Overview

If you see the error "The referenced account is currently locked out and may not be logged on to", this means your account has been locked due to too many failed login attempts. To protect your account from unauthorized access, Windows temporarily locks it after a certain number of incorrect password attempts.

What Causes This Error?

This error typically occurs when you've entered an incorrect password multiple times. Windows has a security feature that locks accounts after a set number of failed login attempts to prevent unauthorized access. The account will remain locked for a period of time before it is automatically unlocked.

How to Resolve the Issue

1. Contact IT Helpdesk for Immediate Assistance

If you need immediate access to your account, you can contact your IT helpdesk via phone to request that your account be unlocked.

• Phone Support: Call the IT helpdesk for assistance with unlocking your account.

2. If IT Helpdesk is Unavailable

If the IT helpdesk is not currently available or you cannot reach them, you can take the following steps to request account unlocking:

• Send an Email or Open a Ticket: Have someone else send an email or open a support ticket on your behalf with the following information:

Subject: "Windows account is locked"

Body: "[Name]'s Windows account is currently locked out. Can we unlock their account?."

Example

Subject: Windows account is locked

Body: John Doe's Windows account is currently locked out. Can we unlock their account?

3. Wait for the Lockout Period to Expire

If you do not need immediate access or IT helpdesk is not available, you can simply wait for 20 minutes for Windows to automatically unlock the account.

After 20 minutes, try logging in again.

Conclusion

If you encounter the "The referenced account is currently locked out and may not be logged on to" error, you can either contact your IT helpdesk immediately or wait for the account to automatically unlock after 20 minutes.