SharePoint Document Issues

How to Fix SharePoint Office Upload Failed Sign-In Loop

Maira Mehtab Oct 16, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user is trapped in a continuous sign-in loop when trying to upload or sync Microsoft Office documents to a SharePoint location.

How to Fix the SharePoint Office Upload Failed Sign-In Loop

Product: Microsoft Office, SharePoint
Device & OS: Windows
Scenario: Uploading, saving, or syncing local document changes to a SharePoint directory or OneDrive.
Observed behavior: An error states 'Upload failed. You are required to sign in...'. Clicking the 'Sign In' button causes the prompt to temporarily disappear and return, leaving files open and unsynchronized.

Before you start

Immediately use the 'Save As' function to save local copies of all your unsynchronized documents to a local drive (such as your Desktop) to prevent any data loss while troubleshooting.

Solution 1Recommended

Clear Office Credentials and Reset OneDrive

Resolve credential conflicts by removing corrupted Microsoft Office logins from the Windows Credential Manager and resetting your cloud sync connection.

The sign-in loop is most commonly caused by outdated or conflicting cached login tokens on your computer. Clearing these forces Office to authenticate freshly with SharePoint.

Close all Office applications

Ensure every Microsoft Office application (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) is completely closed after successfully saving your local backups.

Remove cached credentials

Open the Windows Start menu, search for 'Credential Manager', and open it. Select 'Windows Credentials' and remove any entries that begin with 'MicrosoftOffice'.

Relink OneDrive

Right-click the OneDrive cloud icon in your system tray, go to Settings, and select 'Unlink this PC'. Once unlinked, sign back in to reconnect your account.

Verify synchronization

Open your Office document and click 'Sign In' when prompted. Check if the upload now completes successfully without triggering the loop.

Data Safety: Removing credentials only deletes the stored login data on your PC. It will not delete or alter your actual files stored on SharePoint.

Solution 2

Clean Up Office Identity Registry Keys

If clearing the Credential Manager fails, manually removing Office identity keys from the Windows Registry can force a completely fresh authentication state.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Avoid Sign-in Loops with WPS Office

Tired of dealing with Microsoft Office sign-in loops and upload failures? Switch to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly compatible, and hassle-free alternative with seamless local and cloud document management, saving you from complex troubleshooting.

1. Download and install: Get the free WPS Office installer from the official website and complete the quick installation.
2. Open your files: Launch WPS Office and open your existing Microsoft Office documents directly; no format conversion needed.
3. Edit and save seamlessly: Work on your documents and save them locally or directly to your preferred cloud storage without synchronization loops.

Completely free and lightweight office suiteExcellent format compatibility with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPointSmooth and reliable cloud synchronization without complex credential conflictsFamiliar user interface ensuring zero learning curve

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Microsoft Office keep asking me to sign in?

This usually happens when multiple Office accounts or expired session tokens conflict in the Windows Credential Manager, confusing the authentication process and causing a continuous loop.

How do I ensure I don't lose my work during an upload failure?

Always use the 'Save As' feature to save a copy of your document to a local folder (like Documents or Desktop) before closing the application or attempting to fix the credential loop.

Will removing credentials delete my SharePoint files?

No. Removing credentials from the Windows Credential Manager only deletes the stored login data on your local PC. Your actual files on SharePoint or OneDrive remain completely unaffected.

What if the Sign In button disappears instantly?

This is a hallmark symptom of the credential loop. Closing Office, removing the stored 'MicrosoftOffice' credentials, and restarting your PC usually stops the button from disappearing and resolves the loop.

Document & File Issues