Sometimes after installing a Windows Update, a Feature Update – or randomly – you find that you are unable to login to your Windows 11/10 computer. This is a common occurrence that might have happened due to basic or critical issues. If you cannot sign in or log on or log in to a Windows 11/10 computer, here are a few troubleshooting steps to follow.
If you cannot sign in or log on or log in to a Windows 11/10 PC, it could be due to the following reasons.
- The username or password is incorrect
- You cannot log in even with the correct password
- The computer is part of a domain, and you want to log on to a local user account, not a domain account
- Can’t use the fingerprint reader or Windows Hello to log on
- Windows login screen or Password box does not show up
Cannot log into Windows 11/10 computer
If you are not able to log into Windows 11/10 PC, you can fix the issue by following the below troubleshooting methods.
- Check if the Caps Lock is ‘On’
- You might be typing the wrong password
- You might have changed or forgotten your password
- An administrator on the computer might have reset your password
- You might be trying to log on to the wrong user account
Let’s get into the details of each method.
Fix Windows login and password problems
1] Check if the Caps Lock is ‘On’
Passwords in Windows are case-sensitive. Every time you type your password, you have to capitalize each letter in the same way that you did when you first created it. If you have accidentally pressed Caps Lock, then you’re inadvertently typing your password in all capital letters. Make sure Caps Lock is off, and then type your password again.
Read: The user name or password is incorrect.
2] You might be typing the wrong password
You might be using your wrong or old credentials. If you have changed the password recently and forgot it, it is a futile effort to use the old one. If you can’t remember your password, you need to reset your password, either with a password reset disk or an administrator account.
Read: Deleted User Profile by mistake and now can’t login.
3] You might have changed or forgotten your password
Forgetting a password is the most common issue. To overcome this issue use the Reset Password option available on the login screen once you try to insert a wrong password. Check if you changed your password was changed on a different device.
Read: How to use Password Hint and Password Reset Disk.
4] An administrator on the computer might have reset your password
If your computer is on a network, a network administrator can reset your password. In such a case, check with your network administrator. If your computer is in a workgroup, anyone with an administrator account can change your password. Make sure the password is not changed, or if changed, get the new password from the admin.
Read: That password is incorrect message.
5] You might be trying to log on to the wrong user account
If you have more than one user account on the computer, make sure you’re logging on to the account that matches the password you’re using. Use ‘switch user’ to select the right account and try again to log into your Windows 11/10 PC.
Read: Cannot log into Windows after Update.
Why am I not able to login with the correct password on Windows 11?
Maybe the keyboard is faulty – so try a virtual keyboard and see. To ensure that the typed password is indeed the current and correct one. Ensure that you are using the correct one for your Microsoft or Local account. If it does not help ask your administrator to change it for you – or you could use a Password Recovery Tool.
Alternatively, see if you can boot into Safe Mode. Once here, activate the hidden super administrator account by executing the following command in an elevated command prompt.
net user administrator /active:yes
Once done, change the password of the problematic account. Remember to deactivate this account once your work is done.
Read: Sign in required pop up in Windows 11
The computer is part of a domain, and you want to log on to a local user account, not a domain account
To log on to a local user account on your computer, you need to know the name of your computer and the username for the account that you want to log on to. To log on to a local user account, follow these steps:
- On the Welcome screen, click Switch User.
- Click Other User.
- In the username field, type the name of your computer, a backslash (\), and the user name for the account that you want to log on to. For example – the computer user name
- Type your password, and then press Enter.
Cannot use fingerprint reader, PIN, or Windows Hello to log on
If you cannot use a fingerprint reader, PIN, or Windows Hello to log on Windows 11/10 PC, you need to make sure you are typing the correct password with the correct user account. Log into your Microsoft account on a web browser on another device and reset your Microsoft account password, boot into Safe mode and change the password, then log in again and see the issue fixed.
Read: Windows Hello does not recognize Face or Fingerprint.
Windows login screen or Password box does not show up
When you see the Windows login screen does not appear to log into your PC, you need to press Ctrl+Alt+Del on your screen to make it appear. If not, disable Fast Startup, troubleshoot in Clean Boot state, or perform System Restore to get rid of the issue.
Related read: prevent users from changing the Password?
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