"Your Account Has Been Locked" — How to Unlock a Microsoft Account

You try to sign in and Microsoft says “Your account has been temporarily suspended” or “Your account has been locked.”

Why: Microsoft locks an account when it sees activity that looks like a sign-in from an unrecognized place, suspected automated/abusive use, or something that may break the Microsoft Services Agreement. A temporary lock is usually cleared by proving you’re a real person with a texted code. A lock for a suspected policy violation needs human review.

Fix 1: Unlock with a security code (the usual case)

A temporary lock is removed as soon as you verify a phone number.

1. Sign in at account.microsoft.com with the locked account. The lock screen offers to send a security code by text.
2. Enter a phone number that can receive a text and request the code. It does not have to be the number on the account — any phone that can get an SMS works, and it doesn’t need to be a smartphone or be online.
3. Read the text and enter the digits in the body of the message (not any number in the header). The code is good for about 10 minutes.
4. Once verified, the lock is removed and you’re signed in.

If you also don’t know the password, reset it first (see our reset-password guide), then come back and unlock.

Fix 2: Code won’t work — use the reinstatement form

If the security-code step keeps failing or no longer appears, the sign-in screen shows a link starting with aka.ms/. That’s the online reinstatement form, and it’s the only way to get a locked account reviewed — most support agents can’t do it for you.

1. On the locked sign-in window, select the aka.ms/… link that’s offered.
2. Fill in how to reach you (a working email you can open) and the details it asks for.
3. Submit. A Microsoft Online Safety agent reviews it and replies by email. Don’t submit it repeatedly — that won’t speed it up.

Fix 3: Secure the account so it doesn’t re-lock

Repeated locks often mean someone else is trying to get in. After you’re back in:

• Go to your Security page at account.microsoft.com/security and change your password to something new and unique.
• Check recent activity for unfamiliar sign-ins and confirm your recovery email and phone are current.
• Turn on two-step verification so an unknown sign-in can’t trigger another lock.

FAQ

Why did Microsoft lock me with no warning? Common triggers are signing in from a new country/VPN, too many failed attempts, or behavior that looked automated. A temporary lock is precautionary, not a ban.

Does the verification phone have to be mine? No. Any phone that can receive a text works for the code — it doesn’t need to be associated with the account.

The form says it’ll be reviewed — how long? Microsoft replies to your contact email after an agent reviews it; submitting it again doesn’t help and can slow things down.

Is “locked” the same as a forgotten password? No. Locked means access is suspended; a forgotten password is a separate reset. If both apply, reset the password, then unlock.

Sources: Microsoft Support — Microsoft account has been locked