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You open Microsoft Outlook, and it suddenly asks for your password. Even after entering the correct password, Outlook keeps prompting for it repeatedly. If you are facing this issue, then you are dealing with the most common Outlook error: Outlook keep Asking for Password.
This guide will cover a few important aspects, including reasons for the error and methods to solve the issue. Without any further delay, let’s move ahead and begin with the reasons for the error.
Why Does Outlook Keep Asking for Password?
Before we fix any error, it is important to know why you are facing it in the first place. Here are some root causes of this error.
| Source of the Problem | Affects | Impact Level |
|---|---|---|
| Corrupted saved credentials | Outlook cannot remember your password | Frequent |
| Damaged Outlook profile | Outlook login stops working properly | Common |
| Outdated Outlook version | Login issues and authentication errors | Common |
| Corrupted OST file | Emails stop syncing properly | Frequent |
| Exchange server issues | Outlook cannot verify your account | Occasional |
Methods to Fix Outlook Keep Asking for Password Error
1. Clear Saved Credentials
Windows stores Outlook’s authentication tokens in the Credential Manager. When you change your password, or your organization resets your account, these stored tokens become invalid — causing Outlook to loop on a password prompt it can never satisfy.
2. Remove Cached Passwords from Credential Manager
Corrupted saved credentials in Windows sometimes cause continuous asking for a password. Here are the steps to remove it.
- Open Control Panel.
- Go to Credential Manager.
- Click Windows Credentials.
- Locate Outlook or Microsoft Office credentials.
- Remove the stored credentials.
- Restart Outlook and log in again.
3. Create a New Outlook Profile
Another factor that causes the “Outlook Keep Asking for Password” error is a corrupted Outlook profile. In that scenario, creating a new profile is the best option. Here are the points.
- Open Control Panel.
- Click Mail and select Show Profiles.
- Click Add and create a new profile.
- Configure your email account.
- Set the new profile as the default.
After creating the new profile, reopen Outlook and check whether the issue is resolved or not.
4. Update Microsoft Outlook
An outdated version of Outlook may contain bugs related to authentication, which causes the error. Here is what you can do;
- Open Outlook.
- Go to File > Office Account.
- Click Update Options.
- Select Update Now.
Installing the latest updates can fix compatibility and password-related issues.
5. Repair Corrupted OST File
If the Outlook OST file becomes corrupted, Outlook may fail to authenticate properly and continuously ask for passwords. Here are the steps to fix corrupt OST file:
- Use the Inbox Repair Tool (SCANPST)
- Close Outlook.
- Locate SCANPST.exe on your system.
- Browse the OST/PST file.
- Start the repair process.
- At last, reopen Outlook.
If the OST file is severely damaged or inaccessible, professional OST repair tools may help recover mailbox data.
6. Disable Modern Authentication (Temporary Fix)
In some environments, Modern Authentication conflicts can cause a password prompt to loop.
- Press Win + R → type regedit → hit Enter
- Navigate to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Common\Identity
- If the Identity key doesn’t exist → right-click Common → New → Key → name it Identity.
- Right-click in the right pane → New → DWORD (32-bit) Value
- Name it EnableADAL
- Double-click it → set value to 0
- Also, clear saved credentials from Control Panel → Credential Manager → Windows Credentials → remove any Microsoft Office entries
- Restart Outlook
Important: This method should be used only temporarily, preferably under the guidance of an IT administrator.
7. Repair or Reinstall Microsoft Office
If none of the above fixes work, the Microsoft Office installation itself may be corrupted. Running a repair is the last resort before a clean reinstall.
- Press Win + I to open Settings → Apps → Installed Apps.
- Find Microsoft Office (or Microsoft 365). Click the three-dot menu → Modify.
- Select Quick Repair and click Repair. This takes 2–5 minutes.
- Restart your PC and test Outlook.
These are some manual ways to fix the “Outlook Keep Asking for Password” error. To avoid this issue in the future, make sure you follow these key points:
- Keep Outlook updated
- Use stable internet connectivity
- Avoid unnecessary add-ins
- Update Windows regularly
- Maintain healthy OST/PST files
- Use secure authentication settings
What to Do When Manual Fixes Don’t Work
If you are still facing the issue after going through all the manual solutions, then you need an expert solution for that. BLR OST Recovery tool is the safest approach that can help you to recover data from the corrupted OST file. If Outlook is asking for a password in a loop, then the major cause is the corrupted OST file. Try out the demo version of the tool and analyse how it repairs your OST file.
Conclusion
Repeated password prompts in Outlook typically stem from authentication failures, corrupted credentials, a damaged profile, or a corrupted OST file. In most cases, the fix is straightforward: clearing your cached credentials, regular Outlook update, creating a new profile, or repairing your data files will resolve the issue.
Apply each solution in order until the repeated password prompts stop. To avoid the problem recurring, keep Outlook updated and regularly check your profile and data file.
