Another frequent reason is a restriction applied by IT through Group Policy, Microsoft Intune, or Microsoft Entra ID Conditional Access. These rules can block logins based on device, location, or compliance status. In some cases, remote access tools such as Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) also deny connections if policies or group memberships restrict the account.
Before You Begin
From the Windows sign in screen, connect to the internet using the network icon or plug in Ethernet, then retry.Confirm that you are using the same Microsoft account that is linked to the device if it is a personal PC.If this is an organization managed device, your IT policy may enforce the restriction. Contact your administrator if the same message appears on multiple accounts.
Below are solutions to resolve the problem.
1. Check If Your Device Is Remotely Locked
If your device is locked remotely, entering the correct credentials may not progress past the lock screen until the local unlock clears the restricted state. This lock is a security feature designed to prevent unauthorized access when a device is lost or stolen. Clearing the remote lock restores normal authentication and sign in functionality.
2. Unrestrict Account via Group Policy
When deny policies are applied to a user, the system blocks interactive logins, RDP access, or network authentication. Removing these deny rules ensures the system recalculates the account logon rights without the restriction, allowing sign in again. Windows enforces effective rights from all applied policies, and refreshing the policy state removes the block. Use this method when a local or domain policy is blocking sign in. It does not apply to a remote lock scenario. Note: gpedit.msc and many security policy consoles are available on Windows Pro, Enterprise, and Education. They are not available on Windows Home by default. On domain joined or MDM managed devices, central policy may override your local changes.
