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I keep getting locked out of my laptop.

Anonymous
2023-08-13T14:00:14+00:00

I'm using a laptop with Windows 10 as a server with an open port forwarded to its RDC inner port, with all the due precautions up. For some reason, I keep getting the "As a security precaution, this user account has been locked because there were too many log-on attempts or password change attempts" error.

The thing is, I've checked the event logs and the only log on attempts are my own, no one else is trying to access it. This is a serious hassle that stalls me whenever I want to access my pc.

I should also mention that the account is not connected to any microsoft account and is local. I also can't log in through the physical computer.

What could be causing this? I don't want to wait 15 minutes every time I have to access my server. Thanks!

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Windows Hello, lock screen and sign-in

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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  1. Anonymous
    2023-08-14T05:20:22+00:00

    Hello, MrKelpy

    Welcome to Microsoft Community.

    I’m sorry to hear that you’re having trouble with your laptop. It sounds like a frustrating situation. There are a few possible causes for your account getting locked out, even if you’re the only one trying to log on. Here are some of them:

    • Stuck Keys or Repeated Inputs: Sometimes, issues with hardware like stuck keys on your keyboard or repeated inputs could lead to multiple failed login attempts. Ensure that your keyboard is functioning properly and not causing any unintended input.
    • You might have a scheduled task or a service that is using your old credentials and triggering the account lockout policy. You can check the Task Scheduler and the Services Manager to see if there are any tasks or services that are using your account and update the credentials if needed. Also, check your Windows Credential Manager to ensure that there are no saved credentials with incorrect passwords. Incorrect credentials stored here might trigger failed login attempts.
    • You might have a persistent network drive mapping that is using your old credentials and causing authentication failures. You can disconnect any network drives that are using your account and reconnect them with the correct credentials.
    • You might have a malware infection on your laptop or on another device that is trying to access your laptop remotely. You can scan your laptop and any other devices that are connected to the same network with a reputable antivirus software and remove any threats that are detected.
    • You might have a misconfigured firewall or router that is blocking or interfering with the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) traffic. You can check the firewall settings on your laptop and on your router and make sure that they are allowing the RDP port (3389 by default) to pass through.

    If none of these solutions work, you might want to consider changing your account lockout policy settings to make them less strict or disable them altogether. However, this could reduce the security of your laptop and expose it to potential attacks, so you should do this only as a last resort. To change your account lockout policy settings, you can refer to these documents:

    Account Lockout Policy - Windows Security | Microsoft Learn

    Account lockout threshold - Windows Security | Microsoft Learn

    Configure security policy settings - Windows Security | Microsoft Learn

    If the issue persists, it may be beyond the scope of issues that Microsoft Community can address. Microsoft Q&A, on the other hand, aims to support more advanced issues like yours and is the best resource for further assistance. You can share specific scenarios and ideas to help resolve the problem at Windows Server - Microsoft Q&A. However, I will keep the thread open in Microsoft Community, as one of our volunteers may have additional insights that could be helpful to you. 

    Let me know if you have any other concerns.

    Best regards

    Yuhao Li

    Microsoft Community Technical Support

    5 people found this answer helpful.
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