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Fix OneDrive for Business Sign-In Error 0xCAA50021 After Password Change
Question details
Users are unable to sign in to OneDrive, Excel, or PowerPoint due to error 0xCAA50021 after updating their organizational account password.
- Product
- OneDrive for Business
- Device & OS
- Windows
- Scenario
- Attempting to access Microsoft 365 desktop applications and cloud storage after a work or school password change.
- Observed behavior
- Email and Microsoft Teams remain accessible, but OneDrive, Excel, and PowerPoint fail to authenticate and display activation error code CAA50021.
Ensure you have your new work or school account credentials available, and verify that your Windows account has the necessary permissions to modify device settings.
Disconnect and Reconnect Your Work or School Account
Refreshing your device's connection to the organization's Azure Active Directory clears stale authentication tokens causing the sign-in error.
When a password changes, Windows sometimes fails to automatically update the Primary Refresh Token for Office desktop applications. Manually re-adding the account forces a new, authorized connection.
Click the Start menu and select the gear icon, or press the Windows key + I on your keyboard to open Settings.
Go to 'Accounts' from the left-hand menu, then scroll down and click on 'Access work or school'.
Locate the organizational account that is experiencing the error. Click on it, select 'Disconnect', and confirm the prompt to remove the account from your device.
Click the 'Connect' button at the top of the 'Access work or school' page. Enter your work or school email address and sign in using your newly updated password.
Avoid Microsoft 365 Sign-In Interruptions with WPS Office
If persistent authentication errors like 0xCAA50021 are keeping you from your documents, consider using WPS Office. It provides a robust, lightweight, and offline-capable alternative that lets you work without being locked out by mandatory cloud syncing issues.
- 1. Download and Install: Get the free WPS Office installer from the official website and complete the quick installation process.
- 2. Open Your Documents: Double-click any existing Word, Excel, or PowerPoint file on your computer to open it instantly in WPS Office.
- 3. Work Offline or Choose Your Cloud: Edit and save your files directly to your local hard drive, or connect a personal cloud drive of your choice without organizational restrictions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why am I getting error 0xCAA50021 in OneDrive but Teams still works?
Microsoft Teams and Outlook often use different token caching mechanisms compared to desktop Office apps. When your password changes, the desktop apps (like Excel and OneDrive) may fail to refresh their Azure AD tokens, resulting in this specific activation error while Teams remains unaffected.
Will disconnecting my work account delete my local files?
No. Disconnecting your work or school account in Windows Settings only removes the authentication link and single sign-on profile from the device. Your locally saved documents and files will remain untouched on your hard drive.
Do I need IT administrator privileges to fix this error?
You can perform the basic troubleshooting step of disconnecting and reconnecting your account on your own. However, if your organization has disabled device registration in Azure AD, you will need your IT administrator to adjust the tenant settings before you can successfully sign back in.
