Sign-in & Login Problems

Fix Missing Password Box When Switching Windows Users for Office

Phi Hung Vo Oct 12, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user cannot switch Windows profiles to access Microsoft Word because the password box is missing on the sign-in screen.

How to Fix Missing Password Box When Switching Windows Users

Product: Microsoft Word / Windows
Device & OS: Windows
Scenario: Switching Windows user accounts to access Office applications on a shared computer.
Observed behavior: The sign-in screen fails to display a password entry box for the alternative user, preventing login and access to Microsoft Word.

Before you start

Ensure you are currently logged into an account with administrator privileges so you can verify the status of other user profiles on the computer.

Solution 1Recommended

Verify and Activate the Windows User Account

Check if the missing user account is properly configured and active in the Windows file system.

If a user profile has not been fully initialized or activated on a Windows machine, the operating system may fail to display the password box on the login screen. Verifying the account's presence in the system directory is the first step to resolving this.

Open File Explorer

Press the Windows key + E on your keyboard to open File Explorer and navigate to your main system drive (usually C:).

Check the Users Folder

Open the 'Users' folder (C:\Users) and look for a profile folder that matches the username of the account you are trying to switch to.

Add the Missing User

If the folder does not exist, the account is not properly set up on this computer. You will need to add the user by navigating to Windows Settings > Accounts > Other users, and clicking 'Add account'.

Sign In to Access Word

Once the account is properly added and active, restart the PC. The password box will appear, allowing the user to sign in, configure their profile, and use Microsoft Word normally.

Verify and Activate the Windows User Account

Corporate Network Accounts: If this computer is connected to a corporate domain, a network administrator may need to provision the user's account permissions before they can log in.

Solution 2

Restart the Windows Credential Manager Service

Sometimes Windows services hang, causing login UI elements like the password box to disappear.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Office for a Hassle-Free Experience

If Windows user profile issues are preventing you from accessing Microsoft Word, consider switching to WPS Office. It's a lightweight, free alternative that installs quickly and provides excellent compatibility with all Microsoft Office file formats without relying on complex user account provisioning.

1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the free installation package.
2. Install on Your PC: Run the installer. WPS Office can be installed quickly without requiring complex Windows multi-user configurations.
3. Open Your Documents: Launch WPS Writer and open your existing Word documents seamlessly.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx), Excel (.xlsx), and PowerPoint (.pptx) formats.Lightweight installation that uses minimal system resources and installs in seconds.Free to use with a familiar, easy-to-navigate user interface that requires no learning curve.Provides built-in PDF editing, merging, and conversion tools.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the password box missing on the Windows login screen?

This typically happens if the user account is not fully set up on the computer, if there is a glitch in the Windows login services, or if the system requires a restart to apply newly added account profile changes.

Can I use Microsoft Word if my Windows user profile isn't fully set up?

No, Microsoft Word requires a properly configured and active Windows user profile to verify licensing, store temporary files, and save user-specific application data in the C:\Users directory.

How do I check if an account exists in the C:\Users folder?

Log in with an administrator account, open File Explorer, and navigate to the C:\Users directory. Look for a folder bearing the exact username of the account you are trying to access.

Does WPS Office require a specific Windows user profile to run?

While WPS Office runs within a Windows user environment, it offers a fast, lightweight setup. A user simply needs standard access to the desktop to install and use the free WPS Office suite for their document editing needs.

Login & Account Issues