How to fix Error 1333 on Windows 11

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Why This Error Happens

Error 1333 occurs when the Local Security Authority (LSA) runs out of available Local User Identifiers (LUIDs), which are unique tokens assigned to every logon session on the system. This typically happens due to a memory leak in a service or application that repeatedly creates logon sessions without properly closing them, or due to an extremely high volume of concurrent authentication requests (common on servers or shared workstations). Since LUIDs are a finite pool tracked by the LSA subsystem, exhausting them prevents Windows from generating new session identifiers until the counter resets or a reboot occurs.

Step-by-Step Resolution Guide

Step 1: Identify the Process Causing Session Leaks

  • Open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) and check the Details tab for processes with unusually high handle counts.
  • Use Get-Process | Sort-Object Handles -Descending | Select-Object -First 10 in PowerShell to pinpoint the top offenders.
  • Look specifically at services related to RDP, IIS, SQL Server, or third-party authentication agents, as these are common culprits for LUID leaks.

Step 2: Restart the Local Security Authority Subsystem

  • Since LSASS cannot be manually restarted without rebooting (it’s a protected system process), schedule a full system reboot: shutdown /r /t 0.
  • If this is a server environment where rebooting isn’t immediately possible, isolate and manually terminate the leaking process identified in Step 1 to temporarily free up LUIDs.

Step 3: Apply Windows Updates and Patches

  • Navigate to Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates.
  • Ensure your build number is current, as Microsoft has released cumulative updates specifically addressing LUID leak bugs in certain drivers and system services.
  • Update any third-party VPN, antivirus, or single sign-on (SSO) software, as outdated authentication drivers are frequent sources of this leak.

Step 4: Adjust Registry Settings for LSA (Advanced Users Only)

  • Open the Registry Editor (regedit) and navigate to:
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Lsa
  • Review the LimitBlankPasswordUse and related session management keys, ensuring no misconfigured Group Policy is forcing excessive session creation cycles.
  • Back up the registry key before making any changes.

Alternative or Verification Steps

  • To verify the fix, monitor handle counts over a 24-hour period using Performance Monitor (perfmon) with the Process > Handle Count counter to confirm no process is climbing indefinitely.
  • If the error persists after a reboot and patching, consider running sfc /scannow and DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth to rule out corrupted system files interfering with the LSA subsystem.