Outlook keeps asking for your password
Why does Outlook keep asking for my password over and over?
Written by The CommonFixes team · fact checked by CommonFixes review desk
Last updated
Short answer
Microsoft points to three causes: saved sign-in details that no longer match, an account that needs modern sign-in again, or a damaged Outlook profile. The quickest thing to try first: tick remember, then restart outlook — Type the password once more and tick Remember my credentials. Close Outlook completely, then reopen it. Most people are done in about 15 minutes.
Full walkthrough below: 5 steps for Windows and Mac, rated medium.
Sounds like this
- •The password box returns straight away
- •Trying to connect in the status bar
- •Mail stopped arriving today
Why it happens
Microsoft points to three causes: saved sign-in details that no longer match, an account that needs modern sign-in again, or a damaged Outlook profile.
Work through these in order
0% done- 1
Tick remember, then restart Outlook
Type the password once more and tick Remember my credentials. Close Outlook completely, then reopen it.
- 2
Delete the old saved password
Press Start, type Credential Manager, open Windows Credentials and remove every entry beginning with MicrosoftOffice or Outlook. Reopen Outlook and sign in fresh.
- 3
Sign in on the web first
Open your mail in a browser. If it asks for a security code or new terms, complete that there. Outlook cannot show those prompts and will just keep asking.
- 4
Use an app password if two step is on
Gmail, Yahoo and iCloud need an app specific password for desktop mail. Create one in your account security settings and paste that into Outlook instead of your normal password.
- 5
Rebuild the Outlook profile
Control Panel, Mail, Show Profiles, Add, then set the account up again and choose Always use this profile. A damaged profile is the most common stubborn cause.
If none of that worked
If only one account misbehaves, remove it from Outlook and add it again using automatic setup rather than manual server settings.
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Who wrote this and how we checked it
The CommonFixes team
Writer and researcher
We are a small group of people who spend our days repairing laptops and desktops for family, friends and small offices. Every guide here starts with a problem someone actually brought to us, and we only write down the steps that put the machine right.
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CommonFixes review desk
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Before a guide goes live, a second person walks through it on a real machine and checks each instruction against the maker's own support pages. Anything we cannot confirm is removed rather than guessed at.
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This guide was last updated on 10 August 2026. If a step no longer matches what you see on screen, tell us on the contact page and we will test it again.
A gentle reminder: back up anything you cannot afford to lose before major repairs. If a step ever feels risky, stop and ask a technician. There is no shame in that.