Table of Contents
Tired of Being Locked Out of Outlook? What’s the Surprisingly Simple Secret to Fixing the “Too Many Attempts” Error for Good?
Some people who use Outlook are finding it hard to get into their accounts. They see an error message that says, “too many sign-in attempts.” This problem can be very upsetting because it can lock you out of your email for days. Even when people reset their password, the problem sometimes does not go away.
This issue seems to have started for many users in late October. People have been talking about it on websites like Reddit and X (which used to be Twitter). Some have wondered if it is because of hackers or a big server problem. Sometimes, people also see other errors, like problems with security certificates or being told to use a different device.
What to Do if You Are Locked Out of Your Account
If you are locked out of your Outlook account, there are a few things you can try to fix the problem. It is best to try these steps one at a time.
- Wait for 24 hours. Sometimes, the best thing to do is wait. Do not try to log in for at least 24 hours. If you try to log in before the time is up, the clock might reset, and you will have to wait longer.
- Reset your password. You can try to reset your password through the Microsoft account recovery page. You will need to use a different email address or a phone number to prove who you are.
- Clear your browser’s cache. Old files stored in your web browser can sometimes cause login problems. Try clearing the cache and cookies, or use a different browser to see if that helps.
- Use the Microsoft Authenticator app. This app lets you sign in without a password. Some people have found this works when other methods do not.
- Check Microsoft’s service status. Sometimes, the problem is not with your account but with Microsoft’s servers. You can check the status of Microsoft’s online services to see if there is a known issue.
When to Contact Microsoft Support
If you have tried everything and still cannot get into your account, it may be time to contact Microsoft support. Some users have said that it can be hard to get help, but it is still worth a try. When you contact them, be sure to tell them the exact error message you are seeing.
Advanced Steps for Technical Users
There are some more technical things you can try if you are comfortable with them. These steps involve changing settings on your computer, so you should be careful. It is a good idea to back up your computer before you try these.
- Delete and re-add your Outlook profile. You can remove your email account from Outlook and then add it back again.
- Modify the registry. This is a very technical step that involves changing important settings on your computer. If you do it wrong, you could cause other problems.
- Rename Outlook’s local folder. Changing the name of a folder that Outlook uses can sometimes fix login errors.
How to Prevent Future Lockouts
Once you get back into your account, there are things you can do to stop this from happening again.
- Review your account’s connected devices. Check the list of devices that are logged into your account and remove any that you do not recognize.
- Log out of all devices. This will force you to sign in again everywhere, which can help reset things.
- Keep your recovery information updated. Make sure your backup email address and phone number are correct so you can always get back into your account if you need to.