How long do I have to wait to get into locked account?

Question

How long do I have to wait to get into locked account?

Kimberly Roman 0

My account was locked. I followed instructions to retrieve it. 1. Created a new account -wait. 2. Reset the password. 3. Updated the phone number. Still can’t get in. How long do I have to wait for it to be unlocked? I have followed the instructions. There is no customer service or chat.

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2 answers

Answer 1

GsN5034 - IA 79,820 Independent Advisor

Hello, thank you for reaching out to Microsoft Q&A.

Could you please let me know if your account is locked, or if you recently updated your security information?

If you removed all of your previous security information and replaced it with something new, such as a recovery phone number, your account will be placed in a restricted state for 30 days.

Once the security information has been updated, you should be able to sign in by verifying your identity.

For reference:

What does “Security info change is still pending” mean?

Anna 0 Reputation points

2026-10-27T15:02:15.49+00:00

My email was blocked this morning claiming there was suspicious activity. I was trying to send one email reply to a larger group, that is all I can think happened because it was immediately after that it happened. I’ve gone in circles, verifying, changing the password once and now I see that there is some form to fill out and I have to wait 24 hours? Where can I talk to someone? Where is the evidence that I committed malicious activity and the recourse for that? If I am

unable to utilize my email, I will have to find another platform on which to communicate because this is ridiculous. I did what was asked and keep finding new things I may have to do but it’s not clear. Please make

things clear and accessible so that us commoners accused of malicious emails have a chance to use them.
Hornblower409 18,685 Reputation points

2026-10-28T15:47:37.26+00:00

@Anna said

My email was blocked this morning claiming there was suspicious activity ...

I understand that you have the same or similar issue to the one discussed in this thread. But you will probably not get any help by adding to an old post.

I would suggest that you start a new thread using the "Ask a question" button at the top of this page to create a new Question and include the details for your specific problem and what steps you have already tried to fix it.

This provides much higher visibility to your issue than adding on to an existing post, which is only seen by people who are already following this question.

Answer 2

For a locked Microsoft/Outlook.com account, the wait time depends on why it is locked and what changes were made:

Too many failed sign-ins / suspicious activity / verification blocks
- Microsoft may temporarily block sign-in or verification after many attempts or unusual activity.
- Recommended wait is at least 24 hours without making new attempts. Repeated attempts can reset the timer and extend the block.
- After the cooldown, try again from a familiar device/network and use the standard recovery options (password reset, verification code, recovery form).
Security info (phone/email) was removed and replaced
- If all security info on the Microsoft account was removed and replaced with new info, the account goes into a restricted state for 30 days.
- During this 30‑day period, the message may say things like “Your security info change is still pending” or “You can’t access this site right now.”
- The 30‑day wait is mandatory and is designed to protect the account in case someone else changed the security info. The change completes only after the 30 days have passed.
Account locked / blocked due to suspicious activity or Terms of Use
- If the sign-in page shows that the Microsoft account has been locked and there is an aka.ms/ link to request reinstatement, the account remains locked until the account reinstatement form is submitted and reviewed.
- After submitting that form, a Microsoft Online Safety support agent reviews it and responds by email. Submitting multiple forms can slow down the response.
Verification code / “Try another verification method” issues
- If blocked by verification attempts (for example, “Try another verification method” or rate limits on codes), Microsoft guidance is:
  - Try another verification method on the account (alternate email, different phone).
  - Try another network (switch Wi‑Fi/cellular).
  - If still blocked, wait at least 24 hours, and up to about a week in persistent cases, without repeated attempts.

Given the steps already taken (new account, password reset, phone update) and still being locked, the likely scenarios are either:

A temporary security/verification block → wait a full 24 hours (or longer, up to several days) with no attempts, then retry recovery; or
A 30‑day security‑info change hold if all security info was replaced → access will only be restored after the 30‑day period completes.

If the sign-in page shows an aka.ms reinstatement link, complete that form and wait for the email response; that review time is not specified but additional submissions should be avoided.

References: