Fix Office Sign-In Window Closing After Entering University Email
Question details
The Microsoft Office desktop application sign-in window automatically closes after a user enters a university or organizational email address, preventing activation.
- Product
- Microsoft Office
- Device & OS
- Windows
- Scenario
- A user is attempting to sign in and activate Microsoft Office desktop applications using a university, school, or organizational account.
- Observed behavior
- The sign-in window disappears abruptly after the email is entered, leaving Office applications unregistered, even though the same account successfully signs into Office Online.
Ensure you have administrator privileges on your computer, as you will need to modify the Windows Registry and clear system credentials to resolve this issue.
Clear Credentials, Disconnect Account, and Modify the Registry
This comprehensive fix clears conflicting login data and modifies the registry to disable modern authentication, forcing a clean sign-in prompt.
Often, cached credentials or glitches with the Active Directory Authentication Library (ADAL) prevent the organizational sign-in process from completing. Resetting these Windows settings can resolve the sign-in loop.
Make sure all Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc.) are completely closed.
Open the Windows Start menu, search for 'Credential Manager', and click to open it. Select 'Windows Credentials', find any credentials related to Microsoft Office, click on them, and select 'Remove'.
Go to Windows Settings > Accounts > Access work or school. Locate your school or university account, click on it, and select 'Disconnect'.
Press the Win + R keys on your keyboard, type 'regedit', and press Enter to open the Registry Editor.
Navigate to the path: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Common\Identity. Right-click in the right pane, select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value, name it 'EnableADAL', and set its value data to 0.
Restart your computer. Open an Office application and try signing in with your university email address again.
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If you continue experiencing frustrating sign-in and activation loops with Microsoft Office, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, easy-to-use alternative that lets you create, view, and edit documents without complex activation hurdles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my school account work on Office Online but not on the desktop app?
Desktop applications rely on localized credential managers and authentication protocols like ADAL, which can sometimes cache corrupted tokens. Office Online authenticates directly via your web browser, bypassing any local Windows credential conflicts.
What does setting EnableADAL to 0 do in the registry?
Changing the EnableADAL value to 0 disables the Active Directory Authentication Library (ADAL) in Office. This forces the application to use basic authentication instead of modern authentication, which often bypasses glitches where the modern sign-in window crashes.
Will deleting Windows credentials delete my personal documents?
No. Deleting entries from the Windows Credential Manager only removes the saved login names and passwords for applications. It does not affect or delete your documents, spreadsheets, or personal files.
How do I easily back up the Windows Registry?
Open the Registry Editor, click 'File' in the top left corner, and select 'Export'. Choose a secure location, make sure 'All' is selected under the Export range, and save the file. You can simply double-click this file later to restore the registry.
