How to Fix Outlook Not Accepting Password?

Summary: Sometimes Outlook may prompt you to enter your password to log in when you launch or start the client. This may happen due to several reasons as discussed in this article. However, if outlook not accepting password even after several attempts, follow the solutions given in this blog to resolve the issue and use Stellar Repair for Outlook to restore the mail items from the inaccessible email account or Outlook PST data file.

Microsoft Outlook is a widely used email client, known for its easy-to-use interface and robust security features. In case you are encountering prompts to enter the password in Outlook even after entering it again and again, there could be several reasons behind the issue.

Read: What are Outlook PST files? Recovery of Outlook PST files

In this blog, you will learn the reasons behind Outlook not accepting password issues and solutions to fix it in Outlook 2021, 2019, 2016, 2013, 2010, and earlier versions in Windows 10 and 11 systems.

Table of Content:

• Reason for Outlook Not Accepting Password Issue
• Solutions to Troubleshoot and Resolve Outlook Not Accepting Password
• Conclusion

Reason for Outlook Not Accepting Password Issue

Outlook may refuse your password or suddenly won’t accept your password due to one or more reasons mentioned below.

• Incorrect password
• Changed or updated password
• Corrupt Outlook profile
• Damaged or corrupt PST file
• Expired password
• Cached passwords or credentials
• Two-factor authentication
• Outdated or unsupported Outlook client
• Conflict with Antivirus or other programs
• Incompatible or unsupported third-party add-ins
• Account locked
• Internet or network-related issues
• Server-side issues

Also Read: How to Recover Deleted Folders from Outlook?

Solutions to Troubleshoot and Resolve Outlook Not Accepting Password

1.  Check Your Internet Connection

To ensure Outlook works well and authenticate your login, you must have a stable internet connection. Make sure your system where Outlook is installed is connected to the internet and there are no connectivity issues.

To troubleshoot the network or internet issues, you can perform the following steps:

• Restart router
• Check the ethernet cable to your router and reconnect

Restart the system and check if

2. Check your Password- Outlook Not Accepting Password

Before diving into the advanced solutions, make sure:

• The password you are entering is correct
• Passwords are case-sensitive, so make sure the Caps Lock is not ON 
• Also, double-check for any typos or extra spaces in your password

3. Update Outlook

Outdated Outlook may cause compatibility issues that prevent Outlook from authenticating the password and lead to login problems. Thus, make sure you have installed the latest version of Outlook.

To check and update Outlook manually, follow these steps:

• Click on File and then click on Office Account 
• Click on Update Options and then from the options, choose Update Now

• This will show you the latest updates if available for your Outlook edition. If new updates are available, download and install them
• After the update, restart the system.

In case the Update Now option is unavailable in your Outlook version, you can check and install Windows Updates to fix compatibility issues. 

Also Read: How to Recover Contacts in Outlook Missing After Windows 10/11Update?

4. Clear Cached Credentials

Outlook stores your login credentials in a local cache that helps it quickly log in and access the mail items from the server. However, when the cache gets damaged or corrupted, it may fail to do so and lead to Outlook not accepting password errors.

Follow these steps to clear cached credentials and log in again:

• Close Outlook and press the Windows + R keys
• Type control keymgr.dll in the Run dialog box and press Enter.

• In the Windows Credentials Manager, locate the Outlook credentials. It should have your email or login details. 
• Click on the credential and then click Remove to clear the cached credentials.

Once the local cached credentials are clear, start Outlook and then log in using your email account credentials.

Also Read: How To Recover Deleted Outlook Emails on Windows 10/11?

5. Disable Antivirus or Firewall

Conflicts with other applications, such as antivirus or firewall apps can mess up Outlook functionality and its ability to connect to your email server.

You can try to disable the antivirus and firewall temporarily to check if it resolves the issue.

If the issue is resolved, add Outlook and your email server domain as exceptions in the antivirus and firewall apps. If possible, always use Outlook-aware antivirus and firewall apps. Also, avoid using any other app that can potentially interfere with Outlook.

6. Unlock Account or Reset Password- Outlook Not Accepting Password

Based on the policies set by your email administrator, if you enter the wrong password multiple times, your email account may get temporarily locked. This happens due to security reasons and helps prevent any malicious actor from logging in to your account.

To resolve this:

• Contact your administrator or visit your email provider’s website
• Then follow the listed instructions to unlock your account or reset your password if necessary
• Once your account is unlocked or the password is reset, you can log in to your account on Outlook with the existing or new password and resolve Outlook not accepting password error

Also Read: How to Recover Deleted Emails In Outlook?

7. Two-factor authentication (2FA)

If you have two-factor authentication (2FA) enabled for your email account, you need to enter the application-specific password to log in to Outlook or enter the correct verification code sent to your smartphone, authenticator app, or email.

Alternatively, you may also choose to disable the 2FA to avoid Outlook not accepting password errors in the Outlook.

8. Create a New Outlook Profile

You can also create a new profile to fix Outlook in 365 suite suddenly won’t accept passwords or Outlook not accepting password errors in Outlook 2016, 2019, 2021, or older versions. This will help replace the corrupt or damaged profile that could be a reason behind Outlook not accepting password issues.

The steps to create a new Outlook profile are as follows:

• Open the Control Panel and go to  User Accounts > Mail.

• Click on Show Profiles and click Add.

• Now type any name for your new profile and click OK

• In the Add Account wizard, sign in using the same email account and click Next > Finish to complete the process.
• Once the new profile is created and signed in successfully, the profile is listed in the Mail dialog box as shown below.

• From the profile list, choose the new profile and select ‘Always use this profile.’
• Click Apply > OK

Then restart the Outlook.

Also Read: How to Fix Outlook Error 0x80040610 in Windows?

9. Repair Outlook PST Data File

If none of the above steps work, the PST file that contains all the email items may be either damaged, inconsistent, or partially corrupt. To repair the PST data file and fix Outlook not accepting password error, follow the steps below:

1. Close Outlook

2. Open the Control Panel and click User Accounts > Mail

3. Click on the Data Files button and then choose the Outlook account

4. Click Open File Location

5. This will show the PST file location. Note it down and then launch SCANPST.EXE (also known as Inbox Repair Tool) located in the Microsoft Office Installation directory

6. In the Inbox Repair Tool, click Browse and then choose the PST file. Then click Start.

7. After the initial scan, click Repair if you see errors and inconsistencies. This may take a while to complete.

After the repair, you can start Outlook and then enter the password to log in. This should fix the error Outlook not accepting password.

In case the SCANPST.exe crashes, stops, responding, or fails to repair the PST file during the repair wizard, you can download and install an advanced Outlook PST repair software, such as Stellar Repair for Outlook, to repair your severely corrupt or damaged PST file with complete integrity.

Once repaired, you can save the mail items in a new PST file and then import it into your new profile or account via Outlook Import Export Wizard. You may also export the repaired PST file directly to Microsoft 365 or Exchange mailbox in a few clicks using the software UI.

Also Read: How to Import Repaired PST files in Outlook?

Conclusion- Outlook Not Accepting Password

If Outlook refuses to accept your password or Outlook not accept your password, you must take a stepwise approach to troubleshoot and fix the underlying issue. There are multiple steps and solutions as discussed in this blog to resolve the Outlook not accepting password issues.

Always remember to back up your Outlook data file before applying advanced troubleshooting solutions, such as the use of SCANPST. Also, use an advanced PST file repair tool when the Inbox Repair tool (SCANPST)  fails to repair the corrupt PST file.

Also Read: How to Repair PST Files Without SCANPST?