What should I do if Windows 11 locks up after startup and I can't log in?

Hi,

If Safe Mode works but the system freezes right after startup in normal mode, it’s very likely that a third‑party startup program or service is causing the lock‑up.

You can try the following steps:

1. Boot into Safe Mode
2. Open Task Manager → Startup and temporarily disable all non‑Microsoft entries
3. Reboot normally and see if the system loads correctly
4. If it does, re‑enable the items one by one to identify the problematic program
5. This type of issue is often caused by an application or service that auto‑starts and hangs the session before the desktop fully loads.

If you can share more details (screenshot, error message, recent changes), we can help narrow it down.

If the issue started right after installing a specific update or application, that can also help identify the root cause.

Can you share, what exactly happens when you input the password, is there any error message? or the device is locked itself?

You need to restart the computer and boot into Safe Mode to fix the problem.

If you're using special characters like !@#$%^&*()_+ in your password, make sure you're entering them correctly.

On the lock screen, hold down the Shift key and click the power icon. Select Restart to enter Advanced Startup Options. Then proceed to Troubleshoot > Startup Settings > Restart to enter Safe Mode for repair.

Click the accessibility icon on the login screen and select the on-screen keyboard to rule out keyboard issues.

Your issue where the computer goes directly to the lock screen and entering your password doesn't unlock it can be caused by several factors, such as system glitches, user account issues, or misconfigured settings.