Locked out of my laptop

Question

How do I use Microsoft to unlock my laptop? It has been locked because of too many sign in attempts

Answer 1

Hello, thank you for reaching out to Microsoft Q&A.

1. Could you please confirm whether you are signing in to your Windows PC using a Windows Hello PIN or your account password? And,
2. Do you see an option to reset your password on the screen?

If yes, you can proceed with resetting your password and signing in with your account.

Please note that if you enter an incorrect password multiple times, your account may be temporarily blocked for security reasons, and you will not be able to sign in.

In some cases, waiting 24 hours is enough for the block to be removed. Please avoid trying to sign in again during this time, as this can restart the time lock.

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Answer 2

If the laptop is showing a message that it is locked because of too many sign-in attempts to the Microsoft account, the lockout is on the Microsoft account, not the Windows device itself. Use these steps:

1. On another device (phone or PC), go to https://account.microsoft.com and try to sign in.
2. Follow the on-screen instructions to get a security code sent to a phone number. Any phone that can receive text messages can be used; it does not need to be associated with the account.
3. Enter the security code to unlock the Microsoft account. You may be required to create a new, stronger password.
4. After the Microsoft account is successfully unlocked, return to the laptop and sign in again using the updated password.

If the account is blocked due to unusual activity or too many attempts, and verification is being rate-limited, wait at least 24 hours without further attempts before trying again. Repeated attempts can extend the lockout period.

If the sign-in screen does not show a Next option and indicates the account is locked, use the aka.ms link shown in the window to submit the account reinstatement form. A Microsoft Online Safety support agent will review the request and contact by email. Do not submit multiple forms, as that can slow down processing.

If the laptop itself shows a Windows message such as “This computer is in use and has been locked. Only <username> or an administrator can unlock this computer,” then only that user or a local/domain administrator account can unlock it by pressing Ctrl+Alt+Del and entering valid credentials. This scenario can occur if a corrupted or non-existent screen saver is configured as the default and is password protected.

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References:

• Microsoft account has been locked
• What happens if there's an unusual sign-in to your account
• Troubleshoot Microsoft verification code issues
• Administrator unable to unlock a "locked" computer
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