Fix: Unable to Login with Microsoft Account in Windows 10

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Registry changes are an effective fix for this error

10 min. read

Updated onDecember 14, 2023

updated onDecember 14, 2023

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You have found this guide because you are unable to log in with your Microsoft account in Windows 10, so we will be telling you all you need to know.

Microsoft is an essential part of Windows 10 because, without a Microsoft Account, you won’t be able to do many things in the OS.

And if you’re, for some reason, unable to login into your Microsoft Account, it can cause a lot of damage. So, for example, you can lose all your emails, purchased apps, settings, etc.

So in this article, we’ll talk about what to do if you cannot log in to your Microsoft Account.

Why can’t I log into my Microsoft account on my PC?

Let us start with the most obvious; you have forgotten your username or password. If this is the case, there are different data restoration options.

Another common culprit is the caps lock. If you have the caps lock feature turned on, you may be typing your password in all caps without knowing.

Other than that, a damaged OS may be the cause. In this case, a reinstall may be your only bet. The downside is that when you perform a reinstall without logging in, you may be forced to part with valuable data.

Also, you may be having compatibility issues with the antivirus you use. Again, your best bet is to be booting into safe mode and uninstall the program.

Here are a few variations to this error:

What can I do if I can’t get past the login screen on Windows 10/11?

Many users reported that theycan’t log into Windows, and if that happens, check your username and password and ensure they are correct.

If theWindows login screen is missing, your installation may be damaged, so you might have to repair it.

According to some users, they arestuck on the login screen, and if that happens, you might have to perform a system restore or even reinstall your operating system.

What can I do if I cannot log in with a Microsoft account?

1. Do basic recovery steps

Microsoft provides these basic recovery actions, and they only work if you can’t log in to your Microsoft Account if you, for example, forgot your password. If that’s the case, follow Microsoft’s instructions to reset your password.

To reset your Microsoft Account password, go tothe password reset page, follow further instructions, and your password will be reset.

There’s also a chance that Microsoft blocks your account for some reason. To find out more about your blocked account, and look for a solution, go to theblocked account support page.

Although you can manually try and recover your password, one of the easiest and less time-consuming solutions is to use a dedicated third-party tool.

Dedicatedpassword recovery toolscan reset Windows admin passwords instantly, allowing you to access your data quickly.

They can also store your passwords and sensitive data, such as credit card information, in safe, encrypted folders.

They are compatible with all major file types, so you can recover software passwords and OS credentials and even unlock password-protected documents.

Don’t forget that it is easier to recover a password and re-use it than trying to reset it. Resetting a password may result in some temporary or permanent account blocking.

One of the best password recovery software we use is Stellar Password Recovery.

Its main function is to easily change and reset Windows administrator and user passwords. It is also widely compatible with all versions of Windows.

Stellar Password Recovery

2. Remove your antivirus

According to users, the problem can be your antivirus if you cannot log in with a Microsoft account. Antivirus can interfere with your operating system and prevent you from logging in with a Microsoft account.

We recommend removing your antivirus and checking if that solves the problem.

Many users reported thatAvastwas the cause of this problem, and the issue was resolved after removing it. However, other antivirus tools can also cause this issue besides Avast, so be sure to remove them.

You might have to use adedicated uninstallerto ensure that your antivirus is completely removed. Almost all antivirus companies offer these tools for their products, so be sure to download one for your antivirus.

Once you remove your antivirus, the issue should be resolved. However, since Avast is usually the leading cause of this problem, we strongly recommend switching to a different antivirus.

3. Change Group Policy Settings

This solution applies if a group policy somehow blocks your Microsoft Account, and performing this action will unblock your Microsoft Account, and you should be able to log in normally.

4. Edit your Registry

If the Group Policy didn’t block your Microsoft Account, the previous solution wouldn’t be helpful, so you should try this regedit fix.

5. Check if your account is hacked

You probably think it can’t happen to you, but there is a chance that your Microsoft Account got hacked, especially if we know how many security threats are out there on the internet.

Check to see if yourMicrosoft account is hacked, and try to fix the issue as soon as possible.

6. Install the latest updates

Windows will now check for updates. If any updates are available, Windows will download them in the background and install them once you restart your PC.

7. Delete the Credentials directory

After that, you need to restart your PC, and you should be able to log in with your Microsoft account without any problems.

The issue might be corrupted credentials if you cannot log in with a Microsoft account. To fix this problem, locate the credentials directory and remove it.

8. Create a new user account

After doing that, switch to a new account. If the new account works, you might want to convert it to a Microsoft account and check if that solves the problem.

Several users reported that creating a new account fixed their old account, so you might want to try that.

If you’re unable to log in with a Microsoft account, you might be able to fix the problem simply by creating a new user account. This is relatively simple, and you can do it by following the steps above.

9. Change the EnableLUA value in the registry

After making these changes to your registry, restart your PC and check if the problem reappears.

Sometimes specific values in your registry can get modified, causing this issue to appear. To fix this problem, you need to edit your registry manually, following the steps above.

10. Delete the corrupted profile from the registry

Now you need to restart your PC and try logging in to the problematic account. After doing that, the profile should be recreated, and you’ll be able to access it without any problems.

The problem can occur if you cannot log in with a Microsoft account because a specific profile directory is removed. However, you can recreate the profile directory simply by removing the problematic profile from the registry.

What can I do if I cannot log in with my Microsoft account on Windows 11?

Windows 10 and 11 are very similar operating systems. Therefore, most PC problems across these operating systems have the same triggers. This also implies that the fixes on Windows 10 will work on Windows 11.

In case you are not able to log in due to achallenge phrase on your Windows PC, read this guide to learn the ways to disable the feature in no time.

In a few rare instances, there may be minor UI changes. But generally, the steps are identical.

We hope this article helped you to get your Microsoft Account back. If you have any comments or questions, contact the comments below.

Fix: Unable to Login with Microsoft Account in Windows 10#

What can I do if I cannot log in with a Microsoft account?#

1. Do basic recovery steps#

Stellar Password Recovery#

2. Remove your antivirus#

3. Change Group Policy Settings#

4. Edit your Registry#

5. Check if your account is hacked#

6. Install the latest updates#

7. Delete the Credentials directory#

8. Create a new user account#

9. Change the EnableLUA value in the registry#

10. Delete the corrupted profile from the registry#

What can I do if I cannot log in with my Microsoft account on Windows 11?#