Dealing with Outlook asking for your password all the time is just plain annoying. You might have just reset your password, updated some software, or maybe things started acting weird after a Windows or Office update. Whatever the cause, it can kill your flow, especially if you don’t have the time or patience to troubleshoot deep system stuff. The good news is we’ve gathered some of the most effective fixes that actually work because, honestly, dealing with Outlook’s password prompts can sometimes feel like trying to fix a leaky faucet — trial and error, a little frustration, and hoping it just stops. Implementing these methods can help you get back to a stable, login-credential-free outlook experience in no time, and without needing a doctorate in Microsoft admin.
How to Fix the Outlook Password Loop
Method 1: Clearing Out the Credential Manager – Remove Old Credentials
This is why it helps: Outlook often stores passwords in Windows Credential Manager, and sometimes those stored credentials get all out of sync — especially after changing passwords or moving accounts. Clearing these out prompts Outlook to ask for your current password, kind of like giving it a fresh start, which stops those relentless prompts from showing up.
When to try it: If Outlook suddenly asks for your password repeatedly, even after entering the right one, or you recently changed your password.
What to expect: Outlook should ask for credentials just once after you clear and re-enter them properly, and then it should remember without bothering you again.
Steps:
- Close Outlook completely, including any linked apps like Skype for Business or Teams, because Outlook tends to hang onto credentials if the app’s still open.
- Open Control Panel (hit Windows key + S, type “Control Panel, ” and hit Enter).
- Head to Credential Manager (you might find it under “User Accounts” or just search for “Credential Manager”).
- Click on Windows Credentials and find any entries related to your email or Outlook; they might say “MicrosoftOffice” or your email address.
- Remove or edit those credentials. Sometimes, it’s easiest just to delete the Outlook-related entries.
- Reboot your PC. Not sure why, but sometimes a restart is enough for everything to clear out and reset—Windows loves making things harder than necessary.
- Re-open Outlook, and when prompted, enter your email and password. Make sure to check “Remember my credentials” or similar so Outlook can store it securely.
Why it works: Since Outlook pulls passwords from this vault, clearing any bad or outdated ones avoids the mismatch that causes loops. Fresh credentials help Outlook sync up again.
Method 2: Tweak Outlook Security Settings – Prevent the Prompts
Sometimes, Outlook’s security configuration can be a little overzealous, prompting every time it doesn’t fully trust your credentials. Tweaking these settings makes Outlook happier and less paranoid, especially if you’re working in a trusted network.
When to use it: When Outlook asks for passwords even when you’re sure you typed the right one or after the credential cache has been cleared.
What happens: Outlook will remember your login longer, reducing those annoying re-prompts, and generally behave smarter about credentials.
Steps:
- Open Outlook, then go to File > Account Settings > Account Settings.
- Select your email account and click Change.
- Click More Settings in the popup window, then go to the Security tab.
- Find the checkbox that says Always prompt for logon credentials—and make sure it’s unchecked.(If this box is checked, Outlook keeps asking for passwords because it’s configured to do that.)
- Click OK, close all the dialogs, then restart Outlook.
Why it’s effective: Less prompting because Outlook isn’t constantly trying to double-check your credentials, trusting what it already has stored.
Method 3: Keep Everything Updated – Office and Windows
This one is just smart maintenance. Outdated software can cause bugs or security conflicts, which might lead Outlook to think your password is wrong or expired.
When to do it: If all else fails, or you keep getting prompts even after trying other fixes.
What you’ll do:
- In Outlook, go to File > Office Account > Update Options > Update Now. This kicks off the latest updates for Outlook.
- For Windows, press Windows key + I to open Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Check for updates.
- Install everything available, then restart your PC.
- Open Outlook and see if the password prompts are finally gone.
Why it helps: This keeps your apps current, patching bugs that could cause authentication issues.
Method 4: Use Microsoft’s SaRA Troubleshooter – Automated Fixes
Another good move is letting Microsoft’s official tool do some of the heavy lifting. The Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant (SaRA) can automatically run tests and fix common Outlook problems, including stubborn password requests.
How to use it:
- Download SaRA from the official Microsoft page.
- Extract the ZIP file, run the setup (`SaraSetup.exe`), and follow the prompts.
- Launch SaRA, pick Outlook, then select “Outlook keeps asking for my password” (or similar).It will automatically analyze your setup and suggest fixes.
- Follow the instructions, restart Outlook when asked, and check if the problem is gone.
Why it’s good: Instead of manually fiddling with settings or registry edits, SaRA handles most of that for you and often irons out the root cause faster.
Method 5: Modern Authentication – The Way Forward
Older authentication methods (like Basic Authentication) are phased out, and sticking with them can cause issues. Ensuring your Outlook and account support Modern Authentication can fix repeated password prompts, especially if your setup is a little behind the times.
Check: If managing a business or enterprise setup, verify with your admin if Modern Authentication is enabled in the Microsoft 365 admin portal. Most recent Outlook versions handle this automatically, but older ones (like Outlook 2013 or earlier) might need extra tweaks.
Older versions: In Outlook, go to your account settings, then Security tab, and ensure the Logon network security is set to Anonymous Authentication (for Exchange accounts).On newer versions, this should be managed automatically.
Restart Outlook after changes, and re-enter credentials if asked. This better aligns with Microsoft’s current security standards, and often stops the endless password loop.
Method 6: Creating a Fresh Outlook Profile – When All Else Fails
If your Outlook profile is corrupted, fixing it can be a pain. Creating a new profile is usually the last resort, but it works wonders. It guarantees a fresh start, clearing out any strange settings or corruption that might cause the password issue.
Here’s how:
- Close Outlook completely.
- Open Control Panel, find Mail (or Mail (Microsoft Outlook)), and click it.
- Click Show Profiles > Add. Enter a name, then follow the prompts to add your email account.
- Back in the main Mail window, select Always use this profile and pick the new one.
- Start Outlook. Enter your credentials when prompted, and check if it still keeps asking for passwords.
Tip: Sometimes, this is the only thing that clears stubborn, stuck profiles that refuse to behave.
Extra Tips: Network, Security, and Other Rogue Obstacles
If Outlook still screams for login info, inspect your firewall or antivirus software — they sometimes block or interfere with authentication requests. Try disabling them temporarily to see if it helps. Also, confirm you’re connected to the right network, especially if a VPN, domain, or Wi-Fi issue is involved. Slow or unstable internet can cause Outlook to lose its connection and prompt for credentials again and again.
Last tip: if you’re using shared or delegated mailboxes, removing those accounts and re-adding them sometimes solves login loops. And if nothing else works, reinstalling Office or switching to a different email client temporarily can help pin down the root cause or at least buy some peace of mind.
Wrap-up
Addressing those annoying Outlook password prompts usually comes down to clearing cached credentials, updating security settings, and keeping everything current. It’s a mix of clearing out old info, tweaking settings, and making sure your apps are up to date. Sometimes, creating a new profile is the magic fix if the old one’s totally corrupted. Hopefully, these tips save someone from pulling their hair out — worked for multiple setups I’ve seen, so fingers crossed this helps yours too.
Summary
- Clear stored credentials in Windows Credential Manager
- Adjust Outlook’s security settings to trust your login
- Update Outlook and Windows to the latest versions
- Run Microsoft SaRA for automated troubleshooting
- Check and enable Modern Authentication if needed
- Create a new Outlook profile if all else fails
- Review network/firewall/security software interference