Your computer has been locked
This appears to be a security-related message. Exercise caution.
Safety Warning
This message is commonly associated with scams or phishing attempts.
Do Not:
- Click any links in the message
- Call any phone numbers displayed
- Enter personal or financial information
Safe Actions:
- Close the popup or browser tab immediately
- Navigate directly to official websites if concerned
- Run a trusted antivirus scan on your device
Seeing "Your computer has been locked"? This type of message is commonly used in scams or phishing attempts. Before taking any action, read the safety guidance below carefully.
What This Error Means
Your screen is locked by malicious software demanding payment.
Reported across multiple operating systems and devices.
Not affiliated with browser, OS, or device manufacturers.
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Common Causes
- Ransomware infection
- Malicious website popup
- Downloaded infected software
How to Fix
- Do NOT pay the ransom
- Restart in Safe Mode
- Run antivirus from USB boot drive
- Restore from backup
Last reviewed: March 2026 How we review solutions
Optional follow-up
Some users ask whether saving fixes for recurring errors would be useful when the same issue appears again.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Should I pay?
Never pay - there is no guarantee you will get access back.
How do I remove it?
Boot into Safe Mode and run malware removal tools.
Related Resources
Also Known As
- Error message
- System error
- Technical error
- Error code
Common Search Variations
- "how to fix this error"
- "what does this error mean"
- "error solution"
- "troubleshooting error"
- "error fix guide"
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