sign in button not working in Windos 11

Question

Initially, my lock screen kept showing "Your device couldn't recognize you..." Then I followed the advice from the second comment at this link: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/3967284/it-continuously-shows-your-device-couldnt-recognis

After restarting, my Windows 11 didn't display the password box and the sign-in button didn't work. (Video link below)

I tried entering Safe Mode, but the lock screen still displayed the same. I still couldn't access the desktop. Please help me

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jBWSTDtfeuNGhsWXEN_tDEngr6GSbx5_/view?

Answer 1

Hi,

This typically means some Windows component is broken.

On the Lock Screen, Press and hold the Shift key. Then, click the restart button on the lock screen located at the bottom right situated in the Power menu, to open the Windows Recovery options.

If you cannot reach the Lock screen or start your computer, restart your PC twice when the boot screen appears. If your PC has no restart button, press and hold the Power button until the computer shuts down. Do this twice.

The third time, the Windows Recovery options should open automatically.

Then,

• Use Startup repair: The first option to try is Startup repair, which automatically detects and fixes problems. Depending on the severity of the problem, it may or may not be successful.
• Uninstall Updates: The second step you can try is to uninstall the latest updates if Windows 10 fails to start after installing updates.

Choose Uninstall Updates.

Uninstall the update based on what was installed – a feature update or a quality update. Usually, the former is responsible.

• CHKDSK:If uninstalling did not help and is unrelated, the next step is to try using a Disk Check.

Choose Command Prompt in the list of troubleshooting.

Get the Current Windows Installation drive letter, which is either C, D, or E; Type BCDEDIT, and Press Enter. Note the letter.

Enter the command given below:

chkdsk X: /f /r (Replace X with the Current Windows Install Letter)

When done, you would see the output and restart the PC to check.

Another try you can give to fix is SFC SCANNOW through the Offboot switch. For this, follow the steps below:

First, find the Windows Install drive letter using the BCDEDIT command.

Then, try entering the following command:

sfc /scannow /offbootdir=C:\ /offwindir=C:\Windows

After the scan completes, you will see the results.

You can also try using DISM:

dism /image:C:\ /cleanup-image /revertpendingactions

• Reset this PC or clean install: The last Step is a Reset. The catch with Reset is all applications would be removed, and files would be kept(you would be presented with the option to erase everything). Also, for this step, A healthy Reset Image is required, which maybe would be affected by corruption. If you are using Installation media, you can do a clean install after rescuing your files.

https://www.yourwindowsguide.com/2024/09/windows-11-recovery-options.html

I hope you find this information useful. If you have any more questions, don't hesitate to reach out. Otherwise, please take a moment to accept the answer. Wishing you good luck!

A Windows MVP writes content on the above website, so it is safe. However, do watch out for the ads. It should translate into your Browser language automatically.Hi,

This typically means some Windows component is broken.

On the Lock Screen, Press and hold the Shift key. Then, click the restart button on the lock screen located at the bottom right situated in the Power menu, to open the Windows Recovery options.

If you cannot reach the Lock screen or start your computer, restart your PC twice when the boot screen appears. If your PC has no restart button, press and hold the Power button until the computer shuts down. Do this twice.

The third time, the Windows Recovery options should open automatically.

Then,

• Use Startup repair: The first option to try is Startup repair, which automatically detects and fixes problems. Depending on the severity of the problem, it may or may not be successful.
• Uninstall Updates: The second step you can try is to uninstall the latest updates if Windows 10 fails to start after installing updates.

Choose Uninstall Updates.

Uninstall the update based on what was installed – a feature update or a quality update. Usually, the former is responsible.

• CHKDSK:If uninstalling did not help and is unrelated, the next step is to try using a Disk Check.

Choose Command Prompt in the list of troubleshooting.

Get the Current Windows Installation drive letter, which is either C, D, or E; Type BCDEDIT, and Press Enter. Note the letter.

Enter the command given below:

chkdsk X: /f /r (Replace X with the Current Windows Install Letter)

When done, you would see the output and restart the PC to check.

Another try you can give to fix is SFC SCANNOW through the Offboot switch. For this, follow the steps below:

First, find the Windows Install drive letter using the BCDEDIT command.

Then, try entering the following command:

sfc /scannow /offbootdir=C:\ /offwindir=C:\Windows

After the scan completes, you will see the results.

You can also try using DISM:

dism /image:C:\ /cleanup-image /revertpendingactions

• Reset this PC or clean install: The last Step is a Reset. The catch with Reset is all applications would be removed, and files would be kept(you would be presented with the option to erase everything). Also, for this step, A healthy Reset Image is required, which maybe would be affected by corruption. If you are using Installation media, you can do a clean install after rescuing your files.

https://www.yourwindowsguide.com/2024/09/windows-11-recovery-options.html

I hope you find this information useful. If you have any more questions, don't hesitate to reach out. Otherwise, please take a moment to accept the answer. Wishing you good luck!

A Windows MVP writes content on the above website, so it is safe. However, do watch out for the ads. It should translate into your Browser language automatically.

Answer 2

Follow these steps in order, checking after each step:

1. Restart the device fully
   Hold the power button until the PC turns off, wait a few seconds, then turn it back on and see if the password box and sign-in button work again. If Windows offers Update and restart, choose that option to complete any pending updates.
2. Try signing in with a different account
   On the Windows sign-in screen, look in the lower-left corner:
   • If another account is listed, select it and try signing in with that account’s password.
   • If the needed account is not listed, select Other user (if available) and enter that account’s credentials.
3. Start in Safe Mode with Networking and sign in with password
   PIN and biometrics (Windows Hello) do not work in Safe Mode, so a password is required. a. From the sign-in screen:
   • Select the Power icon > Restart.
   • Immediately hold Shift while selecting Restart.
   b. After restart, on Choose an option:
   • Select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart.
   c. After the next restart:
   • Press 5 or F5 for Safe Mode with Networking.
   • On the Safe Mode sign-in screen, select the account and enter the password (not PIN or face/fingerprint).
   If sign-in succeeds in Safe Mode, restart normally and try again on the standard sign-in screen.
4. Use the built-in recovery for forgotten credentials
   If the issue is that the correct password or PIN is not accepted or is forgotten:
   • On the sign-in screen, use I forgot my password or I forgot my PIN (if shown) and follow the on-screen steps.
   • For a Microsoft account password, use the steps in Forgot your Microsoft account password.
   • For a local account, follow Reset your Windows local account password.
5. If signed in with a temporary profile or profile is corrupted
   If Windows shows messages like We can't sign in to your account or signs in with a temporary profile after these steps:
   • Follow the guidance in "We can't sign in to your account" error message.
   • If needed, create a new local administrator account, sign in to it, and then follow Fix a corrupted user profile to move personal data from the old profile.

If none of these steps allow sign-in (even in Safe Mode, with the correct password, and with any other account on the device), the remaining option may be to back up data using recovery tools and perform a clean reinstall of Windows, which will remove apps and settings.

---

References:

• Troubleshoot Problems Signing In to Windows
• User Account Access in Windows
• "We can't sign in to your account" error message