"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
    2023-07-21T00:24:16+00:00

    Okay, you can't just post and then ghost on this thread... So many others below are having the same issue including myself... One day we just randomly get this error. But what you're not addressing is the fact that for most of us once we do get into our computer, typically by waiting 2 hours (very very frustrating). The next time we turn on our computer we get the same error... The error does not go away even after we enter our correct information.... And there seems to be absolutely no setting anywhere in the computer to turn this off.. it is our accounts and we should be able to disable this safety feature which is poorly designed.. as one comment said below, It's literally a bug so where is the patch? The solution? The work around the code we can enter to disable this inconvenient issue.

    And you were wrong when you said you can enter your pin cuz as most people in this chat have said including myself, we've been using our pins for years. I have an older laptop where I don't have any other sign in option other than a password. By the way, even though my account is a Microsoft account, when I try to sign in with my Microsoft password that I just verified by using my phone, it doesn't accept it.. so my only option is waiting 2 hours to then enter my pin. Because I have no other sign-in options.. every time my computer turns on.. Guess what? The battery is completely dead so if it's not constantly plugged into the wall it instantly dies.. thus, I have to keep running into this issue constantly... Give us a way to disable this!

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  2. Anonymous
    2023-07-15T20:03:22+00:00

    Thank you Leslie Kaye, yore suggestions worked.

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  3. Anonymous
    2023-07-15T01:41:32+00:00

    Interesting. It took me to a sign in menu for a microsoft account.

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  4. Anonymous
    2023-07-15T01:14:28+00:00

    Wrong. I did not enter an incorrect PIN or password, so ****.

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  5. Anonymous
    2023-07-15T01:13:40+00:00

    Not helpful. Clicking on the link did nothing. It did not take me anywhere or do anything at all.

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