How do I update my password in Outlook desktop?

Question

How do I update my password in Outlook desktop?

Lisa Crowe 20

I have recently updated my password to my personal email. However, I am not able to update it in the Outlook Office desktop version. I have read a few forums and the steps are to Go to FILE > ACCOUNT SETTINGS > MANGAGE PROFILES > EMAIL ACCOUNT > Select account and the click "CHANGE", and change your password.

I follow the steps but the window shows my user name, how much mail to keep offline, there is a "more settings..." button and a "next>" button. If i click on more settings, I see 3 tabs, General, Advanced, and Security. General has nothing. Advanced has nothing regarding passwords. Security is completely grayed out. There is a check box that is under "user identification", "always prompt for logon credentials" which might work, but once again, it's grayed out.

If I return to the Change Account window, my other option is "Next>", which show "You're all set!" when I click on it. And that's that. No way to enter a new password. I have deleted my account, and reinstalled a few times. I even set my account up manually, and still no prompt for a password. It's been 2 weeks and my email is not updating; the account shows disconnected, but Outlook never prompts me to enter a new password.

How do I update my password in Outlook?

Thanks

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Answer 1

Dear Lisa Crowe,

Thank you for posting in Microsoft Q&A Forum.

When an account password is changed, the Outlook application and the Windows operating system occasionally hold on to the old login details, which prevents the new sign-in prompt from appearing—even when the account shows as disconnected.

Since the normal Account Settings > Change process is not working, the most direct solution is to manually clear the old, stored password from Windows.

Here are the direct steps:

Step 1: Clear the Cached Windows Credentials

Close Outlook completely.
Press the Windows Key, type "Credential Manager", and open it.
Select Windows Credentials.
Under Generic Credentials, look for and remove any entries for Outlook, MicrosoftOffice, or your specific email address.
Restart your computer (a crucial step to fully clear the credential cache).
Open Outlook. It should now prompt you for your new password.

Step 2: Create a New Outlook Profile (If Step 1 Fails)

If the prompt does not appear after the restart, the most reliable solution is to create a new Outlook profile.

Close Outlook.
Open the Control Panel > Mail (Microsoft Outlook).
Click Show Profiles > Add....
Follow the prompts to set up your email account with your new password in this fresh profile.

One of these steps should resolve the issue and get your email syncing again.

Please let me know if you encounter any difficulties with these steps!

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