signing into outlook.com

Question

signing into outlook.com

Ruth Montgomery 0

there was an update on my computer and now i can not sign into outlook

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2 answers

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Answer 1

Jonathan Deives 83,670 Independent Advisor

This error is related to a service issue Microsoft is currently experiencing with Outlook today, and many users are unable to open Outlook in the browser at the moment. This is not a problem with your account or your browser.

You can follow the updates on this issue here: Microsoft 365 Status

I suggest waiting a few hours and trying to open Outlook again.

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Answer 2

Open Outlook.com in a private browser window first; this will identify whether the failure is caused by normal-browser sign-in data, the computer’s connection, or the classic Outlook application.

1. Test Outlook.com directly

Open Microsoft Edge.
Select Settings and more (…) → New InPrivate window.
Open Outlook.com, select Sign in, and enter your full Outlook/Hotmail email address and Microsoft account password.^1^

Then follow the matching result:

It works in InPrivate but not in the normal browser:
In the normal browser, open Settings → Privacy and security → Cookies and site data. Remove site data containing Microsoft, Live, or Outlook, close every browser window, reopen Edge, and try again.^2^
The page still times out or says it cannot be reached:
Check Microsoft’s service status. If the status is not green, wait until service is restored.^3^
The service is operating normally:
Temporarily disconnect any VPN or proxy, then test using another connection such as a phone’s mobile hotspot. If the hotspot works, the original Wi-Fi, router, DNS, firewall, or web-protection software is blocking the connection. If testing third-party antivirus web protection, disable it only briefly and re-enable it immediately afterward.^4^

2. If Outlook.com works but the desktop Outlook application does not

This means access to the account and website is working, so troubleshoot classic Outlook separately.

Close Outlook.
Press Windows key + R.
Enter:
```
   outlook.exe /safe
```
Select OK and try signing in.

Safe mode starts classic Outlook without add-ins. If sign-in works there, go to File → Options → Add-ins → Manage: COM Add-ins → Go, clear the add-in checkboxes, and restart Outlook normally. Disable add-ins rather than removing them.^5^

If safe mode does not help:

Open the Windows Get Help app and run an applicable classic Outlook startup or profile setup troubleshooter. These troubleshooters do not apply to new Outlook.^6^
If this is Microsoft 365 or Office sign-in, run the Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant’s Office sign-in diagnostic. Microsoft documents it for common Office sign-in problems.^7^

3. If the page loads but rejects the account

Use the Microsoft account sign-in helper. Outlook.com support cannot directly restore access when an account cannot sign in; Microsoft directs users to that helper instead.^8^

When reporting the result, specify whether the failure occurs in Edge at Outlook.com or in the Outlook desktop application, and provide the exact error text or a screenshot with the email address hidden.

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