Sign-in & Login Problems

Fix Microsoft 365 Sign-In Error 2148073494 After Windows 11 Update

Chanuka Geekiyanage Sep 30, 2026 869 views

Question details

Users are experiencing authentication failures with error code 2148073494 in Microsoft 365 desktop applications after installing specific Windows 11 updates.

How to Fix Microsoft 365 Sign-In Error 2148073494 on Windows 11

Product: Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams, OneDrive)
Device & OS: Windows 11
Scenario: Attempting to sign in to Microsoft 365 desktop apps after installing Windows 11 updates KB5035942 and KB5036035.
Observed behavior: Desktop applications fail to authenticate and display error 2148073494, while web applications continue to function normally.

Before you start

Ensure you have access to a local administrator account on your Windows 11 device, as administrative privileges are required to modify system-level Work or School account settings.

Solution 1Recommended

Remove and Re-add the Work or School Account via Administrator Session

This resolves the authentication conflict by clearing corrupted account credentials stored at the system level following the Windows update.

Windows 11 updates KB5035942 and KB5036035 can cause local credential caching issues for Active Directory or Work/School accounts. Removing these accounts from an administrator profile forces Windows to refresh the authentication tokens.

Sign in as Administrator

Log out of your current Windows session and sign in using a local or domain administrator account.

Access Account Settings

Open Windows Settings, navigate to 'Accounts', and select 'Access work or school'.

Remove the Affected Account

Locate the problematic work or school account in the list, click on it, and select 'Disconnect' or remove it from the administrator session.

Sign in as the Affected User

Sign out of the administrator account and log back in using the original user account that was experiencing the Microsoft 365 error.

Re-add the Account

Go back to Windows Settings > Accounts > Access work or school, and click 'Connect' to add your work or school account again. Open Microsoft 365 desktop apps to verify the fix.

Remove and Re-add the Work or School Account via Administrator Session

Web Apps Operational: If you need immediate access to your files while troubleshooting, Microsoft 365 web apps remain fully functional during this desktop app outage.

Solution 2

Create a New Local Windows User Account

If re-adding the account does not work, the local Windows user profile itself might have been corrupted by the update installation.

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1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website to download and install the free WPS Office suite on your Windows 11 PC.
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Frequently Asked Questions

Why do Windows updates KB5035942 and KB5036035 cause Microsoft 365 sign-in errors?

These specific Windows 11 updates can occasionally corrupt the local cache or credentials associated with Azure Active Directory (AAD) or Work/School accounts. This conflict prevents the desktop applications from passing the necessary authentication tokens.

Can I still access my emails and documents while facing error 2148073494?

Yes. The authentication error only affects Microsoft 365 desktop applications. You can continue to access Outlook, Word, Excel, and OneDrive seamlessly via their web browser versions.

What if removing the Work or School account requires an administrator but I am on a company laptop?

If your device is joined to a company domain or managed by an organization, you will likely lack the permissions to modify these settings. You must contact your IT support or system administrator to perform the account removal and re-addition process for you.

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