Sign-in & Login Problems

How to Fix Daily Microsoft 365 Sign-In Prompts (Cached Credentials Expired)

Algirdas Jasaitis Oct 1, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user is repeatedly asked to sign in to Microsoft 365 because the system reports that cached credentials have expired on their laptop.

Fix Daily Microsoft 365 Cached Credentials Sign-In Prompt

Product: Microsoft 365
Device & OS: Windows
Scenario: Accessing and using Office applications for daily work on a personal laptop.
Observed behavior: Microsoft 365 prompts the user for sign-in on a daily basis and displays a message stating that cached credentials have expired.

Before you start

Ensure you have your correct Microsoft account email and password ready, as you will need to sign back in. Please close all running Office applications, such as Word and Excel, before proceeding.

Solution 1Recommended

Clear Stale Office Credentials from Windows Credential Manager

Removing old or corrupted cached credentials forces Microsoft 365 to generate a fresh authentication token, resolving the repetitive daily prompts.

Windows stores login tokens in the Credential Manager. When these tokens become corrupted or out of sync with Microsoft's servers, Office fails to authenticate in the background and prompts you to sign in manually every day.

Sign out of all Office applications

Open any Microsoft Office app like Word. Go to File > Account, click 'Sign out', and then close all open Office windows.

Open Windows Credential Manager

Click the Windows Start menu, type 'Control Panel', and open it. Navigate to 'User Accounts' and click on 'Credential Manager'.

Remove Office16 Credentials

Click on 'Windows Credentials'. Scroll down the list and locate any entries starting with 'MicrosoftOffice16_Data'. Click the down arrow next to each entry and select 'Remove'.

Restart and Sign In

Restart your computer. Open any Office application and sign in with your Microsoft 365 credentials when prompted to create a new, valid cache token.

Clear Stale Office Credentials from Windows Credential Manager

Safe Process: Deleting these credentials will not delete your personal files or Office documents. It only resets your saved login information.

Solution 2

Check Office Identity Settings

If clearing credentials does not work, the issue might be rooted in system identity configurations or registry errors.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Tired of Constant Sign-In Prompts? Switch to WPS Office

If persistent authentication bugs and daily sign-in prompts are interrupting your workflow, consider using WPS Office. It provides a seamless, offline-friendly experience without locking you out of your own documents.

1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free software for your operating system.
2. Install WPS Office: Run the downloaded file and follow the quick on-screen instructions to complete the setup.
3. Open Your Files Seamlessly: Instantly open and edit your existing Microsoft Office documents without worrying about expired cached credentials.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Office formats, including .docx, .xlsx, and .pptx.No mandatory daily sign-in prompts required to edit your local files.Free to download and use with a familiar, easy-to-navigate interface.Lightweight application that uses minimal system resources.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Microsoft 365 say my cached credentials have expired?

This happens when the saved login token in Windows Credential Manager becomes corrupted, outdated, or out of sync with Microsoft's servers, causing background authentication to fail.

Will clearing Windows Credentials delete my saved Office files?

No. Clearing your Windows Credentials only removes the saved passwords and authentication tokens. Your personal documents, spreadsheets, and emails remain completely safe.

What if I don't see 'Office16' in my Credential Manager?

If you are using a different version of Office, the prefix might be 'Office15'. If you don't see any Office credentials, your login might be managed directly through Windows Settings under 'Accounts' > 'Access work or school'.

Login & Account Issues