How to Reset Excel Power Query Exchange Authentication Method
Question details
The user needs to reset or change the saved authentication method for an Exchange server data source in Excel Power Query.
- Product
- Microsoft Excel
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Reconnecting to an Exchange server data source with a different authentication method, such as a Microsoft account.
- Observed behavior
- Excel Power Query remembers the previous authentication method and credentials, preventing the user from entering new login details.
Ensure you have your new credentials, such as your Microsoft account email and password, ready before clearing the existing permissions.
Clear Global Permissions in Data Source Settings
Clear the saved permissions for the Exchange server to force Excel to prompt for a new authentication method upon reconnection.
Power Query securely stores your previously used credentials to speed up the data refresh process. To switch to a new account or authentication method, these saved credentials must be manually deleted from the global data source settings.
Open your Excel workbook, navigate to the 'Data' tab on the top ribbon, click on 'Get Data', and select 'Data Source Settings' from the dropdown menu.
In the Data Source Settings dialog box, click on the 'Global Permissions' tab at the top. Scroll through your saved sources and select the specific Exchange server or domain.
With the Exchange server highlighted, click the 'Clear Permissions' button located at the bottom of the window. When prompted for confirmation, select 'Delete'.
Close the Data Source Settings window. Attempt to reconnect to your Exchange data source. When the new authentication prompt appears, choose the 'Microsoft account' option and enter your new credentials.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Power Query not asking for my credentials?
Power Query securely stores your previously entered credentials in the Global Permissions settings. It automatically applies these saved details to save time, which is why you aren't prompted again until you clear them manually.
Can I clear permissions for a specific workbook only?
Yes. In the Data Source Settings window, you can switch the view from 'Global Permissions' to 'Permissions for this workbook' to clear or edit credentials that apply exclusively to the current file.
Does clearing permissions delete my queries or data?
No, clearing permissions only removes the saved login credentials. Your actual queries, applied transformation steps, and loaded data models remain completely intact.
What if the Exchange server is not listed in Global Permissions?
If the Exchange server is missing from Global Permissions, check the 'Permissions for this workbook' tab. If it is not there either, you may not have previously successfully authenticated, or the query may have been deleted.
