How to Solve Error “The Referenced Account is Currently Locked out and May Not Be Logged on to” in Windows Server 2012

“I changed my Windows Server 2012 AD password on Monday and since then it keeps locking me out. I receive the error message: ‘The Referenced Account is Currently Locked out and May Not Be Logged on to’. Obviously I can’t guarantee that I never type it incorrectly, but I’m definitely only getting one chance at most. How do I reset the locked out account, so I can use this one again?”

-from Server Fault

If you have ever troubleshot an account lockout issue (just like the description of the user above) in Microsoft Windows Server 2012, you might be confused about how to resolve that error. In this tutorial, we will introduce 2 alternatives on how to fix “The Referenced Account is Currently Locked out and May Not Be Logged on to” in Windows Server 2012.

Tactic 1. Unlock Windows Server 2012 Password with System Administrator Privilege
Tactic 2. Reset Windows Server 2012 Password with Windows Password Key

Tactic 1. Unlock Windows Server 2012 Password with System Administrator Privilege

As a matter of fact, if the admin account is able to enter server normally, you could totally take advantage of administrator account to unlock login account of Windows Server 2012 when it is locked on domain controllers.

Here’s how a system admin would do to unlock a user account in Windows Server 2012:

Step 1. Login with system administrator account and then open “Sever Manager” of the computer desktop, which is in the bottom-left side.

Step 2. In the “Server Manager” screen, tap on “AD DS” and then choose “Active Directory Users and Computers” from such many options.

Step 3. In the pop-up “Active Directory Users and Computers” window, right click on “Domain Controller” and then choose the “Find” option.

Step 4. In the “Find Users, Contacts, and Groups” screen, type the username of the locked account and then click “Find Now” button.

Steep 5. The search result will be displayed in the same window. Right click on the username and then choose “Properties” option as it demonstrates.

Step 6. In the Properties screen, select “Account” tab and check “Unlock Account. This Account Is Currently Locked out on Active Directory Domain Controller” option. Then click “Apply” and “OK” button to make sure you agree with the operation.

Tactic 2. Reset Windows Server 2012 Password with Windows Password Key

It is so frustrated to be locked out of Windows Server, fortunately, Windows Password Key could do you a favor. As a useful and helpful utility that is designed to reset or remove Windows login password, this small software enables you to regain access to your computer within several minutes. Its 4 editions also support all systems and versions of Windows, including Windows Server certainly.

Now this guide will illustrate how to use this program:

Step 1. To get started, click download button to download and install Windows Password Key Professional from another available computer running Windows OS and then launch it.

Step 2. Insert a writable CD/DVD/USB disc to the new computer and select the corresponding option, click Burn button to begin bootable disk creation.

Step 3. Restart the locked Windows Server PC. Access BIOS by pressing F12/Delete before you see the Windows logo. Then you can see the BIOS interface, change the setting to boot from your disc. After that, save and exit BIOS, restart the PC again.

Step 4. You will see the main interface of this application with a black background. Just choose the Windows installation and user account, and finally type “y” to confirm reset server 2012 password.

Congratulations! You have fixed the error “The Referenced Account is Currently Locked out and May Not Be Logged on to” and unlocked the account of Windows Server 12 successfully. Anyway, if you need help on a specific problem, let us know by writing a comment below.

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