Outlook Keeps Asking for Your Password? Here’s How To Fix (2024)

Password protection is essential for keeping our data safe, but this security feature can also get on our nerves when it starts hindering our work. Many Outlook users are familiar with this situation.

A common troublesome issue is Outlook keeps asking for password login credentials. In some cases, the dialogue box pops up every time users open the program; in others, the prompt interrupts the user randomly. Before you make a new account or migrate to a completely different platform, try the fixes below.

Outlook Keeps Asking for Your Password on a Windows 11 PC

An Outlook program that persistently requests your password on Windows 11 can happen for many reasons. A faulty internet connection and incorrect login credentials are just two of them. If you’ve made sure you’ve entered your password correctly, but the dialogue box just won’t go away, consider these solutions.

Fixing via the Registry

In some versions of Outlook, a system bug can cause authentication issues. This problem is related to the program trying to connect to Microsoft 365 even if you aren’t a user. Fortunately, modifying your registry can usually eliminate this issue. Before making any changes, it might be a good idea to back up your registry in case something goes wrong in the process. Here are the steps:

1. Search for “Registry Editor” in your Windows taskbar.
   
2. Open the app.
   
3. Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Outlook\AutoDiscover.
   Note: If you can’t find the “AutoDiscover” key, right-click “Outlook” in the path mentioned above, select “New,” then “Key,” and name it “AutoDiscover.”
   
4. In the “AutoDiscover” key, right-click anywhere and select “DWORD (32-bit) Value” under “New.”
   
5. Name the key “ExcludeExplicitO365Endpoint.”
   
6. Enter “1” in the value field.
   
7. Close the window and restart your computer.
   

Reset Credentials

If Outlook keeps asking for password entry even though it remembers your credentials, you might be dealing with outdated credentials. For instance, you may have changed your password using a different device. If so, you should remove your old cached password to avoid confusion. Here’s how to reset your credentials on Windows 11.

1. Click the Search icon in your taskbar and look for “Control Panel.”
   
2. Open “Credential Manager” and select “Windows Credentials.”
   
3. In the “Generic Credentials” section, locate the email account causing issues.
   
4. Expand the section and click “Remove.”
   
5. Confirm your decision and close the Control Panel.
   

Outlook will ask you for your login credentials the next time you open it. Make sure you enter the correct information, and the popup should stop appearing.

Edit Settings

A few options in your Outlook account settings can also result in repeated login prompts. Check the settings below.

1. Launch Outlook and go to your Account Settings from “File.”
   
2. Select your account and click “Change.”
   
3. Enable “Remember Password” in the new window.
4. Select “More settings…” and disable “Always prompt for logon credentials” under “Security.”
   
5. Save the changes and close the window.

Outlook Keeps Asking for Password on a Windows 10 PC

Are you facing the situation in Windows 10 where Outlook keeps asking for password credentials every time you open the app? Does the prompt keep popping up even though you’ve entered your details correctly? It’s often difficult to diagnose what’s causing the password issues since the program won’t tell you directly. Let’s see a few common solutions for Windows 10.

The Registry Fix

Outlook users without a Microsoft 365 account sometimes run into authentication issues. The surest way to fix this is by modifying your registry. If you aren’t proficient in this, you might want to create a backup of your registry before making any changes. Once you’re ready, follow the steps below.

1. Open your Registry Editor from your taskbar. Allow admin access if necessary.
   
2. In the Registry Editor, navigate to this location: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Outlook\AutoDiscover.
   
3. Right-click on the right side of the window.
   
4. Select “New,” then “DWORD (32-bit) Value.”
   
5. Name the key “ExcludeExplicitO365Endpoint” and make sure the value is “1” in the appropriate field.
   
6. Close the registry and restart your PC.
   

Tip: If you can’t find the “AutoDiscover” key in the path above, create one. Right-click “Outlook,” and select “New,” then “Key” and name it “AutoDiscover.”

Delete Your Credentials

If you’re unsure whether the app has saved the correct login credentials, removing them completely is the best course of action. Follow these steps on Windows 10.

1. Search for “Control Panel” in your taskbar.
   
2. Open your “Credential Manager” and pick “Windows Credentials.”
   
3. Find your email account in the “Generic Credentials” section.
   
4. Click the arrow button to expand the section.
   
5. Select “Remove” to delete the credentials.
   

Although you’ll be prompted to enter your password next time you open Outlook, you can be sure the program saves the correct credentials this time.

Tweak Your Settings

Sometimes, the popup isn’t related to an error but your preferences within the app. Check the following settings to ensure this isn’t the case.

1. Open Outlook, click “File,” then “Account Settings.”
   
2. Select your account and find the “Change” option.
   
3. Make sure “Remember Password” is enabled.
4. Click “More settings…”
5. Turn off “Always prompt for logon credentials” in the “Security” section.
   
6. Save the changes and exit the settings.

Outlook Keeps Asking for Password in Office 365

Are you a Microsoft 365 user? A lot of people experience login issues after migrating to this platform. You might need to force the program to use Modern Authentication by editing your registry. Here are the steps:

1. Open your registry by searching for “Registry Editor” using your taskbar.
   
2. Navigate to the following location: HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Exchange.
   
3. Right-click inside the key and create a new DWORD value.
   
4. Name it “AlwaysUseMSOAuthForAutoDiscover” and set the value to 1.
   

Next, ensure Modern Authentication is on in your Microsoft 365 admin center.

1. Go to your Microsoft 365 Admin Center.
2. Open your Settings, then “Org Settings.”
   
3. Find “Modern Authentication” and make sure you turn it on.
   

Outlook Keeps Asking for Password Mac

Outlook login issues can also crop up while using a Mac. If you’ve changed your login details outside of Outlook, likely, the old credentials are still saved on the device, which can cause login issues. Fortunately, removing cached data usually stops the annoying popup.

1. Open Finder on your Mac and look for “Utilities.”
   
2. Select “Keychain Access.”
   
3. Search for “Exchange” and delete all entries related to your account.
   
4. Next, search “adal” and remove files with “MicrosoftOffice” in them.
   
5. Finally, type “office” and delete files named “Microsoft Office Identities Cache 2” and “Microsoft Office Identities Settings 2.”
   
6. Exit the window and restart Outlook.

Outlook Keeps Asking for Password on iPhone

Is your problem that Outlook keeps asking for password login credentials on your iPhone? Sometimes, a simple restart fixes bugs like this. But if that hasn’t done the trick and your software is up to date, try to solutions below.

Re-Enter Your Password

Is there a possibility the app is storing an incorrect password? Try re-entering your password to see if this fixes the issue.

1. Open your Settings app and find “Mail.”
   
2. Tap “Accounts” and select “Outlook.”
   
3. Find the “Re-enter Password” option.
4. Enter the correct password, and your app will stop requiring your login details.

Remove Your Account

If the above solution didn’t work, removing and reinstalling your account to the app is another easy fix that can do away with bugs.

1. Go to your Outlook account settings by following the steps above.
2. Scroll down to find “Delete Account.”
   
3. Go back to the “Accounts” menu and tap “Add account.”
   
4. Select the type of account you want to add and enter your details.
   

Outlook Keeps Asking for Password on an Android Device

Outlook login issues on Android are often related to network problems but can also be traced back to bugs. You can try fixing the issue by clearing your cache and adding your account.

Clear the Cache

Whenever an app malfunctions, clearing its cache should be one of the first items on your to-do list. Follow these steps on Android.

1. Go to your Settings and find “Apps.”
   
2. Locate Outlook on your app list.
   
3. Select “Storage & Cache” and clear all data and cache to remove all outdated login info from your app.
   

Re-Add Your Account

Sometimes, removing your account and adding it again is what does the trick.

1. Open Outlook on your Android and tap your profile icon.
   
2. Find the gear button at the bottom.
   
3. Select the account you want to remove and hit the “Delete” option.
   

Once you’ve removed your account, you can add it again.

1. In the Outlook Settings, tap “Add Account,” then “Add Email Account.”
   
2. Enter your details and set up your account as usual.
   

This will eliminate temporary errors that may have caused login issues before.

Stop the Popup

Identifying why Outlook keeps asking for password login information can be challenging, but the abovementioned solutions cover the most common causes. Follow the instructions for your device, and you’ll be able to stop incessant password popups from hindering your work.

Which of these fixes did the trick for you? Have you found another solution other users might find helpful? Let us know in the comments section below.