How to fix Microsoft 365 apps prompting for password repeatedly or asking to sign in every time

Summary

This guide helps you troubleshoot and resolve: How to fix Microsoft 365 apps prompting for password repeatedly or asking to sign in every time. Follow the steps below to fix the issue.

Common Causes

If Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, or PowerPoint keeps asking you to sign in every time you open them, or if your password is rejected even though it's correct, the issue is usually caused by corrupted cached credentials or an expired activation token stored on your machine. The good news is that this can be fixed without reinstalling Office. The steps below walk you through clearing those stored credentials, resetting the activation token, and re-registering the Microsoft 365 apps so they recognise your licence again.

Quick Fix Steps

For most users, working through these steps in order will resolve the repeated sign-in prompts:

1. Sign out of all Office apps and close them completely.
2. Remove stored credentials using Credential Manager in Windows.
3. Reset the Microsoft 365 activation token.
4. Repair the Microsoft 365 installation.
5. Restart your computer and sign back into Office.

If the issue persists after these steps, jump to the Detailed Troubleshooting section below.

Detailed Instructions

Step 1: Sign Out and Close All Office Apps

Before making any changes, sign out of every Office application and close them fully. Background processes can lock credential files and prevent them from being removed.

1. Open any Office app such as Word or Outlook.
2. Click File > Account.
3. Under the user account, click Sign out.
4. Repeat for each Office app you have open.
5. Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) and check for any remaining Microsoft Office or Outlook processes. End any that are still running.

Step 2: Clear Stored Credentials in Windows

Windows stores your Microsoft 365 sign-in details in Credential Manager. Removing these forces Office to prompt for a fresh sign-in.

1. Press the Windows key, type Credential Manager, and press Enter.
2. Click the Windows Credentials tab.
3. Look for any entries that contain MicrosoftOffice, office.com, outlook, onedrive, or microsoft.
4. Click each relevant entry, then click Remove.
5. Confirm the removal.

Step 3: Reset the Microsoft 365 Activation Token

The activation token is what tells Microsoft 365 that your subscription is valid. Resetting it forces Office to revalidate your licence.

1. Press Win + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
2. Find the Microsoft Office Click-to-Run Service.
3. Right-click it and select Stop. Wait a few seconds.
4. Press Win + R, type the following path, and press Enter:
   %localappdata%\Microsoft\Office\Licenses
5. Select all files in the folder (Ctrl + A) and delete them.
6. Go back to Services, right-click Microsoft Office Click-to-Run Service, and select Start.

Step 4: Repair the Microsoft 365 Installation

Repairing the Office installation refreshes the app components and resolves issues caused by corrupted files or registrations.

1. Press the Windows key, type Apps & features, and press Enter.
2. Find Microsoft 365 or Microsoft Office in the list.
3. Click it and select Modify.
4. Choose Online Repair for the most thorough fix, then click Repair.
5. Restart your computer when prompted.

Step 5: Sign Back In and Test

1. Open Word, Excel, or Outlook.
2. When prompted, sign in with your Microsoft 365 work or school account.
3. Confirm your account appears under File > Account with an Activated status.
4. Close and reopen the app to confirm the sign-in prompt no longer appears.

Detailed Troubleshooting

If the steps above haven't resolved the issue, work through the following scenarios.

Check Your Subscription Status

An expired or unassigned licence will cause repeated sign-in prompts even after credentials are cleared.

1. Open a browser and go to https://account.microsoft.com/services.
2. Sign in with the same account you're using in Office.
3. Confirm that your Microsoft 365 subscription shows as Active and is not expired.
4. If you manage licences for an organisation, check the Microsoft 365 admin centre to confirm the licence is assigned to your user account.

Check the Date and Time on Your Computer

If your system clock is significantly out of sync, Microsoft's authentication servers will reject your sign-in attempts.

1. Right-click the clock in the taskbar and select Adjust date and time.
2. Enable Set time automatically.
3. Click Sync now if available.
4. Restart Office and try again.

Disable Multi-Factor Authentication Conflicts

If your organisation uses conditional access or MFA policies, an outdated cached token may conflict with new security requirements.

• Ask your IT administrator whether recent security policy changes have been made.
• Ensure your device is joined to Azure AD or Entra ID if required.
• Try signing in from an InPrivate or Incognito browser window at office.com to confirm your credentials work.

Check for Conflicting Office Installations

Having two versions of Office installed (for example, an old Office 2016 alongside Microsoft 365) can cause sign-in conflicts.

1. Open Control Panel > Programs and Features.
2. Look for multiple versions of Office listed.
3. Uninstall any older or unused versions you no longer need.
4. Restart and test again.

Related Articles

• Setting Up an Email Account in Outlook (POP/IMAP/Exchange)
• Activating Microsoft 365 After Installation
• Clearing Stored Credentials in Windows

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