HRESULT 0x8031009A (FVE_E_INVALID_PIN_CHARS): meaning and diagnosis

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Description:

The requested TPM PIN contains invalid characters.

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FVE_E_ENH_PIN_INVALID	FVE_E_INVALID_DATUM_TYPE

FVE_E_INVALID_PIN_CHARS

Where the operation stops

The value 0x8031009A, named FVE_E_INVALID_PIN_CHARS, is returned when the proposed TPM PIN contains characters outside the set accepted by the current BitLocker policy and preboot path. For FVE_E_INVALID_PIN_CHARS, it belongs to the key-protector lifecycle part of BitLocker rather than to generic file I/O.

For FVE_E_INVALID_PIN_CHARS, note: A change operation authenticates the old protector and creates replacement wrapping data. When diagnosing FVE_E_INVALID_PIN_CHARS, remember: An administrator reset follows a different trust path, which is why change and reset errors must not be merged. For FVE_E_INVALID_PIN_CHARS, note: A BitLocker key protector wraps access to the volume master key. When diagnosing FVE_E_INVALID_PIN_CHARS, remember: TPM, TPM+PIN, startup key, recovery password, password, certificate and Network Unlock protectors have different volume and policy rules; changing one is not the same as decrypting the volume.

Question	What to verify
Which object failed?	For `FVE_E_INVALID_PIN_CHARS`, the exact volume GUID, protector GUID, certificate or API target supplied by the caller.
Which state matters?	enhanced-PIN policy, allowed character class, keyboard layout, PIN length and whether the call is add, change or reset.
What is the nearest false lead?	an incorrect current PIN; this failure occurs while validating the new PIN format.

Build a minimal diagnostic record

For FVE_E_INVALID_PIN_CHARS, record enhanced-PIN policy, allowed character class, keyboard layout, PIN length and whether the call is add, change or reset. For FVE_E_INVALID_PIN_CHARS, keep the full HRESULT and the first method that returned it because later cleanup calls can report a different state.
For FVE_E_INVALID_PIN_CHARS, capture manage-bde -status and the protector inventory for the exact volume GUID, not only the drive letter, because letters can change in WinRE, clusters and deployment environments.
Export BitLocker operational events for the FVE_E_INVALID_PIN_CHARS failure and note the boot session, caller identity and management source; that evidence separates this BitLocker condition from a generic access or storage error.

Change only the failed prerequisite

enter a compliant PIN and validate policy/preboot support; never log the PIN value while collecting diagnostics. For FVE_E_INVALID_PIN_CHARS, collect a fresh state snapshot and issue a single retry from the same management layer.

manage-bde -protectors -get C:\npowershell -NoProfile -Command "Get-BitLockerVolume C: | Format-List KeyProtector,ProtectionStatus,VolumeStatus"

Do not delete all key protectors, clear a TPM, reformat a partition or decrypt the volume as a generic response to FVE_E_INVALID_PIN_CHARS; those actions affect different trust layers and can destroy the easiest recovery route.

State checks specific to FVE_E_INVALID_PIN_CHARS

Checkpoint	How to interpret it for FVE_E_INVALID_PIN_CHARS
Before the call	Record the target identity and the pre-call key-protector lifecycle state. For FVE_E_INVALID_PIN_CHARS, the decisive boundary is that the proposed TPM PIN contains characters outside the set accepted by the current BitLocker policy and preboot path.
At failure	Preserve enhanced-PIN policy, allowed character class, keyboard layout, PIN length and whether the call is add, change or reset. This proves whether FVE_E_INVALID_PIN_CHARS came from BitLocker itself or from a wrapper translating another result.
After correction	Enter a compliant PIN and validate policy/preboot support; never log the PIN value while collecting diagnostics. The FVE_E_INVALID_PIN_CHARS request should then advance without removing an unrelated recovery route.
After reboot or remount	Recheck protection, conversion and lock state for FVE_E_INVALID_PIN_CHARS; a successful management call is incomplete if the next boot cannot unlock the volume.

Verification after the change

For FVE_E_INVALID_PIN_CHARS, success means more than the absence of a dialog. Confirm that the condition represented by FVE_E_INVALID_PIN_CHARS now matches the intended design, that the protector inventory has not lost an independent recovery route, and that the next reboot or remount can unlock the volume. If the FVE_E_INVALID_PIN_CHARS request advances to another HRESULT, record both values in order because that transition reveals the next unmet prerequisite.

Official documentation

Reference set for FVE_E_INVALID_PIN_CHARS:

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