"This sign-in option is disabled because of failed sign-in attempts or repeated shutdowns". I've been locked out of my laptop since last night and can't log back in. How do I fix this issue?

Reported
Anonymous
2022-01-28T09:51:54+00:00

So randomly last night (about 12 hours ago) my laptop with Windows 11 shows the above error message when I input my pin.

"This sign-in option is disabled because of failed sign-in attempts or repeated shutdowns. Use a different sign-in option, or keep your device powered on for at least 2 hours and then try again".

Prior to this, I used my laptop normally and everything was fine. I did not put in the pin several times and certainly not repeatedly shut down my laptop, so I'm not sure where this even comes from.

From what I understand, my only chances to log back in my laptop are to:

  1. Wait 2 hours WHILE the laptop is powered on.
  2. Use a different sign-in option (use password - and I have no idea what this password is lol).

I can't do solution 1 because my laptop powers down after like 30 seconds, so I cannot keep it powered on for 2 hours unless I press a button on my laptop every 29 seconds for 2 hours.

For solution 2, the different sign in method asks me to put in a password, not sure which password this is. It can't be the password that I use to log in to my Microsoft account online because it says that's incorrect.

Now, following from solution 2, I get the option to reset this password, by answering 3 memorable questions, but here too at least 1 of memorable questions is incorrect.

Can I get back into my laptop without having to factory reset everything?

Does anyone know if the 2 hours wait need to be consecutive?

Thanks all :)

EDIT: It has been 11 months and people still seem to have the same issue as me. Microsoft, please fix this bug / glitch. It's obviously causing a lot of headaches. I was able to simply factory reset my laptop as everything I had was backed up elsewhere, but I'm sure 90% of the people here cannot do this because the laptop still has vital stuff not backed up else where. Even if they could backup, it's a really long and painful process to set the laptop back up.

This really needs to be addressed asap please :)

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Accounts, profiles, and login

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  1. Anonymous
    2025-01-12T23:28:15+00:00

    My Lenova Idea pad 5 has locked me out saying too many tries with wrong pi but does not offer a change pin link. What can I do? I had also set up scan fingerprint method but that is not working either.

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  2. Anonymous
    2025-01-11T16:52:13+00:00

    Old thread but I faced this problem and I solved it by resetting the PIN.

    Choose "I forgot my PIN", it redirects to Microsoft Login and there login with Microsoft account credentials. (First attempt didn't work, I got rerouted to the login page for Windows account, just try again).

    Reset PIN and it logs in to the Windows account.

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  3. Anonymous
    2025-01-09T19:46:32+00:00

    I know, i am a tech,, if you read my reply again, it says, your options are to disconnect it,, open laptop up , get help if not know how,, other option is replacing the keyboard

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  4. Anonymous
    2025-01-09T19:30:49+00:00

    This is laptop inbuilt keyboard I can't disable it I tried 2-3 time from device manager ( uninstall device). Any other way possible??

    Can I disable this protection feature (win11)?

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  5. Anonymous
    2025-01-09T19:03:00+00:00

    I have this issue also.

    This has happened a few times in the past as well. In those instances I have been able to go through the forgot PIN process, get a code via email, then reset (or even cancel the pin reset) to get logged in. This time, when I try to reset the PIN, it says it failed to reset. if I click "skip for now" it just brings me back to the login screen and I have to start over.

    I'm thinking that there might be a time sync component to this. I noticed that the time shown on the login screen is showing the wrong date/time. This might be what is preventing the PIN login, or perhaps what is preventing the PIN reset process from completing. I tried going into the BIOS and setting the time to the correct date/time. if I save the settings and reset, then go back into bios, it shows the right time. I can do this multiple times. But as soon as I let it boot to windows, it boots up showing jan 1 2117 again. When I restart and go back into the bios, it is set incorrectly again. I'm confident this is related, but can't for the life of me get it to keep the value. I don't understand how its getting reset only when it boots to windows.

    EDIT: After setting the date in the bios, booting to windows (wrong date/time shown), then letting it sit for a few minutes, the date/time updated itself to what I had set in the BIOS. Then when I went through the PIN reset process, it no longer gave me the error about being unable to reset the PIN, and I could set it back to my previous PIN.

    So if you are having this issue, make sure your BIOS date/time is set correctly, it may help you.

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