Sign-in & Login Problems

How to Fix Microsoft 365 Desktop App Login Loop with Personal OneDrive

Maira Mehtab Sep 20, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user is experiencing a continuous authentication loop when attempting to connect Microsoft 365 desktop apps to a personal OneDrive account.

Product: Microsoft 365 Desktop Apps
Device & OS: Windows
Scenario: Connecting a personal OneDrive account to Microsoft 365 desktop applications on a computer that may also have business accounts associated with it.
Observed behavior: Word and other desktop apps repeatedly display the error 'There’s a problem with your account or device' during login, though business accounts and online apps work correctly.

Before you start

Ensure you know your Microsoft account credentials and check which specific Microsoft 365 subscriptions (personal or business) are currently active on your device.

Solution 1Recommended

Resolve Office License and Account Conflicts

Conflicting personal and business Microsoft 365 licenses on the same PC can cause authentication loops. Removing unnecessary accounts helps resolve this.

Microsoft guidance indicates that running multiple Office 365 license types on a single PC can lead to account conflicts and authentication loops, especially when mixing personal and business accounts on the same Windows user profile.

Review installed accounts

Open a Microsoft 365 desktop application like Word, click on 'File', and select 'Account' to view all currently connected services and assigned licenses.

Sign out of conflicting accounts

Click 'Sign out' for any unnecessary business or personal accounts that might be conflicting with your primary Microsoft 365 license.

Restart and sign in

Close all Office applications completely, restart your computer, reopen Word, and sign in directly to your personal OneDrive account.

License Limitation: You generally cannot install and use multiple different Office 365 license types simultaneously on the same PC without experiencing potential authentication conflicts.

Solution 2

Contact Microsoft Support for Advanced Diagnostics

If standard troubleshooting fails, you may need to escalate the persistent login loop issue to Microsoft Support with your specific device details.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Use WPS Office to Avoid Account Conflicts

Tired of dealing with complex license conflicts and login loops? WPS Office provides a lightweight, unified suite that easily connects to various cloud drives without restrictive multi-license conflicts. It lets you manage your files seamlessly across personal and professional environments.

1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the free desktop application for Windows.
2. Install and launch: Run the installer. Once opened, you can immediately start creating or editing documents without being forced into a strict licensing login.
3. Connect cloud storage: Go to the 'Open' menu and safely add your preferred cloud storage accounts, like Google Drive or OneDrive, to access your files seamlessly.

Completely free to use for standard document tasks without complex licensing restrictions.Fully compatible with Microsoft Office formats, including .docx, .xlsx, and .pptx.Easily manage and connect multiple cloud storage accounts without triggering login loops.Lightweight software that installs quickly and runs smoothly on Windows.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my Microsoft 365 desktop app keep asking me to sign in?

This login loop often happens when there is a conflict between multiple Office licenses on the same device, such as having both a personal and a business account active simultaneously.

Can I use multiple Microsoft 365 license types on the same computer?

Microsoft generally does not support running multiple different Office 365 license types (e.g., Enterprise and Personal software installations) on a single PC, as it can cause authentication conflicts and errors.

How do I fix the 'There’s a problem with your account or device' error in Word?

Try signing out of all accounts under 'File' > 'Account', restarting your computer, and then signing back in with only the primary account associated with your active license to clear the authentication conflict.

Login & Account Issues