Outlook Not Opening

Question

Outlook Not Opening

lynn mcintyre 10

I've been using Outlook without problems for over a year. Now, when I click on the icon to open it, it asks for my email password. I enter it and it tries to "add" email and fails every time. Outlook never asked for my paassword before except at setup. Senior citizen here, not a techie and traumatic brain injury survivor. Can someone offer a fix that isn't too complicated?

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3 answers

Your answer

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Answer 1

Hendrix-V 21,090 Microsoft External Staff Moderator

Hi lynn mcintyre,

Since Outlook was working normally before this started, and the previous reply already covered checking your password, Repair, and Reset, I would recommend trying these additional step:

Open Start and find Outlook (new).
Right-click it and select Uninstall.
Open the Microsoft Store, search for Outlook for Windows, and install it again.
Open Outlook and follow the prompts to add your account.

If it still fails, please reply with the exact error message you see when Outlook tries to add the account. Please hide your email address or other personal information. That will help us narrow down the next step without putting you through unnecessary troubleshooting.

lynn mcintyre 10 Reputation points

2026-10-20T06:13:50.5233333+00:00

This has not solved my problem. Yes, I can access my mail from my provider: spectrum (which was formerly Time Warner Cable) outside of Outlook and I have been using the same email addy successfully for years, using New Outlook on my desktop Windowws 11 Pro for over one and a half years. Suddenly, no longer working. I tried all of tbe above and none of it worked.
Hendrix-V 21,090 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-10-21T04:41:58.6333333+00:00

Hi lynn mcintyre,

Thanks for confirming that. Since your Spectrum webmail works and you've completed the previous steps, the most useful next step is to have Spectrum confirm the current IMAP/SMTP connection settings and authentication requirements for your particular email account.

I know you've already spent considerable effort on this, so hopefully we can narrow it down from that specific error rather than continuing with general troubleshooting.
lynn mcintyre 10 Reputation points

2026-10-21T05:18:51.4066667+00:00

Spoke to Spectrum. They said IMAP/SMTP is for cell. I do not access my email on my cell ever by choice, only on my desktop Windows 11 Pro. This is what I get when I try to enter my pasword on Outlook.

{"Error":"INVALIDCREDENTIALS INTERACTIONREQUIRED"}
lynn mcintyre 10 Reputation points

2026-10-22T05:58:30.2+00:00

Windows staff, hello? Traumatic brain injury survivor and senior citizen. Currently without my contacts for almost a month. Solution please offer fix.
Stefan Blom 357.7K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator

2026-10-22T16:37:14.04+00:00

Windows staff, hello?

I'm afraid you won't get any replies from Microsoft here. The Q&A forums are for user-to-user discussions.
Hendrix-V 21,090 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-10-23T07:44:55.64+00:00
Hi lynn mcintyre,

Thank you for sharing the exact error message. Since you can still sign in successfully to your Spectrum webmail, and you've already tried the previous troubleshooting steps, there's no need to repeat them.

One important clarification: IMAP and SMTP are not limited to cell phones. They are also used by desktop email applications, including Outlook, to connect to some third-party email providers.

I suggest contacting Spectrum again and specifically asking them to confirm:

The IMAP and SMTP settings for using your account with a desktop email application

The required authentication method

Whether an app-specific password or other authorization is required for third-party email applications

Let them know that New Outlook for Windows displays: INVALIDCREDENTIALS INTERACTIONREQUIRED

Please note that this is a user-to-user support forum. Moderators, contributors including external Microsoft employees cannot directly intervene in Microsoft product features or access back-end systems. Our role is limited to providing technical guidance on reported issues, requests, or ideas.

If Spectrum confirms everything is correct but the error remains, contacting Microsoft Support with that exact error would be the appropriate next step for further investigation.

Answer 2

lynn mcintyre 10

Two hours on live chat with a very helpful Microsoft tech and my problem is solved. Case closed.

Hendrix-V 21,090 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-10-24T06:39:24.1466667+00:00

Hi lynn mcintyre,

I'm relieved to know that you made a great decision and everything is good to go on your side. I hope the insights shared in the forum help address your concerns effectively.

If possible, please share the solution in your case so others from the community may find helpful information.
Stefan Blom 357.7K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator

2026-10-24T15:20:41.5233333+00:00

That is good news. Can you tell us something about what the problem turned out to be? A clarification may help other people who are looking for assistance.

Answer 3

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