How to Stop Outlook Password Prompts After a Microsoft 365 Password Change
Question details
The user is experiencing continuous password prompts in Outlook after updating their Microsoft 365 account password.
- Product
- Microsoft Outlook
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Attempting to access emails in Outlook desktop application right after completing a Microsoft 365 password reset or change.
- Observed behavior
- Outlook repeatedly asks for the password but fails to connect or save the new login credentials, usually due to conflicting outdated sign-in tokens stored locally on the device.
Verify that your new Microsoft 365 password works by logging into Outlook on the web, and ensure your account hasn't been temporarily locked out due to multiple failed desktop login attempts.
Clear Outdated Microsoft 365 Credentials
Removing old saved passwords and authentication tokens forces Outlook to ask for and save your new credentials properly.
When you change your Microsoft 365 password, your operating system may still retain the old authentication tokens. Outlook attempts to use these outdated tokens in the background, which causes the server to reject the connection and continuously prompt you for a password.
Ensure that Microsoft Outlook and any other Office applications are completely closed before proceeding.
On Windows, click the Start menu, type 'Credential Manager', and open it. Select 'Windows Credentials'. On a Mac, open the 'Keychain Access' app from your Utilities folder.
In Windows, look for any entries containing 'Outlook', 'Office16', or 'MicrosoftOffice'. Click on them and select 'Remove'. On a Mac, search for 'Exchange' or 'ADAL' and delete the related keychain entries.
Restart your computer, open Microsoft Outlook, and type in your newly updated Microsoft 365 password when prompted. Check the box to remember your credentials.
Create a New Outlook Profile
If clearing the credentials does not resolve the issue, your current Outlook profile might be corrupted and needs to be recreated.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Outlook keep asking for my password even when I enter the correct one?
This usually happens because Windows Credential Manager or macOS Keychain Access is still holding onto an expired security token or your old password. This cached data conflicts with your new login attempt, causing a continuous password prompt loop.
Will creating a new Outlook profile delete my existing emails?
No, your emails, contacts, and calendar events are safely stored on the Microsoft 365 Exchange servers. Creating a new Outlook profile simply forces the desktop application to download a fresh copy of your mailbox data from the server.
Does changing my Microsoft 365 password affect my Outlook mobile app?
Yes, changing your password will invalidate the current session on your mobile devices. You will eventually be prompted to sign in again with your new password on the Outlook app for iOS or Android.
What should I do if my Microsoft 365 account says it is locked?
If your account is locked, it is likely because Outlook attempted to sign in automatically too many times using your old cached password. Wait 15 to 30 minutes for the temporary lockout to clear, or contact your organization's IT administrator to unlock it manually.
