Sign-in & Login Problems

How to Fix SharePoint Designer Cannot Sign In to a SharePoint Site

Elise Williams Oct 12, 2026 869 views

Question details

Users are unable to sign in to SharePoint Designer 2013, preventing them from connecting to and managing SharePoint sites.

How to Fix SharePoint Designer Cannot Sign In to a SharePoint Site

Product: SharePoint Designer 2013
Device & OS: Windows
Scenario: Attempting to open a SharePoint site to manage site elements and workflows.
Observed behavior: SharePoint Designer fails to open the site and displays an account sign-in error.

Before you start

Ensure you have administrative privileges on your Windows PC and completely close SharePoint Designer 2013 before modifying system settings.

Solution 1Recommended

Enable ADAL Authentication via Registry Editor

Updating your registry settings to enable the Active Directory Authentication Library (ADAL) can resolve sign-in issues caused by modern authentication requirements in SharePoint Online.

Because SharePoint Designer 2013 uses older authentication protocols by default, it may struggle to connect to modern SharePoint Online environments. Enabling ADAL forces the application to use modern authentication.

Open Registry Editor

Press the Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog, type 'regedit', and press Enter to launch the Registry Editor.

Navigate to the Identity Key

In the left pane, navigate to the following path: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\15.0\Common\Identity.

Create or Update EnableADAL

Right-click on an empty space in the right pane, select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value, and name it 'EnableADAL'. Double-click it and set the Value data to 1.

Create or Update Version

Similarly, right-click to create another New > DWORD (32-bit) Value named 'Version'. Double-click it and set the Value data to 1.

Restart and Test

Close the Registry Editor, restart your computer, and attempt to sign in to SharePoint Designer again.

Enable ADAL Authentication via Registry Editor

Registry Backup Recommended: Always back up your Windows Registry by clicking File > Export before making any modifications.

Solution 2

Migrate Workflows to Power Automate

Since SharePoint Designer 2013 is outdated and lacks full compatibility with newer SharePoint Online features, transitioning to modern tools is highly recommended for long-term workflow reliability.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Looking for a Lightweight and Reliable Office Suite?

While troubleshooting legacy Microsoft tools like SharePoint Designer, consider WPS Office for your daily document needs. It's a free, lightweight, and highly compatible alternative to Microsoft Office, ensuring seamless productivity without the heavy system requirements or outdated software issues.

1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the free installation package for your operating system.
2. Install the Suite: Run the installer and follow the simple on-screen instructions to set up WPS Office on your device.
3. Open Your Documents: Launch WPS Office and seamlessly open, edit, and save your existing .docx, .xlsx, and .pptx files.

Highly compatible with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint formats.Lightweight installation with fast startup times to boost your workflow efficiency.Familiar and intuitive user interface for a seamless transition from Microsoft Office.Free core features to handle all your daily document processing tasks easily.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is SharePoint Designer 2013 failing to authenticate my account?

SharePoint Designer 2013 uses legacy authentication protocols by default. Modern SharePoint Online environments require modern authentication (ADAL), which must be manually enabled in the Windows Registry for older Office 15.0 clients.

Is SharePoint Designer 2013 still supported by Microsoft?

SharePoint Designer 2013 is no longer in mainstream support. Its extended support is primarily limited to compatibility with SharePoint Server 2016, and it may not support newer SharePoint Online features.

What is the recommended alternative to SharePoint Designer for workflows?

Microsoft strongly recommends migrating your legacy SharePoint site workflows to Power Automate, a modern, cloud-based tool designed for robust automation and collaboration.

Login & Account Issues