Classic Outlook for Windows (Microsoft 365, Outlook 2016 to 2024) can show the password prompt in a loop: you type the password, the prompt comes back, and messages stop syncing. Microsoft lists several causes, from a password simply changed at the email provider to a Microsoft 365 account stuck in the "Need Password" state. This guide covers them in order, from the simplest to the most technical.
Problem
- The password prompt reappears after every entry, or every time Outlook starts.
- Outlook shows Need Password in the status bar, with no visible new prompt.
- Emails are no longer sent or received, while webmail works.
Before you start
Note the type of account involved: Microsoft 365 work or school account, personal Outlook.com/Hotmail account, or an account from another provider (Gmail, Yahoo, internet service provider) using IMAP or POP. Microsoft points out that the password is always changed at the email provider, never in Outlook: Outlook only stores the password.
| Observation | Where to go |
|---|---|
| The prompt appears while adding the account | Step 1 |
| The account worked, then the prompts started | Steps 2 and 3 |
| Two-step verification is enabled on the account | Step 4 |
| Microsoft 365 account in the "Need Password" state | Step 5 |
| PC or account managed by an organization | Special cases |
Step 1: check what you type and the user name
Use this if the prompt keeps coming back while setting up the account.
Suggested solution
- Make sure Caps Lock is off: Microsoft reminds that passwords are case-sensitive.
- Check the user name: it must be the full email address (for example firstname.lastname@example.com), not just the part before the @.
Expected result: Outlook accepts the password and finishes setting up the account.
Step 2: test the password on the webmail
Use this if the account used to work. Microsoft mentions two common causes: a password changed at the provider without being updated in Outlook, or an expired password (some work accounts require regular changes).
Suggested solution
- Open your provider's webmail in a browser and sign in with the same password as in Outlook.
- If sign-in fails, or the site asks you to change the password, change it on the provider's website or through your administrator.
- Open Outlook: Microsoft states that it will then prompt for the updated password. Enter the new password and tick the option to remember it if offered.
Expected result: the webmail accepts the password and Outlook syncs after you enter the new password. If the webmail accepts the password but Outlook rejects it, go to step 3.
Step 3: remove an outdated credential saved in Windows
Use this if the password is correct on the webmail but Outlook keeps asking. Windows Credential Manager lets you view and delete the credentials saved for apps and websites.
Suggested solution
- Close Outlook.
- Type Credential Manager in the taskbar search box and open it.
- Select Windows Credentials, then find the entries containing your email address or the name of your mail server.
- Write down the exact name of the entry, then expand it and click Remove. Only remove entries related to this email account.
- Restart Outlook and enter the current password when prompted.
Expected result: Outlook saves the new credential and stops asking for the password. This removal does not delete any email: at worst, the password will be asked for one more time.
Step 4: use an app password if needed
Use this if two-step verification is enabled on the account and the usual password is rejected even though it is correct.
Suggested solution
- Gmail account: Google states that an app password, a 16-character code, can only be used if 2-Step Verification is turned on. Google recommends "Sign in with Google" when the app offers it: only use an app password if Google sign-in is not offered.
- Personal Microsoft account: Microsoft reserves app passwords for apps that don't support two-step verification. They are created in the account's Advanced security options, under App passwords.
- Other providers: check your provider's help; Microsoft notes that an app password may be required with some third-party accounts.
- Enter the app password in Outlook instead of your usual password.
Expected result: Outlook connects with the app password. To revoke access later, delete that app password from your account's security page.
Step 5: Microsoft 365 account stuck on "Need Password"
Use this if Outlook shows Need Password with no visible prompt. Microsoft describes this case on Windows 10 version 1703 or later with Microsoft 365 version 1807 or later: it comes from missing information about a Windows authentication component. The fix re-registers this component; it requires an administrator PowerShell. On a work PC, ask your IT department first.
Suggested solution
- Close Outlook and the other Microsoft 365 apps.
- Right-click Start and open Windows PowerShell (Admin) or Terminal (Admin). Accept the User Account Control prompt.
- For a work or school account, run:
if (-not (Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.AAD.BrokerPlugin)) { Add-AppxPackage -Register "$env:windir\SystemApps\Microsoft.AAD.BrokerPlugin_cw5n1h2txyewy\Appxmanifest.xml" -DisableDevelopmentMode -ForceApplicationShutdown } Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.AAD.BrokerPlugin
- For a personal account (outlook.com, hotmail.com, etc.), run:
if (-not (Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.Windows.CloudExperienceHost)) { Add-AppxPackage -Register "$env:windir\SystemApps\Microsoft.Windows.CloudExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy\Appxmanifest.xml" -DisableDevelopmentMode -ForceApplicationShutdown } Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.Windows.CloudExperienceHost
- Restart Outlook and sign in if a sign-in window appears.
Expected result: the command finishes without error and displays the component's information; Outlook reconnects to the account. Each command only re-registers the component if it is missing, and touches neither your emails nor your Outlook profile. If an error appears in red, stop and paste it in a reply to this topic.
Special cases
- Exchange or work Microsoft 365 account: Microsoft refers you to the administrator for cases related to server configuration or modern authentication. On older versions of Outlook (earlier than Outlook 2016), Microsoft also documents a logon network security setting to switch to Anonymous Authentication: see the Microsoft Learn article listed in the sources.
- Outlook no longer opens at all or freezes while loading: that is a different problem, covered in Outlook qui ne s'ouvre plus ou reste bloqué au chargement (French guide).
- Forgotten password: resetting it can only be done at the email provider, from its website.
Final check
- ☐ The password works on the provider's webmail.
- ☐ The user name in Outlook is the full email address.
- ☐ No old entry for this account remains in Credential Manager.
- ☐ After restarting Outlook, no password prompt reappears and a test email is sent and received.
Sources
- Troubleshoot Outlook email setup (Microsoft)
- Change or update your email password in Outlook for Windows (Microsoft)
- Credential Manager in Windows (Microsoft)
- App passwords for a Microsoft account (Microsoft)
- Sign in with app passwords (Google Account Help)
- Authentication fails automatically in Microsoft 365 apps (Microsoft Learn)
- Outlook continually prompts for password with a Microsoft 365 mailbox (Microsoft Learn)
Outlook still asks for the password?
Reply to this topic with:
- Your Outlook version (File > Office Account) and Windows version.
- The account type (work Microsoft 365, Outlook.com, Gmail, other provider) and the connection type if you know it (Exchange, IMAP, POP).
- Whether the same password works on the webmail.
- Whether two-step verification is enabled on the account.
- The exact text shown in Outlook's status bar or in the sign-in window.