How to Fix "The referenced account is currently locked out and may not be logged on to." Error Windows Log

Question: How to fix 'the referenced account is currently locked out and may not be logged on' is an official notification generated by Microsoft. This message indicated the fact that a computer user has been typing a wrong password for a particular times, which is why windows locked the account and prevented the user from login for a particular time, which is specific or not.

This error typically emerges windows system, which belongs to the domain with the configured Account Lockout Policy.

This lockout error is not a inextricable issue. The only problem is that the error fix requires the intervention of the domain controller.

Before you start to troubleshooting of a relatively complicated problem, make sure you perform the basics first as below:

* Remove your network cable and restart your pc.

* Disconnect the mapped drives, reset the password and try again.

* Check your time and date settings.

There many ways to fix this error: 

Solution-1: Fixing error by editing Local Security Policy

Solution-2: Check your DNS settings.

Solution-3: Set the account password to never expire.

Solution-4: Use password reset dist or format windows.

Solution-1: Fixing error by editing Local Security Policy

Note: we strongly recommended to leave pc for 30 minutes to solve. If you have managed to access your desktop successfully, you should disable the account lockout policy to prevent this error showing up. 

• Click windows key + R, type secpol.msc or click windows key and type Local Security Policy
• Click Local Security Policy and select Security Settings
• Open Account Policy and select Account Lockout Policy
• Double click on the Account Lockout threshold Policy (on the right) to open settings configuration window.
• To disable account lockout, replace the value with 0 and click apply.
• Double click on the Account Lockout Duration and replace the value with 0 and click apply.
• Then press OK and close 
• After that, you will be able to log on your account without seeing error. 

Solution-2: Check your DNS settings.

In some cases users reported the wrong DNS setting made them encounter the error. To restore the parameters, please follow these steps: 

• Right-click on Start button and pick Network Connections
• On the right pane, select Ethernet
• Click on Change Adapter Option on the right
• Right click on Ethernet and select Properties
• From the list, find Internet Protocol Version 4(TCP/IPv4) and click on Properties.
• In the Properties window, click Obtain DNS server addresses automatically and click OK

If that brings no result, you can try swapping to Google's DNS by clicking Use the following DNS server address and entering it.

Preferred DNS server: 8.8.8.8

Alternative DNS server: 8.8.4.4

Solution-3: Set the account password to never expire.

All you need to make sure the password is set to never expire in Local Users and Groups Menu.

• Press Windows Key + R, enter lusrmgr.msc and hit Enter
• Select Users in the right pane
• Right click on the user_name and pick Properties
• In the General tab, Click the Password never expires box and click OK

Solution-4: Use password reset dist or format windows.

If you are using a home computer with a single admin account, which has no account lockout policies settings configured but the this error shows. 

Then the only solution to reset your password using a password reset disk, but for this purpose you have to such a disk have to be created.

How to create a password reset disk?

In case you do not have a password reset disk, then we have sad news for you because the only way to unlock your pc is to format windows.

References:

1. Mark Hall and Gregg Pascal Zachary. Microsoft Corporation. Encyclopedia Britannica.

2. Hubert Nguyen Creating Safe Passwords 2Spyware. The highest quality information about malware and general security.

3. Finding a Domain Controller in the Closets Site Microsoft TechNet.

4. Keith Shaw What is DNS and How does it work? Network World. An invaluable resource in helping enterprises meet strategic business goals.

5. Potentially Unwanted Applications F-Secure Security Research