How to Fix AADSTS9002313 Invalid Request Error When Signing In to Office
Question details
The user is unable to sign into Microsoft Office desktop applications and is receiving an invalid request error message, despite browser sign-in working perfectly.
- Product
- Microsoft 365 / Office desktop applications
- Device & OS
- Windows 7
- Scenario
- Attempting to sign into Microsoft Office desktop applications like Outlook, Excel, or Word to authenticate the account and use the software.
- Observed behavior
- The application displays the error code AADSTS9002313 with the message 'Invalid request. Request is malformed or invalid,' preventing successful login.
Ensure that your internet connection is stable and verify that you have administrative privileges on your Windows computer, as you will need to modify system credentials and settings.
Clear Credentials and Reset Office Activation State
This removes corrupted login tokens and forces Office to establish a fresh connection with Microsoft's authentication servers.
When Office desktop apps fail to sign in but the web versions work, the issue is typically caused by corrupted local credential tokens or an outdated activation state.
Open any Office app like Word or Excel, click on your profile picture or name in the top right corner, and select 'Sign Out'. Close all Office applications.
Click the Start menu, type 'Credential Manager', and open it. Go to 'Windows Credentials' and remove all credentials that start with 'MicrosoftOffice'.
Press Win + R, type 'regedit', and hit Enter. Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Common\Identity. Right-click the 'Identity' folder and delete it.
Restart your computer, open an Office application, and try signing in again with your Microsoft 365 account.
Test with a New Windows User Profile
Use this method to determine if the sign-in error is specific to your current Windows user account profile.
Address Windows 7 End-of-Support Issues
Understand how the end of Windows 7 support impacts Microsoft 365 authentication and explore alternative steps.
Try WPS Office as a Lightweight Alternative for Older Windows Versions
If Microsoft 365 no longer supports your Windows 7 device or you are frustrated by persistent sign-in errors, WPS Office is an excellent, free alternative. It provides seamless compatibility with Microsoft formats without requiring complex activation processes or modern OS authentication.
- 1. Download the installer: Visit the official WPS website and click the free download button.
- 2. Install the software: Run the downloaded executable file and follow the quick installation prompts.
- 3. Open and edit your files: Launch WPS Office and open your existing .docx, .xlsx, or .pptx files immediately without activation hassles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Microsoft Office sign-in work in my browser but not in the desktop app?
Desktop applications rely on specific authentication protocols (like ADAL) and locally stored credential tokens. If the local credential manager is corrupted, or if an outdated operating system blocks modern authentication, desktop apps will fail to sign in even while browser-based sessions, which handle authentication independently, work fine.
Can I still run Microsoft 365 on Windows 7?
While older, already-installed versions of Microsoft 365 might technically open on Windows 7, official support ended in January 2020. You will no longer receive feature updates, and you are highly likely to encounter persistent connectivity and sign-in errors such as AADSTS9002313.
What should I do if clearing the Credential Manager doesn't fix the AADSTS9002313 error?
If clearing credentials does not resolve the issue, you should reset the Office activation state by deleting the 'Identity' registry keys associated with Office. Alternatively, create a new Windows user profile to verify if the issue is tied to corruption in your current local account profile.
