Windows: How do you fix “The Referenced account is presently locked out” error?

Windows shows an “The referenced accounts are currently locked out” error if you repeatedly enter incorrect passwords. This error will prevent you from signing into the account.

It is possible to fix the problem by Rebooting your computer Sign in by entering the correct password within 10-30 seconds. Reset your password. If you still have an error, turn off “Account lockout threshold” or disable password expiration.

You can reset your password using security questions

When you create your password security question, Windows will allow you to sign in by correctly answering these questions.

1. Select Reset password Scroll down to the bottom of the sign-in screen dialog box.

The “Reset Password” option is not available. If this happens, you can enter the wrong password in the sign-in screen. Windows will refresh your login screen to display the “Reset Password” option.

2. Answer the security questions to create a new password and sign in on the next page.

Go back to the login screen, and verify that you are able to access your account with the new password.

You can use a Password Recovery Disk to reset your password

You can get a password reset disk, It can be used to reset the local password of your account, and then you will be able to log in to Windows. After you have rebooted your computer, insert the USB password reset drive and then follow these steps.

1. Select Reset password Scroll down to the bottom of the sign-in screen dialog box.

Press Enter Or, you can choose the Submit If you do not see “Reset password” on your login screen, click the icon. Windows will reset the password option and refresh your login screen.

2. Select Use a password reset disk instead.

3. Choose the password reset disc from the drop-down menu, then select Next, Follow the prompts on the next page for a new password.

After closing the password reset wizard, sign in with the new password. For more information, refer to our tutorial on Windows uses a password reset drive.

Reset Microsoft Account Sign-In Password

You can sign in to Windows by using your Microsoft Account, Forgot your password? Use your new password to sign in. To reset your password, reboot your computer, connect to an Ethernet or Wi-Fi network and then follow these steps.

1. Select I forgot my password On the Sign-In Scree.

2. Choose how you would like to confirm your identity: via email, telephone number or an authenticator app —and select Next.

When you confirm your identity through email, you will be prompt to input your full email address. Please select Get code To have Microsoft transmit the verification code to the number that is linked to your account.

For verification by phone number, enter your last four digits to continue.

3. Use the code that was sent to you via email or by phone and then select Next.

4. If your account has two-step verification, verify your identity again (via phone number or email).

5. Use the code that was sent to you by email or telephone number, and then select Next.

6. If verification passes, you will be prompt to change your password. In the dialogue box, enter your new sign in password and click “Select” Next.

At least 8 characters are required for your new password. You must include at least 2 of these characters: numbers, uppercase and lowercase letters, symbols, or both.

7. On the next page, you should receive a success message stating that “Your password has been changed”. Please select Sign in To log in to your computer with the new passwor.

Disable the “Lockout Threshold”, and “Password Extension”

Windows uses an “account locking threshold”, which locks your account after certain number of failed login attempts. Windows can also lock your account, if you violate the “account lockout threshold” password expires .

In the Hidden Administrator account, you should disable the lockout threshold if your account is not accessible due to insufficient invalid login attempts. It is also important to ensure your password never expires.

To sign in you won’t be able to log into, so enable the secret administrator account via the Group Policy Editor Windows Recovery Environment .

Note: The Group Policy Editor can only be used in Enterprise and Professional editions of Windows. If your computer is running Windows Home, this method will not work. Instead, you can try the suggestion (Delete Cached Credentials).

Select the Power icon Hold the button in the lower-right corner Shift key, Restart.

You can also reboot the computer, and press F8 or F11 repeatedly until Windows starts. Refer to this article for more information Tutorial on how to boot the System Recovery Options in Windows 10 or 11 .

You can activate the Windows Recovery Environment’s hidden administrator account by following the instructions below.

1. Select Troubleshoot.

2. Select Advanced options.

3. Select Command Prompt.

4. Enter or paste the following command into the Command Prompt terminal. Then, press the “Enter” key Enter.

Administrator net User /active:yes

If you receive a message indicating that the command has been completed successfully, close the Command Prompt.

5. In the next line, type exit and hit Enter Enter.

6. Select Continue Close the Windows Recovery Environment. This will reboot Windows, and the administrator hidden account screen will appear on your sign-in screen.

7. Select Administrator Scroll to the bottom of the screen, and click on “Select” Sign in.

8. Press the Windows key + R, gpedit.msc Select the option you want to use in the dialogue box OK. Windows Local Group Policy Editor.

9. Go to Computer Configuration > Windows Settings > Security Settings > Account Policies Choose and Account Lockout Policy.

10. Double-click the Account lockout threshold policy.

11. To enable the option “Account will lockout after”, 0 Invalid logon attempt.

12. Select Apply Then and there OK To save the account lockout policy threshold.

Windows no longer locks your account regardless of how many times you have entered an invalid password. Try restarting your computer to log into your main account.

13. Navigate to Next Computer Configuration > Windows Settings > Security Settings > Account Policies Choose and Password Policy.

14. Right-click Maximum password age Choose and Properties.

15. Set the password expires in entry for Local Security Setting under the tab “Local Security Setting” 0 to disable password expiration. The default expiration period is 42 days.

16. Select Apply Then and there OK To save your password age settings.

Resign from the hidden administrator account. After rebooting your computer, you can sign back in to the locked account.

Remove Cached Credentials

Windows can lock out accounts if there are corrupted cached credential. You can sign in to the hidden administrator account, then delete the account’s cached credential and try again.

1. Click on the Start Menu and type credentials manager Use the search box to find the Credential Manager.

2. Select Windows Credentials.

3. Scroll to the section “Generic Credentials” and click on the username or password of your locked account.

4. Select Remove.

5. Select Yes Click on the confirmation prompt for instructions.

You can sign out of your hidden admin account by resetting the password.

Utilize the “Local Users and Group Management Utility” to unlock your account

Sign in to the Hidden Administrator account if your computer runs Windows 10/11 Pro/Enterprise. You can then unlock your account using the Local User Management utility.

1. Click on the Windows Run box Windows key + RType lusrmgr into the dialogue box and click on Select OK.

2. Select Users Double-click on the account locked in the sideba.

3. Deselect this option from the “General” tab Account is locked out Select the checkbox Apply, OK.

The Local Group Policy Editor needs to be updated

An update to all Group Policy settings may also be required in order to fix the error “The referenced Account is currently locked out”. If your computer runs Windows Pro or Enterprise, follow the below steps.

Open Command Prompt In the Windows Recovery Environment, Enter.

When you receive a message indicating that the User Policy Update has been completed successfully, close the Command Prompt.

Get Unlock Access to Your Account

Access to your account should be granted by at least one of the above troubleshooting steps. Reset your computer Contact Microsoft Support for assistance if you have any problems.