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Fix Microsoft Photos Memories Keep Requesting Sign-In on Windows 11

Elise Williams Sep 28, 2026 868 views

Question details

Users are unable to view Memories or Albums in the Windows 11 Photos app because it repeatedly prompts for a OneDrive sign-in that does not work, even though recent photos are successfully synced.

How to Fix Microsoft Photos Memories Empty and Requesting Sign-In

Product: Windows 11 Photos App
Device & OS: Windows 11
Scenario: Viewing Memories or Albums synced from OneDrive in the Microsoft Photos app.
Observed behavior: The app displays recent synchronized photos but shows empty Memories and Albums, repeatedly asking the user to sign in to OneDrive. Clicking the sign-in button has no effect.

Before you start

Ensure your Windows 11 operating system is fully updated and verify that your Microsoft account credentials are functioning correctly by logging into OneDrive via a web browser.

Solution 1Recommended

Repair or Reset the Microsoft Photos App

Use Windows settings to repair or reset the app, which can clear corrupted web-view cache or broken synchronization states.

Windows 11 includes built-in troubleshooting tools for its native applications. Resetting the Photos app can resolve authentication loops caused by outdated local cache.

Open Installed Apps

Press Windows + I to open Settings and navigate to Apps, then select Installed apps.

Access Advanced Options

Scroll down to find Microsoft Photos in the app list, click the three-dot menu icon next to it, and select Advanced options.

Repair or Reset

Scroll down to the Reset section and click the Repair button first. If the sign-in issue persists after repairing, return to this menu and click Reset.

App Reset Data: Resetting the app will clear its local data and cache, but your actual photos stored on your hard drive or in OneDrive will remain completely safe.

Solution 2

Sign Out and Re-authenticate OneDrive

Refresh the connection between your Microsoft account, OneDrive, and the Photos app to resolve partial authentication failures.

Solution 3

Update the Photos App via Microsoft Store

Since this is often caused by a web-view defect in specific app versions, updating to the latest release can patch the bug.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the sign-in button do nothing when clicked in Microsoft Photos Memories?

This is often due to a bug in the web-view component of the updated Photos app, where the authentication trigger fails to launch the browser or system prompt. Resetting the app or updating it via the Microsoft Store usually resolves this freeze.

Can Samsung Gallery synchronization cause the Windows 11 Photos app to glitch?

Yes, conflicts between Samsung Gallery sync and native OneDrive sync can occasionally confuse the authentication tokens in Windows 11. Try temporarily disconnecting Samsung Gallery from your Microsoft account via your phone settings to see if it restores the Memories functionality on your PC.

Will I lose my synced photos if I reset the Microsoft Photos app?

No. Resetting the Photos app only clears the local app cache, temporary thumbnails, and application settings. Your actual image files stored on your local drive and safely in your OneDrive cloud storage remain completely unaffected.

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