I am locked out of my Outlook account

Question

I am locked out of my Outlook account

David Wilds Patton 20

I cannot take the lock off my account on my desktop.

I can access Outlook from my desktop.

I need help removing the lock on my desktop.

I tried using a password and the authenticator app, and both returned a message saying I am locked out.

I administer the account. I can log into my account online but I can't open Outlook.

I can open Excel, Word, and One Note but not Outlook from this machine.

I need someone to help, as nothing I have seen online solves this issue

Stefan Blom 353K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator

2026-06-29T00:06:57.76+00:00

This is a duplicate of the question at https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/5929437/locked-out-of-outlook-on-a-particular-machine .

Answer accepted by question author

Manoel Barros 21,930 Independent Advisor

Thank you for providing those details. That is very important. From what I can see, Outlook was already causing you problems before the update.

Since email works normally via the web on the same computer, I find it unlikely to be an account issue. It is something within Windows. In this case, there are two procedures you can try:

01 - Clean Reinstallation of Outlook

Completely uninstall Outlook and its components, then reinstall it. You must uninstall any version or leftover traces of Outlook. Therefore, follow the step-by-step instructions below exactly:

Open Windows Settings > Apps > Installed Apps > Find pelos app abaixo > Click on ●●● > Uninstall.

Microsoft 365 (Office 365)
Microsoft Office (2024, 2022...)
Outlook Classic
Outlook (Outlook For Windows, New Outlook)
Uninstall all apps that contain these names.

Restart your computer.
If you uninstall Microsoft 365, follow the steps below. If you have a Microsoft 365 (Office 365) subscription, skip step B. Download the new Outlook in step C and sign in to your account.

A. Microsoft 365: https://account.microsoft.com/services > Log in > Expand Microsoft 365 > Install apps...

B. Outlook Classic: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/install-or-reinstall-classic-outlook-on-a-windows-pc-5c94902b-31a5-4274-abb0-b07f4661edf5

C. Outlook (New Outlook) https://apps.microsoft.com/detail/9nrx63209r7b?hl=en-us

02 - Test with another user account

Try to create a user profile. Maybe your user is corrupted. Create a user to confirm whether the issue is in your current user profile or system. Follow the steps below:

Go to System Settings (CTRL + I) > Select ''Accounts'' > 'Family and other users'' > ''Add another person to this PC'.
On the Accounts screen, choose the option ''I don’t have that person’s login information' > Then select ''Add a user without a Microsoft account''.
Click on the newly created user > Click "Change account type" > Under Account Type, change the option "Default User" to "Administrator" > Click "OK".
Enter the username, and password (optional, leave blank if you do not want to put password) > Click ''Next'.
Press the shortcut CTRL + ALT + DEL (DELETE) > Select ''Exit'' option > On the Login screen, choose the new user created.
See if the problem will occur with this new user.

David Wilds Patton 20 Reputation points

2026-06-27T02:43:08+00:00

Manoel,

I had tried this before, but this time, when I rebooted and went back to my apps, I found a version of Outlook that was still there and then uninstalled it, rebooted, and used the link you provided to go to my admin center, reinstall 365 Office, and Outlook Classic opened without an issue. I probably missed that other instance of Outlook before, but thank you for so clearly laying it out in steps. I appreciate your help!
David Wilds Patton 20 Reputation points

2026-06-29T00:58:25.24+00:00

So, following Manoel's directions seems to have solved the problem with Outlook.

The only weird part is that the avatar that typically appears in Office 365 products doesn't appear here.

Probably because it's a hosted Exchange account?

What's a bit fascinating is that I've also found I'm locked out of OneDrive, and the same message appears.

Does this mean I should uninstall it and reinstall it?

Essentially, follow the same protocol for OneDrive?

I tried using an Authenticator at one point, and around that time, much of this started to happen.

1 additional answer

Your answer

Stefan Blom 353K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator

2026-06-29T00:06:57.76+00:00

This is a duplicate of the question at https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/5929437/locked-out-of-outlook-on-a-particular-machine .
David Wilds Patton 20 Reputation points

2026-06-27T02:43:08+00:00

Manoel,

I had tried this before, but this time, when I rebooted and went back to my apps, I found a version of Outlook that was still there and then uninstalled it, rebooted, and used the link you provided to go to my admin center, reinstall 365 Office, and Outlook Classic opened without an issue. I probably missed that other instance of Outlook before, but thank you for so clearly laying it out in steps. I appreciate your help!
David Wilds Patton 20 Reputation points

2026-06-29T00:58:25.24+00:00

So, following Manoel's directions seems to have solved the problem with Outlook.

The only weird part is that the avatar that typically appears in Office 365 products doesn't appear here.

Probably because it's a hosted Exchange account?

What's a bit fascinating is that I've also found I'm locked out of OneDrive, and the same message appears.

Does this mean I should uninstall it and reinstall it?

Essentially, follow the same protocol for OneDrive?

I tried using an Authenticator at one point, and around that time, much of this started to happen.

Answer 1

Manoel Barros 21,930 Independent Advisor

Hi!

As I understand it, you cannot log in to the New Outlook, but you can log in to Outlook Web on the same computer?

If that is the case, it might be a minor Windows synchronization issue. You can disconnect and reconnect your Windows account.

Open Windows Settings > Accounts > Your info > Under Microsoft account, click Sign in as a local account.
Click Next > Enter your email or Windows login password.
Enter your user information > Next > Sign out and finish.
After unlinking your email account from Windows, restart your PC > When it starts, relink your email account.

David Wilds Patton 20 Reputation points

2026-06-24T23:41:07.69+00:00

I still get the same message. I'm not sure I unlinked my email account, though. How would I do that? I am using a hosted Exchange account. When I try to log in it gives me the same error message.
Manoel Barros 21,930 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-06-25T00:20:28.64+00:00

It is important to know exactly what happens when you open Outlook. Does an error appear? Are messages not being sent? Has the email account been disconnected? Or is this the first time you are trying to log in to the app and are unable to do so?

Since it is an Exchange account, I assume it is a corporate or student account?

Please answer all the questions.
David Wilds Patton 20 Reputation points

2026-06-25T00:34:48.68+00:00

For some reason, this new Outlook app is now asking me to log in.

Before this, I just logged in.

It must have been installed in place of the old Outlook.

That's fine.

When I open Outlook, it asks me which account to use, and I use my email address.

Instead of IMAP, I choose "another provider" and choose "Exchange."

Microsoft then pops up a login box with my email, and when I put the Microsoft password in that works online for Outlook online and for my MS account, I get a message that says "Your account is temporarily locked to prevent unauthorized use. Try again later, and if you still have trouble, contact your admin."

I'm not sure what to try next.

As I said, I can access Outlook either online or through the Outlook desktop app on my laptop.

However, I don't think I have had to change to the new Outlook app on that laptop.

What do I try next?
Manoel Barros 21,930 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-06-26T01:42:40.8733333+00:00

Since the error is occurring only on this computer, something in your Windows setup is preventing you from logging in.

Are you using a VPN—either for work or personal use—such as OpenVPN, Hamachi VPN, or Radmin VPN?

Do you have any banking apps or antivirus software installed (e.g., McAfee, BitDefender, Avast, AVG)? You can check this by going to Windows Settings > Apps > Installed apps and searching for the antivirus. Has Outlook ever worked on this computer, or is this your first time trying to log in?

Is this a personal computer or one provided by your company?
David Wilds Patton 20 Reputation points

2026-06-26T02:20:05.22+00:00

Hi Manoel,
I am not using a VPN.

I do have two antivirus applications- Vipre and Malwarebytes. However, I turned them both off with the same result. Outlook has worked on this computer before the upgrade to the new Outlook. It had been a little glitchy in sending emails, and I have had to often turn Outlook off, turn it back on, take the email from the outbox and put it in the drafts box, open the email, and press send, which then puts it back in the Outbox, and then they would most often send. Sometimes I needed to do it more than once. Occasionally, I had to reboot the computer and then go through this routine. Because this had been an issue, I ran the repair routine for Outlook, which actually deleted Outlook, and then I tried to reinstall Outlook, and then I was locked out. Often, when it would glitch on me, it would ask to log in to Windows, and when I did, it would give me this same error message. So whatever is happening with this, it was actually a problem with both versions. I could just work around it with the original version. Here, I am stuck. This is my personal computer. It's a Dell and has worked quite well for several years. Fortunately, in the meantime, I can access my emails with the web version of Outlook on this machine or through the desktop version on my laptop.

Online Outlook seems much less customizable, and I am missing my signature and so forth. I do look forward to solving this problem and working with the desktop version once again.

Thank you for your troubleshooting advice. It has all seemed logical so far. I just felt that since this was a Microsoft issue, I should be able to find someone to work through this either on a phone call or through a remote-in session. However, I was repeatedly thrown back to this forum, so fortunately, you responded. Thanks again.