Microsoft Outlook is one of the most used email clients because of its powerful features and user-friendly interface. It is a reliable email client used to manage email, contacts, calendars, tasks etc. However, one of the most common issues users face is – ”Outlook keeps asking for password” repeatedly, even after they’ve entered it correctly.
This common issue can disrupt your workflow and leave you feeling stuck. Don’t worry, it’s usually solvable through several manual methods or, if needed, with the help of third-party tools
In this blog, we’ll explore the possible reasons for this problem and step-by-step solutions to help you fix it.
Why Does Outlook Keep Asking for a Password?
Before diving into solutions, it’s essential to understand the major cause of throwing this error.
- Cached Credential Problems
- Outdated Outlook Versions
- “Remember Password” option is not enabled
- Network and Firewall Issues
- Corrupt Outlook profile
- Account security changes (e.g., multi-factor authentication)
How can you fix the issue – Outlook Keep Asking for Password?
Here I have clearly described all the challenges of fixing Outlook password error.
Clear Cached Passwords
Windows Credential Manager often stores outdated or incorrect credentials, which can interfere with Outlook’s authentication process. Clearing these cached credentials is often the quickest way to resolve the issue. Follow these steps:
- Click the Windows Start button and open the Control Panel.
- Go to User Accounts → Credential Manager.
- Under Windows Credentials, find entries related to Outlook or Microsoft Office.
- Expand each entry and click Remove.
Enable “Remember Password”
If Outlook’s “Remember Password” option isn’t enabled, you’ll be asked to enter your password every time you connect.
To enable it:
- Launch Outlook.
- Go to File, then Account Settings
- Select your email account and click Change.
- Check the box labeled Remember password.
- Click Next, then Finish
Update Outlook
Updating Microsoft Outlook can help fix issues like repeated password prompts, as updates often include important bug fixes, security improvements, and performance enhancements.
Follow these steps to update Outlook:
- Launch Outlook
- Click the File menu at the top left.
- Select the office account
- Under Update Options, click Update Now to check for and install the latest updates.
Check the Network connection
Poor or unstable internet connections may prevent Outlook from maintaining its link with the mail server, resulting in repeated password requests. To solve the connectivity issue, try to switch to a better connectivity environment.
Repair or Create a New Outlook Profile
Sometimes, Outlook may fail to remember the password because of a corrupt profile. To solve the corrupt profile issue, users have to create a new profile in Outlook
To create a new profile:
- Open Control Panel → Mail.
- Click Show Profiles → Add.
- Enter a new profile name.
- Enter your email account details.
- After setup, choose Always use this profile, select your new profile, and click on OK
Use an App Password (If Using 2FA)
If your email provider uses 2-Step Verification (like Gmail or Yahoo):
- Log in to your email account from a browser.
- Go to Security Settings and generate an App Password.
- Use this new password when Outlook prompts you.
How to repair corrupted Outlook data files? – Third-party tool
Still getting error of asking Outlook password! Time to re-install Outlook. Take a backup of Microsoft Outlook data file and remove it completely from your PC.
To recover data from these files you can use MailsDaddy OST to PST converter tool (for OST) or MailsDaddy PST Repair Tool (for PST). This tool quickly scans the corrupted OST/PST files and recovers data from these files by converting them into a PST file which can be easily imported in the outlook.
Reinstall the MS Outlook in your Windows OS, setup new profile and import PST file to Outlook. It is completely new setup without using your old Outlook password.
Final Thoughts
Outlook keeps asking for your password can be frustrating, but thankfully, it is usually a solvable issue with a few simple steps. In most cases, clearing saved credentials or updating Outlook resolves the problem quickly.
Tip: Always keep Outlook and Windows up to date for better security, fewer errors, and smoother performance.