How to Unlock a Local Account in Windows 10
Information
The Account lockout threshold policy setting determines the number of failed sign-in attempts that will cause a local account to be locked. A locked account cannot be used until an administrator unlocks it or until the number of minutes specified by the Account lockout duration policy setting expires.
This tutorial will show you how to manually unlock a local account locked out by the Account lockout threshold policy in Windows 10.
You must be signed in as an administrator to unlock a local account.
CONTENTS:
- Option One: To Unlock Local Account using Local Users and Groups
- Option Two: To Unlock Local Account using Command Prompt
EXAMPLE: "The referenced account is currently locked out and may not be logged on to" error
Note
Local Users and Groups is only available in the Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.
All editions can use Option Two below.
1. Press the Win+R keys to open Run, type lusrmgr.msc into Run, and click/tap on OK to open Local Users and Groups.
2. Click/tap on Users in the left pane of Local Users and Groups. (see screenshot below step 3)
3. Right click or press and hold on the name (ex: "Brink2") of the local account you want to unlock, and click/tap on Properties. (see screenshot below)
4. In the General tab, uncheck the Account is locked out box, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)
If Account is locked out is grayed out and unchecked, then the account is not locked out.
5. When finished, you can close Local Users and Groups if you like.
1. Open an elevated command prompt.
2. Enter the command below into the elevated command prompt, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)
net user "user name" /active:yes
Substitute user name in the command above with the actual user name (ex: "Brink2") of the locked out local account you want to unlock.
3. When finished, you can close the elevated command prompt if you like.
That's it,
Shawn Brink
Related Tutorials
- How to Change Account Lockout Threshold for Local Accounts in Windows 10
- How to Change Account Lockout Duration for Local Accounts in Windows 10
- How to Change Reset Account Lockout Counter for Local Accounts in Windows 10
- How to Enable or Disable User Accounts in Windows 10
Unlock Local Account in Windows 10
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New #1
Both of these options require an additional administrator account to unlock the locked account correct?
What if the only administrator account on the computer is locked for 99999 minutes?
This is assuming the built-in Administrator account can be locked as well.
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New #2
Don't let yourself get into that position.
It could be even worse - what if the only administrator account on the computer was corrupt?
Always have one [or two] additional, spare, local, password-protected Admin accounts set up ready. Write each password down somewhere secure yet accessible.
my ditty - Create two spare local, password-protected Admin accounts [post #2] - TenForums
Denis
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New #3
Hello,
In addition, you could try using option 5 in the tutorial below to enable the built-in Administrator account at boot to sign in to and unlock your account.
Enable or Disable Elevated Administrator account in Windows 10
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New #4
Was wondering if the built-in Administrator account could be locked as well...Hello,
In addition, you could try using option 5 in the tutorial below to enable the built-in Administrator account at boot to sign in to and unlock your account.
Enable or Disable Elevated Administrator account in Windows 10
I'm going to assume no, and that even if it was, you could disable then re-enable it to fix it...
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Unlock Local Account in Windows 10
How to Unlock a Local Account in Windows 10Published by Shawn BrinkCategory: User Accounts
23 Jul 2022
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