How to Fix Office Sign-In and Upload Problems After Password Change
Question details
The user experiences continuous sign-in credential prompts, an inability to upload document changes, and application freezing in Office after updating their account password.
- Product
- Microsoft Office
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Attempting to sync, save, or edit documents after a recent Microsoft account password change.
- Observed behavior
- Office repeatedly asks for sign-in credentials, fails to upload document changes to the server, and may freeze immediately after the user authenticates.
Ensure you have your new Microsoft account password ready and verify that you have a stable internet connection before attempting to sign in again or update your software.
Install Available Office Updates
Updating Office can resolve known authentication bugs and sync issues caused by outdated credential caches.
Microsoft frequently releases patches that address sign-in loops and authentication freezing bugs. Installing these updates first can save you the trouble of a full reinstallation.
Launch any Office application, such as Word or Excel, create a new blank document, and click on 'File' in the top-left corner, then select 'Account' from the left sidebar.
Under the Product Information section, click on 'Update Options' and select 'Update Now' from the drop-down menu.
Wait for the updates to download and install. Once complete, restart your computer, open Office again, and try signing in with your new password.
Perform a Clean Reinstallation of Office
If updating does not resolve the loop, completely uninstalling and reinstalling Office will clear corrupted credential caches and registry keys.
Switch to WPS Office for a Hassle-Free Experience
If Microsoft Office continues to freeze or loop during sign-in, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly compatible, and free alternative without complex account syncing requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Office keep asking for my password after I changed it?
This usually happens because Office applications are holding onto an old credential cache. Windows Credential Manager or the internal Office cache may fail to automatically overwrite the old password, leading to a continuous sign-in loop.
Will uninstalling Office delete my saved documents?
No, uninstalling Microsoft Office only removes the application files. Your locally saved Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents will remain intact on your computer. However, always ensure unsaved cloud changes are saved locally first.
How do I clear cached Office credentials in Windows?
You can clear cached credentials by opening the 'Credential Manager' from the Windows Start menu, selecting 'Windows Credentials', and removing any entries related to Microsoft Office. Restarting your PC after this can sometimes resolve the sign-in issue without requiring a full reinstall.
