Exchange Connection Problems

How to Stop Repeated Autodiscover Security Alerts in OneNote and Word

Ayan Masood Oct 9, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to stop recurring autodiscover security warnings that appear every time they open Microsoft OneNote or Word.

How to Stop Repeated Autodiscover Security Alerts in OneNote and Word

Product: Microsoft Word, Microsoft OneNote
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Opening Microsoft Office applications that are connected to an Exchange email account.
Observed behavior: A security alert regarding an autodiscover mismatch consistently pops up upon launching the applications.

Before you start

Ensure you have administrator access to your device and verify that you know your correct Exchange email account configuration details as provided by your IT department or hosting provider.

Solution 1Recommended

Suppress Autodiscover Mismatch Warnings via Registry Editor

Use Microsoft's recommended registry modification to redirect the autodiscover process and prevent the security alert from appearing when the server address is trusted.

This method involves editing the Windows Registry to bypass the specific autodiscover domain causing the mismatch. Proceed with caution and ensure you only enter trusted domains provided by your hosting provider.

Open Registry Editor

Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box. Type 'regedit' into the text field and click OK or press Enter. If prompted by User Account Control, click Yes to allow access.

Navigate to the AutoDiscover Key

In the Registry Editor, use the left sidebar to navigate to the following path: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Outlook\AutoDiscover (replace 16.0 with your specific Office version number if using an older version).

Add a Redirect String

Right-click on an empty space in the right pane, select New > String Value. Name this new value after the domain that is failing the mismatch check (e.g., your hosting provider's domain). Double-click the new string and set its Value data to the correct autodiscover URL.

Restart Office Applications

Close the Registry Editor completely. Close any instances of Microsoft Word, OneNote, and Outlook that are currently running, then reopen them to verify that the security prompt no longer appears.

Suppress Autodiscover Mismatch Warnings via Registry Editor

Registry Backup Recommended: Before making any changes to the Windows Registry, it is highly recommended to export a backup of the current state by clicking File > Export in the Registry Editor menu.

Solution 2

Verify Autodiscover Configuration with Hosting Provider

Resolve the root cause of the mismatch by ensuring that your email hosting provider has properly configured the Autodiscover DNS records.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why do Microsoft Word and OneNote show Autodiscover alerts?

These applications regularly attempt to connect to your linked Exchange email account to sync connected services, profiles, or cloud features. If the email server's SSL certificate domain doesn't perfectly match the autodiscover endpoint domain, the application triggers a security warning to protect your data.

Will ignoring the autodiscover warning affect my local documents?

Ignoring the warning generally will not prevent you from editing local documents saved on your hard drive. However, it can interrupt cloud syncing, document sharing features, and integration with Outlook until the connection issue is resolved.

Can I disable autodiscover completely in Word and OneNote?

You cannot disable autodiscover strictly for Word and OneNote without affecting other Office services. However, you can manage how Office connects to online services by going to File > Account > Manage Settings under Account Privacy, or by resolving the mismatch via the Registry Editor.

Outlook & Email Problems