Lost passwords and address book

If this started right after the Windows and Microsoft updates, one known Windows 10 issue can cause Outlook and other apps to stop remembering saved passwords after certain updates.

1. Install the Windows fix if it is not already installed.
   • The issue was fixed in the February 2, 2021 Windows 10 update KB4598291 for OS Builds 19041.789 and 19042.789.
2. If passwords still are not being remembered, check for scheduled tasks using S4U logon and disable them.
   • Open Windows PowerShell (Admin).
   • Run:

          Get-ScheduledTask | foreach { If (([xml](Export-ScheduledTask -TaskName $_.TaskName -TaskPath $_.TaskPath)).GetElementsByTagName("LogonType").'#text' -eq "S4U") { $_.TaskName } }
     

   • Note any task names returned.
   • Open Task Scheduler from Windows Search.
   • Find each task listed by the command.
   • Right-click each one and select Disable.
   • Restart Windows.
   • After restart, missing passwords may need to be entered one more time before they save again.
3. For Outlook or other email accounts, if the account password itself changed, change it with the email provider first.
   • For Outlook.com, use the Outlook.com password change process.
   • For third-party providers such as AOL, the password must be changed on the provider’s website.
   • After that, Outlook for Windows will prompt for the updated password.
4. If Outlook shows an app-password message for a third-party account, use an app password from the email provider instead of the normal password.
   • This can apply to some IMAP accounts.

For the AOL address book loss, the available material does not provide a supported recovery procedure for AOL contacts. The supported guidance available here is limited to password-loss behavior after Windows updates and updating stored email passwords.

References:

• Outlook and other apps won't remember password after Windows Updates
• Change or update your email password in Outlook for Windows
• Add an email account to Outlook for Windows