Outlook password requirement

Nick O'Keeffe 0 Reputation points
2026-09-13T20:26:24.0133333+00:00

I subscribe to Microsoft 365. Two days ago I was refused access Outlook unless I provide a password. I do not recall having a password for Microsoft 365, and neither Excel nor Word are requiring one before I can use them.

I hope this situation is an anomaly and can quickly be corrected.

Please let me know how to overcome this new "password" hurdle so I can continue using the program I am paying for.

Outlook | Windows | Classic Outlook for Windows | For home
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  1. Kai-H 26,760 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-09-14T10:25:37.04+00:00

    Hi, Nick O'Keeffe

    This is normally an Outlook sign-in problem rather than an issue with your Microsoft 365 subscription. Word and Excel may continue working because they do not need to connect to your mailbox continuously.

    Here are some suggestions you can try:

    Close Outlook and all other Office apps.

    In the Windows search box, type Credential Manager, open it, and select Windows Credentials.

    Remove saved entries containing Outlook, Office, or the affected email address, then restart the computer and open Outlook. Windows Credential Manager allows outdated saved sign-in details to be removed.

    If the prompt continues, open Outlook and select File > Account Settings > Account Settings. Select the email account, choose Repair, and follow the prompts.

    Also select File > Office Account > Update Options > Update Now.

    Do not keep entering an uncertain password repeatedly, as incorrect saved credentials can cause an account lockout.

    Thank you for your patience in reading, I hope this information has been helpful to you. 

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  2. AI answer

    2026-09-13T20:26:36.6533333+00:00

    For Outlook in Microsoft 365, the password prompt is usually asking for the password for the email account that Outlook is trying to open.

    • If the mailbox is an Outlook.com, Hotmail, Live, or MSN account, use the Microsoft account password for that email address.
    • If the mailbox is from another provider, Outlook needs that provider’s email password instead.

    For Outlook on Windows, these are the supported fixes from the documented issues:

    1. If Outlook asks for the password every time, or shows Need Password, check whether Allow Office to connect to the Internet is turned on:
      • Open Outlook.
      • Go to Trust Center Privacy Options.
      • Make sure Allow Office to connect to the Internet is selected.
    2. If Outlook is an older affected version, change the Exchange account security setting:
      • Exit Outlook.
      • Open Control Panel > Mail.
      • Select Show Profiles > the Outlook profile > Properties.
      • Click E-mail Accounts.
      • Select the email account and click Change.
      • Click More Settings.
      • On the Microsoft Exchange dialog, open the Security tab.
      • Set Logon network security to Anonymous Authentication.
      • Click OK, then Next, Finish, and close the dialogs.
    3. If Outlook for Microsoft 365 stopped remembering the password after certain Windows 10 updates, install the Windows update that fixed that issue: February 2, 2021—KB4598291 (OS Builds 19041.789 and 19042.789) Preview.
    4. If the mailbox is a password-protected Outlook Data File (.pst), the password is separate from the Microsoft 365 subscription. That password is case-sensitive, and Microsoft can’t recover it if it was forgotten.

    If the issue is with a newer Outlook 2013 or Outlook 2016 build connected to an Exchange Online mailbox, the documented next step is to run the Diag: Outlook keeps asking for my password self-diagnostics tool.

    References:

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