How to Unlock a SQL Login Without Resetting the Password

By:   |   Comments (22)   |   Related: > Security


Problem

I have a SQL Server login that's been locked out. I went to unlock it, but it's telling me I have to change the password to do so. I can't change the password and I don't know what it is. How can I unlock the account without changing the password?  Check out this tip to learn more.

Solution

Starting in SQL Server 2005, SQL Server can use the password policies that the operating system uses. This includes account lockout. If a SQL Server login is configured to use password policy enforcement and your organization uses account lockout after a certain number of failed logins, you can end up locking out a SQL Server login via the same scenario.

SQL Server Management Studio Login Properties for Enforce password policy

This can result in the account being locked out. Unlocking the account is easy to do if you want to reset the password. If you don't however, SQL Server won't let you directly. For instance, simply unchecking the box beside Login is locked out and clicking OK won't work.

SSMS Login Properties - Login is locked out

Instead, you'll get the following error:

SSMS error - Reset password for the login while unlocking. (SqlManagerUI)

The trick is to temporarily take the login out of password policy enforcement by unchecking it, as shown in Figure 4.

SQL Server Management Studio Enforce Password Policy

This will disable the unlock checkbox.

SSMS SQL Server Authentication login is locked out is unchecked

Click OK to confirm the change and the SQL Server login will unlock. This will permit connections via that login again. If there is a need for the password enforcement to be turned back on, you can do so and it won't re-lock the login. However, in either case be sure you know what caused the lockout in the first place. The reason for having account lockout is to prevent a security breach due to someone brute forcing the password for an account. Disabling password policy enforcement basically means an attacker can try to guess the password.

Next Steps


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About the author
MSSQLTips author K. Brian Kelley K. Brian Kelley is a SQL Server author and columnist focusing primarily on SQL Server security.

This author pledges the content of this article is based on professional experience and not AI generated.

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Comments For This Article




Friday, May 22, 2015 - 2:47:09 PM - K. Brian Kelley Back To Top (37260)

In every case I've seen this situation, it's been a third party. If we're talking about a homegrown application in my organization, unless the server sits in the DMZ, the application is using a Windows user account. :-)

 

Friday, May 22, 2015 - 11:17:56 AM - Daniel Decasse Back To Top (37259)

In the end the account needs to be reactivated but even in your case you use bad practice such as hard coded , probably plain text credentials. 

I appreciate the advice. I am sure I have had to use it at some point but at least highlight the concerns. 

Thursday, May 21, 2015 - 3:01:16 PM - K. Brian Kelley Back To Top (37252)

Daniel,

  I disagree. Let me give you a situation that comes up regularly in enterprises where you can have an account lockout and nothing intentionally malicious happened. 

  Audits are being done and the login in question is a known one because of an application. The password is hardcoded (it still happens in 2015) by the application, so the DBA can't change it. If he or she does, the application can no  longer connect because you have no option of changing the password in the application. Unfortunately, whoever doing the audit accidentally toggled the brute force switch and before anyone knew what happened, the login was locked out. 

  Given this scenario, which still happens all too frequently, how would you propose to unlock the SQL Server login and restore access to the application?

Thursday, May 21, 2015 - 2:22:06 PM - Daniel Decasse Back To Top (37249)

Changing a security setting such as enforce password policy is not a proper way to unlock an account. Knowing what the policy is and changing the password to fit the policy is the proper way to resolve this issue. if you are going to have a password policy you should use it . 

Tuesday, April 21, 2015 - 9:12:29 AM - George Back To Top (36994)

The only option for me was using the third party software SQL Server Password Changer. I believe it is the best option for unlocking the SA account.

Tuesday, September 16, 2014 - 1:01:27 PM - kmote Back To Top (34547)

+1 Perfect! Just what I needed. And at the top of my first Google search, no less. That's some service!

Monday, September 15, 2014 - 10:47:08 AM - K. Brian Kelley Back To Top (34534)

SQL Server 7.0 and 2000 do not support password lock for SQL Server logins. Therefore, there's nothing to unlock.

 

If it's a Windows login, the unlock must happen at the server (if it's a local account) or at Active Directory.

 

Monday, September 15, 2014 - 9:50:43 AM - sreenivasulus Back To Top (34531)

how to reset user password in sql server 7.0 version because the password is locked,, anyone have any idea please reply ASAP

Wednesday, August 13, 2014 - 7:19:25 AM - chandra Back To Top (34110)

sql login is automaticaly locked is there any reasons.

 

Wednesday, April 30, 2014 - 8:23:53 PM - Brenda Back To Top (30578)

Great tutorial! Unfortunately I am locked out of SA account and the Windows Authentication is also greyed out. Now I have successfully unlocked the account using a third party software - SQL Server Password Changer.

Thursday, August 30, 2012 - 8:33:43 AM - K. Brian Kelley Back To Top (19315)

Tlogi. The technique in this tip works on any login. Also, the T-SQL Pavan posted should work as well.

 

Thursday, August 30, 2012 - 3:17:28 AM - Tlhogi Back To Top (19301)

 

Hi K. Brian Kelly, not "Stored Procedure" but how do you unlock the password for the sa account??  

 

Wednesday, August 29, 2012 - 7:46:26 PM - Pavan Back To Top (19291)

ALTER LOGIN sa WITH CHECK_POLICY = OFF;
ALTER LOGIN sa WITH CHECK_POLICY = ON;
GO

Wednesday, August 29, 2012 - 2:56:59 PM - K. Brian Kelley Back To Top (19285)

Tlohgi, I'm afraid I don't understand your question. When you ask what the procedure is, can you give a frame of reference?

Wednesday, August 29, 2012 - 9:35:52 AM - Tlhogi Back To Top (19275)

 

What is the procedure for the sa login?

Wednesday, August 29, 2012 - 6:18:49 AM - sreekanthan Back To Top (19266)

oops!! my mistake

Tuesday, August 28, 2012 - 4:04:26 PM - Sherbaz Mohamed C P Back To Top (19261)

Furthur more to this, If you wanna find the lost SQL login password using trial and error methord, here is how. I have explained in my blog at http://www.sherbaz.com/2011/10/check-sql-authentication-login-account-password/

Tuesday, August 28, 2012 - 1:29:48 PM - K. Brian Kelley Back To Top (19259)

Tim, Darrell was responding to sreekanthan. :-)

Tuesday, August 28, 2012 - 11:58:17 AM - Tim Edwards Back To Top (19256)

Darrell,

The solutions provided by Brian shouldn't require knowing the password for the Login, they just require the assistance of an administrator who is in either the Security Administrator or System Administrator server-level roles to effect the change.  At no point did Brian have to login as the user whose account was locked out to change the settings around password enforcement in order to unlock the user's account. He just needs to go into the properties of the Login in SSMS to make the change.

Tim

Tuesday, August 28, 2012 - 9:36:47 AM - Darrell George Back To Top (19250)

The individual who posted the question mentioned that they didn't have the ability to change the password, because they didn't know it. The two above solutions/examples utilize parameters that require the password to be entered. How is this solution going to solve the problem?       

Tuesday, August 28, 2012 - 7:21:41 AM - sreekanthan Back To Top (19244)

ALTER LOGIN <Login> WITH PASSWORD = '<Password>' UNLOCK

Tuesday, August 28, 2012 - 7:20:07 AM - sreekanthan Back To Top (19243)

Hi,

We can unlock by using below command without changing the password

use msdb

ALTER LOGINWITH PASSWORD = '' UNLOCK














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