"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
    2022-09-08T21:20:35+00:00

    Does it work after 2 hours?

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  2. Anonymous
    2022-10-08T17:26:17+00:00

    Same problem. And no, waiting two hours has not worked because the laptop goes into sleep mode with or without the plug. I guess I have to return my laptop? Terrible windows 11 bug.

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  3. Anonymous
    2022-10-28T02:14:01+00:00

    Nope. I've had this issue on multiple computers since this ticket was first created and even leaving it on for 24 hours doesn't resolve the issue.

    The host computer is not infected. They are all the Home edition so I can't use GPEDIT to unlock the account. The only thing I've done is enable the administrator profile and get them back up and running in that profile. Not ideal but at least it stops the system from then demanding they get permission from the inaccessible account.

    This is stupid Microsoft. Why haven't you fixed this yet? Or have you and you screwed it up, like you often do.

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  4. Anonymous
    2022-10-11T09:36:06+00:00

    This is ridiculous, what's wrong with MS support? My kid got locked out for no reason as well and can't log on for the school. I have an admin account on the laptop and it's the same with me as well, and I didn't even touch it in last few days.

    Anyway after spending long time, I just went to the forgot pin link, it asked for the password (which fortunately kid remembered, but there's an option for forgotten password too), reset the pin to it's original value, it sent an authenticator approval request (in this case came to my own authenticator account i.e. admin), once done, it's back into kiddo's account. But immediately after that the screen just froze on the desktop. So had to restart, and this freezing happened yesterday too before this locking issue appeared, so not sure if some bug is freezing it and the computer thinks it's too many attempts so let's do a lock out.

    resetting kids account pin also now allows me the admin to log in normally.

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  5. Anonymous
    2022-01-31T10:13:57+00:00

    My PC showing unable to sign in my original account and it creates a dummy account. But while try to sign out that profile and try to login my original profile....it gets failed.

    Please help me to login my original account l. I am using window 11.

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