Why can't I sign into Word and Excel

Question

Why can't I sign into Word and Excel

Bob Hughes 10

Why can't I sign into Word and Excel after I've signed into MS 365?

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Stephani Smith 0 Reputation points

2026-03-21T23:12:29.76+00:00

I am trying to use the desktop versions of Word, Excel, OneNote, PowerPoint, Teams, etc. on Windows 11. Today March 21, 2026, the Microsoft Account tied to the Windows 11 on my computer as well as my Office products installed on that computer all tell me I need to sign in again or I need to verify my account. My account is an email address where I have to say 'Personal Account Created by You' and not 'Work or School Account'.

When I choose 'Personal Account Created by You' today, March 21, 2026, I now get

There is nothing wrong with my network connection. Chrome and non Office Apps work just fine. Windows Network Debugger returns no errors. Rebooting and re-installing the Office products doesn't help. I have no problems when I login into the web version of https://account.microsoft.com/ nor if I try the web versions of Office.
Melanie Fowler 0 Reputation points

2026-03-25T10:59:06.4066667+00:00

I am having a very similar problem today 25 March 2026 - I am repeatedly asked to sign into word and excel and then get error messages
Andrew Derec 0 Reputation points

2026-07-21T13:20:45.8766667+00:00

I am unable to use Word free online! When I log into my account and click on Word, I keep getting looped around, being asked to sign in every time with no joy. Any help would be great.
Diane Rose 0 Reputation points

2026-10-08T17:03:27.44+00:00

I AM on line!
Diane Rose 0 Reputation points

2026-10-08T17:05:01.5433333+00:00

Have a PAID IN FULL account and can not access Word to get things done! What a total waste of time!
Stefan Blom 354.2K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator

2026-10-08T18:14:08.29+00:00

@Diane Rose

This thread has been inactive for months. To ensure that more people see your question, please start your own thread. Use the Ask a question option (see the screen shot below). Good luck.

The current thread will be closed.

2 answers

Deleted

This comment has been deleted due to a violation of our Code of Conduct. The comment was manually reported or identified through automated detection before action was taken. Please refer to our Code of Conduct for more information.
Stephani Smith 0 Reputation points

2026-03-21T23:12:29.76+00:00

I am trying to use the desktop versions of Word, Excel, OneNote, PowerPoint, Teams, etc. on Windows 11. Today March 21, 2026, the Microsoft Account tied to the Windows 11 on my computer as well as my Office products installed on that computer all tell me I need to sign in again or I need to verify my account. My account is an email address where I have to say 'Personal Account Created by You' and not 'Work or School Account'.

When I choose 'Personal Account Created by You' today, March 21, 2026, I now get

There is nothing wrong with my network connection. Chrome and non Office Apps work just fine. Windows Network Debugger returns no errors. Rebooting and re-installing the Office products doesn't help. I have no problems when I login into the web version of https://account.microsoft.com/ nor if I try the web versions of Office.
Melanie Fowler 0 Reputation points

2026-03-25T10:59:06.4066667+00:00

I am having a very similar problem today 25 March 2026 - I am repeatedly asked to sign into word and excel and then get error messages
Andrew Derec 0 Reputation points

2026-07-21T13:20:45.8766667+00:00

I am unable to use Word free online! When I log into my account and click on Word, I keep getting looped around, being asked to sign in every time with no joy. Any help would be great.
Diane Rose 0 Reputation points

2026-10-08T17:03:27.44+00:00

I AM on line!
Diane Rose 0 Reputation points

2026-10-08T17:05:01.5433333+00:00

Have a PAID IN FULL account and can not access Word to get things done! What a total waste of time!
Stefan Blom 354.2K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator

2026-10-08T18:14:08.29+00:00

@Diane Rose

This thread has been inactive for months. To ensure that more people see your question, please start your own thread. Use the Ask a question option (see the screen shot below). Good luck.

The current thread will be closed.

Answer 1

There could be several reasons why you are unable to sign into Word and Excel after signing into Microsoft 365. Here are some potential causes and resolutions:

Authentication Issues: If you are using impersonation methods (like "Run as administrator"), this can interfere with the app's authentication flow. It's recommended to start the apps under the same user context as the signed-in Windows session.
Invalid or Mismatched Authentication Tokens: If you switch devices or use shared devices, authentication tokens might become invalid or mismatched, leading to sign-in failures. Avoid manually deleting tokens as this can cause further issues.
WAM Plug-ins Issues: The Web Account Manager (WAM) plug-ins are essential for establishing and renewing sign-in sessions. If these plug-ins are broken or tampered with, it can prevent sign-in. You may need to reinstall the WAM plug-ins using PowerShell commands if they are not functioning correctly.
Security Software Interference: Sometimes, security software can block the necessary components for signing in. Temporarily uninstalling the security software and checking if the sign-in works can help diagnose the issue.
Network or Connectivity Issues: If there are network-related problems, this can also hinder the sign-in process. Ensure that your internet connection is stable and that there are no firewall settings blocking access.

If the problem persists after trying these solutions, consider reaching out to Microsoft Support for further assistance.

Answer 2

Thanks for reaching out Bob. It seems Word and Excel aren't recognizing your Microsoft 365 login. This usually happens when the apps aren't linked to the same account as your 365 account. Old credentials or an out-of-date Office version could also be the cause.

First, in Word or Excel, go to File > Account and make sure you're signed in with the same email you use for 365. If it's different, sign out and back in. Next, update Office via Account > Update Options. If that doesn't work, clear your Office credentials in the Windows Credential Manager and restart the apps.

Are you using the desktop or web versions? Also, are there any error messages when you try to sign in?

Best,

Rez