How to Fix the Excel Sign-In Required and Expired Credentials Error
Question details
User needs to resolve an Excel sign-in error where cached OneDrive credentials expire and changes cannot be uploaded or downloaded.
- Product
- Microsoft Excel with OneDrive
- Device & OS
- Windows
- Scenario
- Editing an Excel workbook stored in OneDrive and trying to save or sync changes.
- Observed behavior
- Excel reports that cached credentials have expired and that changes cannot be uploaded or downloaded.
Make sure OneDrive is installed and running, and have your Microsoft account password ready because unlinking and re-linking OneDrive will ask you to sign in again.
Reset OneDrive to Clear Expired Excel Credentials
Use this first when Excel shows Sign-In Required or expired credentials but OneDrive is still running.
Resetting OneDrive restarts the sync engine and clears the cached sign-in state without deleting your local files.
Press Windows key + R on your keyboard.
Type %localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\OneDrive.exe /reset and press Enter.
Wait for the OneDrive icon to close and reappear, then open the Excel file again.
Unlink and Relink OneDrive to Force Re-authentication
Use this if resetting OneDrive does not remove the expired sign-in state.
Use WPS Office as a Free Alternative to Avoid OneDrive Credential Errors
If Excel sign-in prompts keep blocking your work, WPS Office gives you a free, lightweight Office suite with a familiar interface and seamless migration from Excel. It opens, edits, and saves Microsoft Excel files locally or in WPS Cloud, so you can keep working without waiting for OneDrive credentials to refresh.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Excel say Sign-In Required even though I am already signed in?
Cached OneDrive credentials can expire or become stale. Reset OneDrive with %localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\OneDrive.exe /reset, or unlink and relink OneDrive to force a fresh sign-in.
Will resetting OneDrive delete my Excel files?
No. Reset only restarts the OneDrive sync engine. It does not delete locally synced or cloud files. OneDrive re-checks the files and syncs pending changes.
What should I do if the expired credentials error returns after relinking OneDrive?
Open Windows Credential Manager, remove stale Microsoft Office or OneDrive credentials, restart OneDrive, and sign in again.
Can I open and edit the Excel file in WPS Office while OneDrive is not syncing?
Yes. Download a local copy of the workbook, open it in WPS Office Spreadsheets, edit and save locally, then upload or re-sync the file when OneDrive reconnects.
