How to Fix InfoPath 2013 Sign-In Issues with Microsoft 365 MFA
Question details
Users are unable to sign in to InfoPath Designer 2013 when Microsoft 365 multi-factor authentication (MFA) is enabled, resulting in a persistent account error.
- Product
- InfoPath Designer 2013
- Device & OS
- Windows 10
- Scenario
- Attempting to sign in to a Microsoft 365 account using the legacy InfoPath 2013 application in an environment where multi-factor authentication is enforced.
- Observed behavior
- InfoPath displays the error message 'There is a problem with your account' and blocks the sign-in process because it defaults to legacy authentication protocols rather than modern authentication.
Before modifying the Windows Registry, ensure you have administrative privileges on your Windows 10 device and create a System Restore point or back up your registry.
Enable Modern Authentication (ADAL) via Registry Editor
Manually force Office 2013 legacy applications to use the Active Directory Authentication Library (ADAL) to support modern Microsoft 365 MFA prompts.
InfoPath 2013 relies on basic authentication by default, which fails when Microsoft 365 enforces MFA. By adding a specific key to your Windows Registry, you can activate modern authentication, allowing the secure MFA login prompt to render correctly inside the application.
Press the Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog. Type 'regedit' and press Enter. Click Yes if prompted by User Account Control.
In the Registry Editor, navigate to the following path: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\15.0\Common\Identity.
Right-click on an empty space in the right pane, select New, and click on DWORD (32-bit) Value. Name the new value 'EnableADAL'.
Double-click the newly created 'EnableADAL' value, change its Value data to 1, and click OK.
Close the Registry Editor and restart InfoPath Designer 2013. Attempt to sign in again to trigger the standard Microsoft 365 MFA prompt.
Consult IT Administrator for App Passwords or Alternatives
If registry modifications are restricted or do not resolve the issue, contact your IT department to explore allowed legacy authentication methods or modern application upgrades.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does InfoPath 2013 show 'There is a problem with your account'?
This error occurs because InfoPath 2013 is a legacy application that does not natively support the modern multi-factor authentication (MFA) prompts used by current Microsoft 365 accounts. It attempts to use basic authentication, which is blocked by MFA policies.
Should I disable MFA on my Microsoft 365 account to use InfoPath?
No, disabling MFA drastically reduces your account security and is not recommended. Instead, you should enable modern authentication (ADAL) via the Windows Registry so InfoPath can securely process the MFA prompt.
Will creating a new Windows user profile fix the InfoPath sign-in issue?
Creating a new user profile generally will not resolve this issue if modern authentication is not enabled system-wide. The core problem lies within the Office 2013 identity components, which specifically require the EnableADAL registry key to function with MFA.
