Sign-in & Login Problems

How to Fix Microsoft Sign-In Refresh Errors for School Accounts

Phi Hung Vo Sep 28, 2026 870 views

Question details

Users experience a continuous refresh loop or error when attempting to sign in to Microsoft applications using their education or school accounts.

How to Fix Microsoft Sign-In Refresh Errors for School Accounts

Product: Microsoft 365
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Signing in to Microsoft services using a school or education account.
Observed behavior: The application repeatedly requests a refresh and displays an error message instead of completing the login process.

Before you start

Make sure you have your complete school email address and password ready, and try to capture a screenshot of any specific error codes displayed during the refresh loop before attempting to troubleshoot.

Solution 1Recommended

Clear Cached Credentials and Test in a Private Window

Clearing conflicting login data and using a private browser window is the most effective way to resolve persistent refresh loops.

Often, previously saved credentials from personal or older school accounts interfere with new sign-in attempts, causing the application to loop continuously.

Sign out of conflicting accounts

Open the Microsoft application and sign out of any personal or secondary Microsoft accounts currently logged in.

Use a Private Window

Open your web browser in Incognito or Private mode, navigate to the Microsoft 365 portal, and attempt to sign in with your school account.

Clear application credentials

If you are using a desktop app, clear your cached Microsoft credentials via the Windows Credential Manager or macOS Keychain Access, then restart the application.

Clear Cached Credentials and Test in a Private Window

Solution 2

Contact Your School's IT Administrator

If local troubleshooting fails, the issue may stem from organization policies or licensing restrictions that only an administrator can resolve.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my school account keep asking me to refresh?

This usually happens due to conflicting cached credentials on your device, an expired session token, or a change in your school's security policies requiring re-authentication.

Can I use personal and school accounts on the same Microsoft app?

Yes, but mixing accounts can sometimes cause sign-in loops. It is recommended to sign out of your personal account before logging into your school account, or to use entirely different user profiles on your device.

What information should I give my IT admin if the error persists?

Provide them with a screenshot of the error page, the specific application you are trying to use (e.g., Teams, Word, Excel), and any alphanumeric error codes displayed during the refresh loop.

Login & Account Issues