"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
    2023-07-14T00:37:03+00:00

    Like another user posted here, I keep hitting this on my MSI laptop (GS65 Stealth Thin 8RF) after it boots up from the battery having completely died or having been unplugged while working on upgrades/repairs inside the laptop. When it happens, NONE of the proposed "solutions" work. No "alternate sign in methods" are listed or available in any way. Clicking the "I forgot my PIN" link does nothing or simply returns me to the lock screen again. There's no way out. Yes, I know my PIN and my account password. No, I did not enter the incorrect PIN, not even once! No, I am not given any option to type in my password instead.

    Microsoft, this is the most awful user experience you have EVER CREATED. You are literally locking people out of their own machines for NO LEGITIMATE REASON. A laptop losing battery power is NOT an unusual event, a security issue, or an "attempt to enter an incorrect PIN". It is a common, ordinary, everyday occurrence. You should be handling this case correctly!

    I seriously hope you get SUED for wrongly locking people out of their computers during an urgent life-and-death crisis that ends up killing people. It's the least you deserve.

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  2. Anonymous
    2023-07-14T01:03:04+00:00

    Alright, I finally got it resolved. Here's what I had to do:

    1. Log into laptop over the network via Remote Desktop.
    2. In Settings, use the "Clear TPM" feature and restart when prompted.
    3. During the reset, enter the UEFI BIOS and DISABLE the TPM module.
    4. Save & exit BIOS, continue booting.
    5. Log into laptop again over the network via Remote Desktop.
    6. In Settings >> Accounts >> Your info, click "Sign in with a local account instead". (This confusingly-named feature does NOT delete your current account, it just unlinks your online Microsoft account from it. You will not lose any apps/settings/data by unlinking.) Enter a new temporary password for the unlinked local account when promoted to.
    7. Restart the laptop.
    8. Log into the laptop using the local account password. Hooray, you're in!
    9. In Settings >> Accounts >> Your info, re-link your Microsoft account, and set up a PIN when the process asks you to do so.
    10. Restart the laptop again.
    11. Now I can finally log into my Microsoft-linked account via the PIN again. Hooray!
    12. Restart the laptop again.
    13. Go into the laptop's UEFI BIOS.
    14. Re-enable the TPM module.
    15. Save & exit UEFI, continue booting.
    16. Done, all fixed... until the next time this same bullcrap happens again for no good reason.

    This requires that the machine already be successfully on the network and configured to allow incoming Remote Desktop connections, and it also requires you to have another PC, tablet, or smartphone on the network so you can connect to the problematic PC. So these steps may not be able to help everyone. Hopefully they help some folks though.

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  3. Anonymous
    2023-07-14T01:22:24+00:00

    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.

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  4. Anonymous
    2023-07-14T12:24:46+00:00

    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.

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  5. Anonymous
    2023-07-14T12:37:20+00:00

    Huh well someone else said it worked. might be ur computer 💀 bc i was able to change the pin and login with no problem

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