---
title: "I got the Failed to retrieve PIN error - Payhawk Help Center"
slug: "i-got-the-failed-to-retrieve-pin-error"
description: "See why the Failed to retrieve PIN message appears after 3 wrong PIN entries, how to reset your PIN to unblock your card, and how to activate the new PIN."
updated: 2026-10-23T13:46:29Z
published: 2026-10-23T13:46:29Z
canonical: "payhawk.com/i-got-the-failed-to-retrieve-pin-error"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://payhawk.com/help/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# I got the Failed to retrieve PIN error

If you encounter the **Failed to retrieve PIN** message when selecting the **View PIN** option in the Payhawk Mobile App, it is likely because your card has been blocked after entering the incorrect PIN 3 times. Note that the card will be blocked after a total of 3 incorrect PIN attempts, whether or not they are consecutive.

To resolve this issue and continue using your card, you will need to [reset your PIN code](/help/viewing-and-resetting-the-pin-for-your-payhawk-card) by using the **Reset PIN** option. Resetting your PIN code will unblock your card, and the next time you select the **View PIN** option, you will be able to see the newly generated PIN code.

After resetting the PIN, you must activate it before the card works for in-person transactions. Insert the card into a chip-and-PIN POS terminal and complete a purchase, or perform a balance inquiry at an ATM using the new PIN.

To restore contactless payments, you must complete at least one chip-and-PIN transaction after activating the new PIN. If you activated the card at an ATM, make one chip-and-PIN purchase at a POS terminal as well.

Online payments and Apple Pay do not use the physical PIN, so they continue to work even while the card is blocked for in-person use.