who only sign in using a password may not notice the issue at all — because they never open the sign-in options menu.
Microsoft has officially classified this as a “known issue” and stated that internal investigation is ongoing.
4️⃣ Microsoft’s Official Statement
Whenever a bug affects the sign-in process, users worry whether it’s a deeper system failure, but Microsoft has clarified that the issue is a cosmetic UI glitch rather than a security risk.
Here is the summarized version of Microsoft’s confirmation in smoother, blog-friendly language:
After installing the August 2025 optional update KB5064081 or any later updates, the password icon under Sign-in options may not be visible on the lock screen. The icon is still functional but does not appear visually.
Users can hover over the empty space where the icon normally appears to reveal the clickable area.
This confirmation at least brings clarity — you’re not imagining things, and your PC isn’t broken. Something in the update simply hides the icon’s visual element.
5️⃣ Microsoft’s Workaround: The Hover-to-Reveal Trick
Before moving into any deeper settings, Microsoft’s recommendation is refreshingly straightforward.
The Workaround
Move your mouse cursor to the exact location where the password icon typically appears. Even though the icon is invisible, its hitbox (the clickable area) is still present.
Once you hover over that area, click it — and the password text field will appear, allowing you to type your regular account password and sign in.
This feels a bit like using an invisible button, which isn’t ideal, but it works consistently for affected users.
Why This Matters
There are practical moments when having access to your password login method is essential:
- Your PIN stopped working
- Your fingerprint sensor refuses to detect
- Windows Hello camera cannot detect your face
- You are troubleshooting sign-in methods
In all these situations, the password option becomes the fallback method — which is why making that icon invisible becomes a genuine usability problem.
6️⃣ Does This Bug Affect Security?
This is a fair question many users are asking. Fortunately, the answer is no.
The bug does not:
- Remove your password
- Disable password login
- Expose private information
- Affect Windows Hello security
It is purely a UI visibility glitch. You can still log in normally once you interact with the hidden button.
7️⃣ Should You Uninstall KB5064081?
Here’s where things get practical. KB5064081 is an optional non-security update, which means:
- It is not required for security protection
- It contains bug fixes and improvements
- It may include features that may or may not matter to every user
If the invisible password icon frustrates you, uninstalling the update is a temporary option. But keep in mind that Microsoft will eventually roll this fix into future cumulative updates, so uninstalling may only be a short-term solution.
If you prefer stability over early updates, simply waiting for the next cumulative update is usually a better approach.
8️⃣ What Microsoft Is Working On
According to the official Windows release documentation, Microsoft is already investigating the cause and plans to release the fix in an upcoming update.
No date is available yet, but the issue has been acknowledged publicly — which typically means the fix will arrive soon, likely in the next Patch Tuesday or optional preview.
As soon as the update appears, users should no longer see invisible sign-in icons on the lock screen.
9️⃣ My Thoughts and Additional Tips
Windows bugs can be frustrating, especially when they affect something as basic and essential as logging into your PC. What makes this one unusual is that nothing is technically broken — it just looks broken.
Here are a few practical tips while waiting for Microsoft’s permanent fix:
- If you use a PIN daily, make sure you remember your password too.
- If you frequently run into login failures, consider adding a backup authentication method like fingerprint or Windows Hello.
- If the invisible icon keeps slowing you down, disabling the PIN temporarily and switching to password-only login might simplify the experience.
- Avoid installing optional updates if you prefer a stable system.
Keeping your PC predictable is sometimes more important than having the absolute latest features.
Disclaimer
This article describes a known visual bug confirmed by Microsoft in the KB5064081 Windows 11 update.
No steps here modify system files, disable security features, or bypass authentication.
Always follow Microsoft’s official recommendations and avoid third-party tools that claim to “fix” sign-in issues unless they come directly from a trusted source.
#Windows11 #MicrosoftUpdate #KBBug #TechNews #dtptips
