Incorrect Password

Question

I was logged into my account all day. When I logged out to restart my computer, I went to login and was told that I had entered the password wrong too many times. However, the activity log only shows that I logged in once prior to the second try. I have changed my password 4 times in the last 5 days.

Answer 1

Hi, I'm John!

The "Too Many Requests” error usually happens if there have been multiple login attempts in a short period of time, and Microsoft temporarily blocks further attempts to protect the account.

Could you let me know when you last tried signing in after the reset?

The only option for now is to wait for the full 24 to 48 hours for the lockout to clear completely.

Try not to attempt signing in during this time, as doing so will reset the waiting period back to zero. Once the time has fully passed, you should be able to sign in again without needing to reset your password.

Also, are you trying to sign in from a new device or location? Sometimes that can also trigger extra security checks.

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Click "Add comment" to let me know.

Regards,

John J.D.

Answer 2

The message about too many incorrect password attempts typically means Microsoft’s automated security systems detected repeated failed sign-ins or suspicious activity, even if the Recent activity page only shows a small number of visible attempts.

Key points and what to do:

1. Why this happens
   • Multiple failed sign-ins (by you or someone else) can trigger a temporary lock to protect the account. This can include attempts from other devices, apps, or locations that might not be obvious in the activity list.
   • The Recent activity view summarizes sign-ins and may not show every individual failed attempt, only grouped or significant events such as “Incorrect password entered” or “Unusual activity detected.”
2. Check Recent activity and confirm what was you
   • Go to the Recent activity page from the Security basics area and review entries such as Incorrect password entered, Unusual activity detected, or Sign-in blocked.
   • If you see activity that wasn’t you, expand it and use This wasn’t me or Secure your account (depending on where it appears) so Microsoft can help secure the account.
3. If you’re currently locked out
   • Microsoft may temporarily lock the account after too many failed attempts or suspicious activity. In that case, the safest approach is to wait at least 24 hours without trying to sign in again, as repeated attempts can extend the lockout.
   • After the wait, sign in again from a familiar device and network and, if needed, reset the password once more.
4. If you can sign in now
   • Immediately change your password from the Security basics page and make it strong and unique.
   • On the same page, update your security settings (phone, alternate email, etc.) and remove anything you don’t recognize.
   • Consider turning on two-step verification so that even if someone guesses the password, they can’t access the account without the second factor.
5. If you suspect someone else is trying to access the account
   • Follow the steps under “Notify us if you don’t recognize activity on your account”: review activity, mark unknown sign-ins as not yours, then change the password and recheck security info.

If the lockout persists after waiting and following these steps, continue using the standard recovery options (password reset and account recovery form) from a familiar device and location, as account recovery and unlocking are fully automated for security reasons.

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References:

• Check the recent sign-in activity for your Microsoft account
• What is the Recent activity page?
• What happens if there's an unusual sign-in to your account
• View your work or school account sign-in activity from My Sign-ins
• Why can't I log in to my Outlook account? - Microsoft Q&A
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