Sign-in & Login Problems

Fix Cached Credentials Have Expired When Opening Teams Files in Office

Khadija Khan Oct 22, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user is repeatedly receiving a 'Cached Credentials Have Expired' error when trying to open Microsoft Teams files in Office desktop apps, even after performing standard credential resets.

How to Fix 'Cached Credentials Have Expired' Error for Teams Files

Product: Microsoft Office
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Opening synced Microsoft Teams files or OneDrive files in local Office desktop applications.
Observed behavior: The error message persists despite signing out of Office, clearing Windows credentials, and unsyncing OneDrive, specifically impacting files opened from Microsoft Teams.

Before you start

Before modifying your Office cache or Windows Registry, please save all ongoing work and ensure that all Office applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Microsoft Teams, are completely closed.

Solution 1Recommended

Clear the Office Document Cache

Clearing the built-in Office cache resolves most credential conflicts affecting Teams and OneDrive files opened in desktop apps.

Open an Office Application

Launch any blank Office desktop application, such as Word, Excel, or PowerPoint.

Navigate to Save Options

Click on 'File' in the top-left corner, select 'Options' at the bottom of the menu, and then click on the 'Save' tab in the left-hand sidebar.

Delete Cached Files

Scroll down to find 'Cache Settings'. Click the 'Delete cached files' button, and then click 'OK' to confirm. Restart the Office application and try reopening your Teams file.

Solution 2

Disable Office Sync Integration in OneDrive

If the issue stems from a synchronization conflict, disabling the Office application sync feature in OneDrive can bypass the persistent credential error.

Solution 3

Clear Office Identity Credentials via Registry Editor

If clearing the cache fails, removing corrupted Office identity keys from the Windows Registry forces a completely clean sign-in state.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Office say my cached credentials have expired?

This error occurs when the login token stored locally by Office desktop apps becomes invalid or out of sync with Microsoft's authentication servers. This is often caused by recent password changes, session timeouts, or conflicts between OneDrive and Teams synchronization protocols.

Will deleting cached files in Office remove my local documents?

No, deleting cached files from the Office settings only removes temporary background sync data used for cloud files. Your actual local documents and fully synced cloud files remain completely safe and untouched.

How do I safely back up the Windows Registry before making changes?

To back up the registry, open the Registry Editor, click 'File' in the top menu, and select 'Export'. Choose a safe location to save the backup file, ensure the 'All' option is selected under the Export range section at the bottom, and click 'Save'.

Why does the credential error only happen with Teams files, but not standard OneDrive files?

Teams files utilize a specific SharePoint architecture for collaboration. If standard OneDrive fixes don't work, it is because the localized Office Document Cache is still holding onto an expired SharePoint/Teams authentication token, requiring you to clear the cache directly within the Office app settings.

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