Sign-in & Login Problems

Fix Word and Excel Repeatedly Signing Out of Microsoft 365

Camila Milosovich Sep 30, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user is experiencing a recurring authentication issue where Microsoft 365 applications constantly log them out and require a new sign-in.

How to Fix Word and Excel Keeping Signing Out of Microsoft 365

Product: Microsoft 365
Device & OS: Windows
Scenario: Trying to use Microsoft Word or Excel but being interrupted by sign-out prompts and yellow warning icons.
Observed behavior: Office applications repeatedly sign the user out and display a yellow warning icon indicating that another sign-in is required.

Before you start

Ensure you have administrator privileges on your computer, as resolving this issue may require running Command Prompt as an administrator and making careful edits to the Windows Registry.

Solution 1Recommended

Roll Back Microsoft 365 Update via Command Prompt

Use this solution if the sign-out loop is caused by the known Microsoft Office Error 29 update bug.

Microsoft 365 updates occasionally introduce authentication bugs like Error 29. Rolling back to a stable version using the Click-to-Run client can temporarily bypass the broken update until an official patch is released.

Open Command Prompt as Administrator

Close all running Office applications. Click the Windows Start menu, type 'cmd', right-click on Command Prompt, and select 'Run as administrator'.

Navigate to the ClickToRun Folder

In the Command Prompt window, type `cd %programfiles%\Common Files\microsoft shared\ClickToRun` and press Enter.

Execute the Rollback Command

Type `OfficeC2RClient.exe /update user updatetoversion=16.0.17531.20120` and press Enter. Wait for the update process to finish.

Disable Automatic Updates

Open Word, go to File > Account > Update Options, and select 'Disable Updates' to prevent Office from immediately reinstalling the problematic version.

Reinstalling as an Alternative: If the command line rollback does not work, you can uninstall Microsoft 365 entirely and reinstall a stable version using an official offline installer.

Solution 2

Clear Office Identity Cache and Registry Keys

Use this solution to remove corrupted cached credentials that are forcing Microsoft 365 to drop your session.

Solution 3

Sign In through the Office Title Bar

A quick workaround if signing in through the standard File > Account menu continuously fails.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Avoid Sign-in Loops with WPS Office

If Microsoft 365 continues to lock you out with repeated sign-in errors and frustrating update bugs, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a stable, lightweight, and completely free alternative without the hassle of complex cloud authentication loops.

1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and click the free download button for your operating system.
2. Install and Open Files: Run the installer. Once complete, you can immediately open and edit your existing Microsoft Office documents without dealing with account sign-in loops.

No mandatory cloud sign-ins or recurring subscription authentication errors.Fully compatible with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint formats (.docx, .xlsx, .pptx).Lightweight installation that runs smoothly on older hardware.Familiar user interface that requires zero learning curve.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Microsoft 365 keep displaying a yellow warning icon and asking for sign-in?

This is typically caused by a corrupted local identity cache, conflicting credentials in the Windows Credential Manager, or specific bugs in recent Microsoft 365 updates (such as Error 29) that break the authentication token.

Can a passwordless Microsoft account cause these sign-out errors in Word and Excel?

Yes, occasionally desktop Office applications struggle to synchronize authentication states with passwordless accounts or accounts using strict multi-factor authentication. Removing and re-adding the account, or temporarily switching to a standard password, can sometimes resolve the sync issue.

How do I back up my registry before fixing the Office Identity key?

Open the Registry Editor, navigate to the key you want to back up (e.g., `HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Common\Identity`), right-click it, select 'Export', and save the .reg file to a safe location like your Desktop.

Login & Account Issues