Being locked out of Windows 10 can be a frustrating and confusing experience. Whether you’ve forgotten your password, have recently made changes to your user account that prevent you from logging in, or some other problem has caused you to be locked out of your PC, there are some methods you can use to regain access. In this article, we will outline some of the steps you can take to get back into your Windows 10 computer and recover control of it. We’ll also offer a few tips on preventing a lockout from happening again in the future.
If you’ve already tried restarting your computer and resetting your password, there are still more options available to you. One solution to try is to create a local account. This can be done without needing any login details and will give you access to your PC. Account creation doesn’t work, you may need to reset your device by using a bootable media to access your Windows Recovery Environment. To resetting the computer, can also be used to fix boot errors or corrupt system files.
if you have an external account associated with your Windows 10 user account, you can try resetting your password through that. In the past, it has been possible to access Windows using a Microsoft Account if it is associated with a local account.
If you are locked out of your Windows 10 computer, there are several methods you can try to regain access to your device.
Here are the steps you can follow:
- Try another user account: If you have another user account on your computer, try to log in with that account. If you are able to log in, you can reset the password for your original account.
- Use the password reset disk: If you have created a password reset disk before being locked out, you can use it to reset your password. To do this, insert the disk into your computer and follow the on-screen instructions.
- Use the Windows installation media: If you have the Windows installation media, such as a DVD or USB drive, you can use it to boot your computer and reset your password. To do this, follow these steps:
- Insert the installation media into your computer and restart it.
- Press the appropriate key to enter the boot menu, usually F12 or Esc.
- Select the installation media from the boot menu and press Enter.
- On the Windows setup screen, click “Next,” then click “Repair your computer.”
- Select “Troubleshoot,” then “Reset this PC.”
- Follow the on-screen instructions to reset your password.
- Contact Microsoft support: If none of the above methods work, you can contact Microsoft support for assistance. They may be able to help you reset your password or provide you with further troubleshooting steps.
Note: If you have important data stored on your computer, make sure to back up your data before attempting any of these methods, as they may result in data loss.
Can You Get Locked Out Of Windows 10?
Yes, it is possible to get locked out of a Windows 10 computer. This can occur when a user forgets their password or their account gets disabled for some reason. In such cases, the user will be unable to log in to their computer and access their files, causing inconvenience and potentially leading to the loss of important data.
However, there are several methods that can be used to regain access to a Windows 10 computer in such a situation. For example, the user can try logging in with a different user account if available, use a password reset disk, or boot the computer using Windows installation media.
In case these methods do not work, the user can reach out to Microsoft support for assistance. They may be able to help reset the password or provide further troubleshooting steps to regain access to the computer.
Before You Start – Export/Restore Data in Windows 10
Before attempting to fix a locked-out Windows 10 login screen, it is important to first export and back up your data to prevent any potential data loss during the troubleshooting process. Here’s how to do it in three steps:
- Connect an external storage device: Connect an external storage device, such as a USB drive or an external hard drive, to your computer to save your data.
- Copy your important files: Open File Explorer and navigate to your User folder. From there, select the files and folders you need to back up and copy them to the external storage device.
- Export personal settings: If you have any personal settings or configurations that you need to keep, you can export them by going to the Start menu and searching for “System Properties.” Click on “System protection” and then “System Restore.” From there, you can create a system restore point that saves your personal settings.
By following these steps, you can ensure that your important data and personal settings are safe and secure, even if the worst happens during the troubleshooting process.
Disable “Lockout Threshold” and “Password Expiration”
Disabling the “Lockout Threshold” and “Password Expiration” features in Windows 10 can prevent users from being locked out of their computers. Here’s how to do it in three steps:
- Open Local Security Policy: Go to the Start menu, type “secpol. msc” in the search bar, and press Enter. This will open the Local Security Policy editor.
- Disable Lockout Threshold: In the Local Security Policy editor, navigate to “Account Policies” and then “Account Lockout Policy.” From there, double-click on “Account Lockout Threshold” and set the value to “0.” This will prevent your account from being locked out after a certain number of incorrect login attempts.
- Disable Password Expiration: Navigate to “Account Policies” and then “Password Policy.” From there, double-click on “Password Must Meet Complexity Requirements” and uncheck the box next to “Enforce password history.” This will prevent your password from expiring after a certain period of time.
By disabling the “Lockout Threshold” and “Password Expiration” features, you can avoid being locked out of your computer due to incorrect login attempts or an expired password.
Check the related short video on the @USComputerSolutions channel:
Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs):
You can use a password reset disk, boot the computer using Windows installation media, or contact Microsoft support for assistance.
Yes, if there’s another account on the computer with admin privileges, you can log in with that account and reset the password for your original account.
Back up any important data to an external storage device before attempting to fix a locked-out Windows 10 login screen.
