Sign-in & Login Problems

Fix Microsoft Office Keeps Asking for Sign-In Every Time It Opens

Nimra Malik Oct 8, 2026 871 views

Question details

The user experiences a continuous sign-in prompt loop when opening Microsoft Word or Excel documents, despite having previously logged in.

How to Fix Microsoft Office Keeping Asking for Sign-In Every Time It Opens

Product: Microsoft Office
Device & OS: Windows
Scenario: Opening a document or workbook in Microsoft Office applications.
Observed behavior: Office applications repeatedly request Microsoft account credentials every time a file is opened.

Before you start

Ensure you have your correct Microsoft account email address and password ready, as you will need to sign back into Office after clearing the corrupted credentials.

Solution 1Recommended

Clear Cached Credentials in Windows Credential Manager

Removing corrupted or outdated login data from Windows Credential Manager is the most effective way to stop the repeated sign-in prompts.

Sometimes, Windows stores outdated or corrupted authentication tokens for Microsoft Office. Clearing these forces Office to generate a fresh, working login token upon your next login.

Sign Out of Office

Open Word or Excel, navigate to File > Account, and click 'Sign out'. Once signed out, close all Office applications completely.

Open Credential Manager

Press the Windows key on your keyboard, type 'Credential Manager' into the search bar, and hit Enter to open it.

Remove Office Credentials

Click on 'Windows Credentials'. Scroll down to the 'Generic Credentials' section and click on any entries containing 'MicrosoftOffice15_Data' or 'MicrosoftOffice16_Data', then select 'Remove'.

Restart and Sign In

Restart your computer. Open Word or Excel again and sign in with your Microsoft account when prompted.

Clear Cached Credentials in Windows Credential Manager

Tip: Make sure to close all Office applications, including Outlook and OneDrive, before removing the credentials to ensure the fix takes effect properly.

Solution 2

Reconnect Work or School Account in Windows Settings

If you are using an organizational account, refreshing its connection in Windows Settings can resolve underlying authentication loops.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Tired of Office Sign-in Issues? Try WPS Office

If continuous Microsoft Office sign-in loops are disrupting your workflow, consider switching to WPS Office. It is a free, lightweight alternative that doesn't force mandatory cloud authentications just to edit your local files.

1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the free installer.
2. Install and Launch: Run the installer to quickly set up the software on your device.
3. Edit Files Seamlessly: Open your existing Office documents directly and start editing without mandatory login prompts.

Avoid repeated and frustrating sign-in prompts for local document editing.Fully compatible with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint formats (.docx, .xlsx, .pptx).Lightweight installation that runs smoothly even on older Windows devices.Familiar user interface for a seamless transition without a learning curve.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Microsoft Office keep asking for my password?

This usually happens due to corrupted login tokens saved in the Windows Credential Manager, a syncing issue with your account in Windows Settings, or running an outdated version of Office.

Will removing credentials in Credential Manager delete my files?

No, clearing Windows Credentials only removes the saved login passwords and authentication tokens. Your saved documents, spreadsheets, and personal files will remain completely unaffected.

What should I do if clearing credentials doesn't fix the sign-in loop?

If the issue persists, try creating a new Windows user profile to rule out system profile corruption, or perform a clean boot to see if background software is interfering with the Office authentication service.

Login & Account Issues