Accounts Enable or Disable Built-in Administrator Account Lockout in Windows 11


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Account_lockout_banner.png

This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable the Allow Administrator account lockout policy in Windows 11.

Someone who attempts to use more than a few unsuccessful passwords while trying to log on to your system might be a malicious user who is attempting to determine an account password by trial and error. Windows domain controllers keep track of logon attempts, and domain controllers can be configured to respond to this type of potential attack by disabling the account for a preset period of time. Account Lockout Policy settings control the threshold for this response and the actions to be taken after the threshold is reached.

The Account lockout threshold policy setting determines the number of failed sign-in attempts that will cause a user account to be locked. A locked account cannot be used until you reset it or until the number of minutes specified by the Account lockout duration policy setting expires. You can set a value from 1 through 999 failed sign-in attempts, or you can specify that the account will never be locked by setting the value to 0. If Account lockout threshold is set to a number greater than zero, Account lockout duration must be greater than or equal to the value of Reset account lockout counter after.

The Account lockout duration policy setting determines the number of minutes that a locked-out account remains locked out before automatically becoming unlocked. An administrator can also manually unlock a locked-out account.

The Reset account lockout counter after policy setting determines the number of minutes that must elapse from the time a user fails to log on before the failed logon attempt counter is reset to 0.

The Allow Administrator account lockout policy determines whether the built-in Administrator account is subject to account lockout policy.

Brute force password attacks can be automated to try thousands or even millions of password combinations for any or all user accounts. Limiting the number of failed sign-ins that can be performed nearly eliminates the effectiveness of such attacks. However, it is important to note that a denial-of-service (DoS) attack could be performed on a domain that has an account lockout threshold configured. A malicious user could programmatically attempt a series of password attacks against all users in the organization. If the number of attempts is greater than the value of Account lockout threshold, the attacker could potentially lock every account.

References:

Starting with Windows 11 build 22528 and higher, the Account lockout threshold policy is now set to 10 failed sign-in attempts by default. The Account lockout duration is now set to 10 minutes by default. The Allow Administrator account lockout is now enabled by default. The Reset account lockout counter after is now set to 10 minutes by default.


You must be signed in as an administrator to enable or disable the Allow Administrator account lockout policy.




Here's How:

Local Security Policy is only available in the Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.


1 Open Local Security Policy (secpol.msc).

2 Double click/tap on Account Policies in the left pane to expand, and click/tap on Account Lockout Policy to open it. (see screenshot below)

built-in_Administrator_account_lockout-1.png

3 In the right pane of Account Lockout Policy, double click/tap on the Allow Administrator account lockout policy to open its properties. (see screenshot above)

The Account lockout threshold policy must be enabled to be able to change the Allow Administrator account lockout policy.


4 Select Enabled (default) or Disabled for what you want, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)

built-in_Administrator_account_lockout-2.png

5 If you like, you can change the Account lockout threshold, Account lockout duration, and Reset account lockout counter after policies.

6 When finished, you can close the Local Security Policy window if you like.


That's it,
Shawn Brink


 

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Couple of questions:

1) Suppose normal account gets locked out - how do you reset it?

2) Can you still use a PIN to login?

3) Normally the hidden administrator account does not have a password, as it is set up as a local account. Do you need to add a password to that account?
 

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Couple of questions:

1) Suppose normal account gets locked out - how do you reset it?

2) Can you still use a PIN to login?

3) Normally the hidden administrator account does not have a password, as it is set up as a local account. Do you need to add a password to that account?

Hello mate, :)

Q1) You can unlock an account with any administrator account on the computer. If none are available, then the account will automatically get unlocked after what is set for the Account lockout duration policy.

Q2) You can unless locked out by entering too many failed sign-in attempts specified by the Account lockout threshold policy.

Q3) You do need to set up a password for the built-in Administrator for the enabled Allow Administrator account lockout policy to be enforced.
 

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@BruceR the beta version currently being tested in the Windows 11 22H2 channel.
 

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Could you specify the build number where anyone actually sees it?
Sorry, I'm not quite understanding your question. If you mean where to find your build, from cmd prompt type winver.
OR settings-system-about.

22621 is the version currently on release preview channel. Microsoft has confirmed build 22621 to be the RTM version of Windows 11, version 22H2 that will be released this fall. If you are running 11 Pro and don't see it in group policy, I can't say why you're not seeing it. Possibly it may not be implemented into the preview channel just yet.

If you are running 11 Home, you won't see it as it says in the tutorial Local Security Policy is only available in the Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, and Education.
 

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    CPU
    i7-4770
    Memory
    24 gb
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    256 gb Toshiba BG4 M.2 NVE SSB and 1 tb hdd
    PSU
    500w
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If you are running 11 Pro and don't see it in group policy, I can't say why you're not seeing it. Possibly it may not be implemented into the preview channel just yet.
That's my question.

Not "Windows 11 build 22528 and higher" then?

I'm still curious whether anyone sees it in any build.
 

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Since I'm running release, I can't check for you. People may not see your question here. I'd suggest you ask in the Insider section (especially the beta users) to see if anyone sees it and in what build.
 

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    i9-10900 10 core 20 threads
    Motherboard
    DELL 0J37VM
    Memory
    32 gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    none-Intel UHD Graphics 630
    Sound Card
    Integrated Realtek
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    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
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    1tb Solidigm m.2 +256gb ssd+512 gb usb m.2 sata
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    500w
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    MT
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    Dell Premium
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    Logitech wired
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    so slow I'm too embarrassed to tell
    Browser
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    Windows 10 Pro 22H2 19045.3930
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    Dell Optiplex 9020
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    i7-4770
    Memory
    24 gb
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    256 gb Toshiba BG4 M.2 NVE SSB and 1 tb hdd
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    500w
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    MT
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That's my question.

Not "Windows 11 build 22528 and higher" then?

I'm still curious whether anyone sees it in any build.

I see it set that way on some, but not others. It appears it may be one of those rolling out changes that some may and some may not have yet.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self build
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING (11GB GDDR5X)
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G75 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3 wall mounted
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gbps Download and 35 Mbps Upload
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender and Malwarebytes Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Spectre x360 2in1 14-eu0098nr (2024)
    CPU
    Intel Core Ultra 7 155H 4.8 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB LPDDR5x-7467 MHz
    Graphics card(s)
    Integrated Intel Arc
    Sound Card
    Poly Studio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    14" 2.8K OLED multitouch
    Screen Resolution
    2880 x 1800
    Hard Drives
    2 TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD
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    Intel Wi-Fi 7 BE200 (2x2) and Bluetooth 5.4
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