stuck on select an account

alondra h 0 Reputation points
2026-08-28T02:41:43.3466667+00:00

i’ve tried restarting my computer a billion times and it takes me back to the select an account blue screen. i’ve entered my password and it says incorrect. i don’t have a usb that i can use and nothing is working. every time i turn my computer on it says automatic repair

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Settings
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  1. AI answer

    2026-08-28T02:42:04.65+00:00

    Try these in order:

    1. On the sign-in screen, select Network and make sure the PC is connected to the internet. If Wi‑Fi is weak, use Ethernet if available. A Microsoft account sign-in can fail without an internet connection.
    2. If another account appears in the lower-left corner of the sign-in screen, try that account. If it works, check updates and review the existing accounts.
    3. Start Safe Mode with Networking:
      • On the sign-in screen, hold Shift and select Power > Restart.
      • Go to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart.
      • After restart, select 5 or press F5 for Safe Mode with Networking.
      • Note: Safe Mode sign-in works only with a password, not PIN or biometrics.
    4. If the password is correct but still not accepted, recover the Microsoft account password:
      • Use Recover your account: https://account.live.com/password/reset
      • Enter the email address, phone number, or Skype name used to sign in.
      • Choose where to receive the security code, enter the code, and set a new password.
      • Double-check the email domain, such as .com vs .co.uk, and try another alias or phone number if the email is not recognized.
    5. If the screen says “We couldn't find an account with that username” or the account is not recognized, use the Sign-in Helper tool: https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=2214157
    6. If the issue is tied to the automatic repair loop, try Startup Repair from Windows Recovery:
      • Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Repair
      • Select the account and enter the password.
    7. If recovery options keep asking for a password and reject it, and all built-in recovery options fail, the documented next step is to create Windows installation media on another working PC and boot from it, then select Repair this Computer to access recovery options. This requires a USB drive.
    8. If the account still is not found after recovery attempts, contact support and report that the username has stopped working.

    Important: If reinstalling Windows becomes necessary later, that can cause file loss depending on the option used.

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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  2. GsN5034 - IA 76,990 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-08-28T04:04:40.64+00:00

    Hello, thank you for reaching out.

    You may have to enter the Administrator password on the Windows Recovery Environment Screen to continue troubleshooting.

    It's the same password you might have used when setting up your Windows 10 computer for the first time. So, try using the old Microsoft account passwords you remember and see if they work.

    You will be able to proceed further if you enter the password correctly. If you are unable to find the right password for the account, you will have to create a Windows 10 bootable USB installation media on a Working PC and use it to reinstall Windows.

    You can use the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool to create a Bootable USB installation media drive-

    https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

    Once the bootable USB drive is ready, plug it into the problematic PC and install Windows.

    Let me know if you still need more help.

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