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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:
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 :)
Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.
You just completely over complicated your situation by not answering your security questions correctly and therefore something that was simple and easy for me and others causes you an unneeded headache. Don't set up security questions if you're not going to get them right later when you need to. It's your fault honestly.
At the menu where it says you have to wait 2 hours just click forgot pin in blue under the pin number input prompt and it should take you to the Microsoft account sign in page. After you sign in it'll allow you to change your pin number but if you don't want to change it you can just type in the current one and it'll bypass the 2 hour wait time and you'll be at your desktop. It might ask for a code to be sent to your email that your Microsoft account is connected to but other than that it's a simple easy and quick fix.
Huh well someone else said it worked. might be ur computer 💀 bc i was able to change the pin and login with no problem
Thank you I was having this issue on one of my PC's which I rarely use and is attached to a power strip in my office I would turn off every day. Being a dell PC, each time powered on it powers up for a split second, but I never logged into it. I was afraid of doing the forgot password in case it caused issues with my other PC's, but this helped.
I just wanted to add that it looks like we all may be getting this message for different reasons, but the process of alexander no did work for me, and the pc is still now logging in without issue. I have been leaving the power strip it's plugged into on instead of turning off every day. Also, not sure if it matters any but I do have two factor authentication enabled on this pc so when I did the reset, I had to accept a code on my phone and then the pin reset on the pc which I used the same pin. I didn't receive the usual initial password setup prompts.
There's no way to add a PIN or to login -- that's the problem. You should consider reading what people take the time to write before responding with unhelpful suggestions.
