Fix Microsoft 365 Sign-In Errors When Saving Word Documents
Question details
Users experience continuous sign-in prompts when trying to save Microsoft Word or Excel documents, often caused by conflicts between personal and work accounts or outdated cached credentials.
- Product
- Microsoft 365
- Device & OS
- Windows
- Scenario
- Attempting to save a document after a new computer setup, an account change, or switching between personal and work Microsoft accounts.
- Observed behavior
- Office applications repeatedly request the user to sign in to save files, even if the correct subscription is active, often using cached credentials or defaulting to the wrong account.
Ensure all your unsaved work is backed up locally to your computer before clearing credentials or modifying the Windows Registry, as you will need to close all applications and restart your system.
Clear Office Credentials and Registry Identities
Removing cached Windows credentials and clearing Office identities from the registry forces Microsoft 365 to request a fresh, clean authentication.
When multiple accounts are used on the same PC, Windows Credential Manager can store conflicting login tokens. Clearing these tokens and the associated registry keys is the most effective way to break the sign-in loop.
Open Microsoft Word or Excel, navigate to File > Account, click the Sign out button, and close all open Office applications completely.
Open the Control Panel and navigate to User Accounts > Credential Manager > Windows Credentials. Locate and click on any credentials starting with 'MicrosoftOffice16' or 'MicrosoftOffice15', then select Remove.
Press Windows Key + R, type 'regedit', and hit Enter. Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Common\Identity\Identities. Delete the identity folders located inside this path and close the Registry Editor.
Restart your computer. Open Microsoft Word, sign in with your primary licensed work or personal account, and try saving a document.
Refresh Your Connected Account Session
Sometimes, logging back into the personal account currently connected to Office can refresh the session and clear temporary authentication glitches.
Clear Office Document Cache Settings
Corrupted cached files can cause upload centers to fail, resulting in persistent sign-in loops when saving.
Edit and Save Documents Without Sign-in Hassles
If Microsoft 365 login errors and credential conflicts continue to disrupt your workflow, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly compatible alternative that lets you edit, save, and manage your documents smoothly without constant account prompts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Microsoft Word keep asking me to sign in when I save?
This usually happens when there is a conflict between multiple Microsoft accounts (like work and personal), or when your Windows Credential Manager has cached outdated login tokens that fail to authenticate properly with OneDrive or SharePoint.
Will deleting Microsoft Office credentials delete my personal files?
No, deleting credentials from the Windows Credential Manager only removes the saved login information used by the software. Your actual Word documents and Excel spreadsheets remain completely safe and untouched on your drive.
How do I access the Windows Credential Manager?
Click the Windows Start menu, type 'Credential Manager' into the search bar, and hit Enter. Alternatively, you can open the Control Panel, go to User Accounts, and then select Credential Manager.
