Sign-in & Login Problems

How to Stop Microsoft Office from Repeatedly Showing the Sign-In Page

Algirdas Jasaitis Oct 13, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs to resolve an issue where Microsoft Office continuously prompts for sign-in despite being on an Active Directory joined network.

How to Stop Microsoft Office from Repeatedly Showing the Sign-In Page

Product: Microsoft 365 Apps
Device & OS: Windows
Scenario: Following an Office upgrade or when working on an Active Directory joined computer where single sign-on is expected.
Observed behavior: Microsoft 365 Apps repeatedly display the 'Sign in to set up Office' setup page instead of automatically authenticating the user.

Before you start

Ensure you have administrative privileges to modify the Windows Registry and that your computer is properly connected to your organization's network.

Solution 1Recommended

Clear the Office Identity Cache and Windows Credentials

This method removes corrupted or outdated authentication tokens, forcing Office to establish a fresh single sign-on connection.

When Microsoft Office upgrades, outdated identity tokens stored in the Windows Registry and Credential Manager can cause single sign-on (SSO) to fail. Clearing these cached identities forces the application to re-authenticate properly against the Active Directory.

Open Registry Editor

Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog. Type 'regedit' and press Enter to launch the Registry Editor.

Delete the Identities Folder

Navigate to the following path: Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Common\Identity\Identities. Right-click on the 'Identities' folder and select 'Delete'.

Access Credential Manager

Open the Windows Start menu, search for 'Control Panel', and launch it. Change the view to Large Icons, then click on 'Credential Manager' and select 'Windows Credentials'.

Remove Office Credentials

Scroll through the list and locate any credentials that contain 'MicrosoftOffice16_Data'. Click the drop-down arrow next to each one and select 'Remove'.

Restart and Sign In

Restart your computer. Launch any Microsoft Office application, such as Word or Excel, and follow the prompt to sign in one final time if required.

Clear the Office Identity Cache and Windows Credentials

Registry Backup: It is highly recommended to back up your registry before making any changes. You can do this by clicking File > Export within the Registry Editor.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Microsoft Office keep asking me to sign in?

This continuous prompt is usually caused by corrupted login cache data, an expired authentication token, or conflicting credentials stored on your computer after a recent Office update.

Will deleting the Office Identity registry key delete my documents?

No. Deleting the identity cache only removes temporary authentication tokens used to log you into Microsoft 365. Your personal documents, spreadsheets, and emails are entirely safe and will not be affected.

How do I ensure single sign-on (SSO) works after clearing the cache?

Ensure your computer is properly connected to your organization's Active Directory network. Once the corrupted cache is cleared, Office should automatically request a fresh token from your organization's server upon the next launch.

Login & Account Issues