Windows Integration Errors

Fix Microsoft 365 Desktop Apps Showing Network Offline and Certificate Errors

Maira Mehtab Sep 20, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user is unable to use Microsoft 365 desktop apps like Teams and OneDrive because they report no internet connection and fail to sign in, despite an active internet connection. The apps also display a security alert regarding unavailable certificate revocation information.

Product: Microsoft 365
Device & OS: Windows
Scenario: Attempting to sign in or activate Microsoft 365 desktop applications on a Windows PC.
Observed behavior: Teams and OneDrive falsely report being offline. When prompting for sign-in and activation, the apps display a security alert stating that revocation information for the site's security certificate is unavailable.

Before you start

Verify that your computer's date and time are set correctly, as incorrect system time can often trigger false security certificate errors.

Solution 1Recommended

Disable Publisher's Certificate Revocation Check

This method resolves the error by bypassing the Certificate Revocation List (CRL) check, which is useful when your system is temporarily unable to access the required security servers.

This error typically occurs when your system or browser cannot verify the security certificate of the Microsoft authentication servers because the Certificate Revocation List (CRL) is inaccessible.

Open Internet Options

Press the Win + R keys on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box. Type 'inetcpl.cpl' and press Enter.

Navigate to the Advanced settings

In the Internet Properties window, click on the 'Advanced' tab at the top and scroll down to the 'Security' section.

Disable the revocation check

Find and uncheck the box labeled 'Check for publisher's certificate revocation'. Click 'Apply' and then 'OK'.

Restart applications

Close the Internet Properties window and restart your affected Microsoft 365 applications (like Teams or OneDrive) to see if the issue is resolved.

Security Consideration: Disabling this setting reduces a layer of security validation. Once your apps successfully authenticate, you may want to re-enable this option later to check if the network block to the CRL server has been resolved.

Solution 2

Create a New Local Windows User Profile

If modifying internet options does not resolve the connectivity and certificate issues, your current Windows user profile settings or registry might be corrupted.

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Switch to WPS Office for a Hassle-Free Experience

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3. Open your files: Launch WPS Office and directly open your existing DOCX, XLSX, or PPTX files to continue your work without connectivity errors.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is it safe to leave 'Check for publisher's certificate revocation' unchecked permanently?

While it fixes the immediate sign-in issue, leaving it unchecked permanently slightly reduces your system's security because it won't verify if a site's certificate has been explicitly revoked by the publisher. It is recommended to try re-enabling it periodically.

Why does OneDrive say offline when my internet browser works perfectly?

Microsoft 365 desktop apps like OneDrive rely on specific background Windows network services and security certificate validations. If these services cannot reach the validation server (CRL) due to ISP routing or firewall issues, the apps will treat the connection as offline even if standard web browsing works.

Will this fix apply to Microsoft Teams as well?

Yes, adjusting the Internet Properties (inetcpl.cpl) applies system-wide to Windows security protocols. It will help resolve network offline and certificate revocation errors for Teams, OneDrive, Outlook, and all other Office desktop apps.

Microsoft Office Error Codes