Fresh install windows 11 26h2 - unable to login with microsoft account

Question

Fresh install windows 11 26h2 - unable to login with microsoft account

Jim Carter 0

FRESH - clean install from media creation tool windows 11 26h2 just today. Network plugged in. during setup sign in with your microsoft account prompt and adding my username and password I get - unable to log you in account locked?? re-installed 3 times same thing EVERY time... Note I am able to log into my microsoft account on my laptop with no problem every single time today. I even get the secondary account verification code which is when entered I get the unable to log you in account locked? Soooo microsoft continues with setup to a local account? When I tried to then switch to my microsoft account AGAIN FAIL. The windows password is not the same = but it is the one I used during setup!!!!!

Come on Microsoft- No wonder everyone is abandoning windows!!!!!! BTW in searching answers for this problem microsoft learn website all answers appear to be deleted "locked" with NO answer??????????????

Bulldog 4,870 Reputation points

2026-10-03T21:58:45.93+00:00

"Note I am able to log into my Microsoft account on my laptop with no problem ..."

That's your Windows user account. You can sign in to Windows with your Microsoft account username and password, and use your computer even if there's an issue with your Microsoft account.

Your Microsoft account is here: https://account.microsoft.com/account

1 answer

Your answer

Bulldog 4,870 Reputation points

2026-10-03T21:58:45.93+00:00

"Note I am able to log into my Microsoft account on my laptop with no problem ..."

That's your Windows user account. You can sign in to Windows with your Microsoft account username and password, and use your computer even if there's an issue with your Microsoft account.

Your Microsoft account is here: https://account.microsoft.com/account

Answer 1

Thomas4-N 22,555 Microsoft External Staff Moderator

Hello Jim Carter,

I’m sorry this has continued after three clean installations, even after you receive and enter the verification code.

When you say the account works on your laptop, do you mean signing into Windows, or signing into the Microsoft account website in a browser? Please try a fresh sign-in through a private browser window at Microsoft account.

Please also share:

A screenshot of the exact error when switching from the local account to your Microsoft account, with your email address and other personal details hidden.
Your Windows version and OS build, shown by pressing Win + R, entering winver, and pressing Enter.

You can also use Microsoft’s Sign-in Helper to check for account sign-in problems.

These details should help distinguish an account-access problem from a failure connecting the account to Windows, without asking you to reinstall again.

Thomas4-N 22,555 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-10-10T14:26:54.37+00:00

Hello Jim Carter,

Just check in to see how things are going. Let me know if you need anything.