If you’re struggling with Outlook sign-in errors, you’re not alone. Many users encounter such issues on a daily basis, which can be frustrating. Fortunately, this article has 11 helpful tips to fix these errors and get you back to using your email with ease.
Delete email account or Outlook profile
To delete an email account or Outlook profile, follow these steps:
1. Open Outlook and click File in the top left corner.
2. Select Account Settings and then Manage Profiles.
3. Choose the profile or account you want to delete and click Remove.
4. Confirm the deletion and follow any prompts to complete the process.
Keep in mind that deleting an email account or profile will permanently remove all associated data, including emails and contacts.
If you’re having trouble with Outlook sign-in errors, consider trying some of our other tips, such as checking your password, updating the app or operating system, or using Outlook in safe mode.
Remove files from Outlook directory
- Close Outlook and all other Microsoft Office applications
- Navigate to the Outlook directory on your computer. The default location is C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook
- Locate the following files and delete them: extend.dat, frmcache.dat, outcmd.dat
- If you have a .ost file, rename it to .old
- If you have multiple .pst files, make note of their locations and move them to a different folder or rename them with a different file extension
- Restart Outlook and see if the sign-in error has been resolved
Modify registry settings
| Tip # | Registry Setting to Modify | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Outlook\AutoDiscover\RedirectServers | Delete any entries that contain the domain name causing the sign-in error. |
| 2 | HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Common\Identity\Identities | Delete any folders with the affected email address as the folder name. |
| 3 | HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Outlook\Profiles\Outlook | Delete the Outlook profile and create a new one. |
| 4 | HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Protected Storage System Provider | Delete the subkeys related to Outlook and restart Outlook. |
| 5 | HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Outlook\Profiles | Check if the profile is set to read-only and uncheck the option. |
| 6 | HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Outlook\RPC | Delete the profile entry and recreate the profile. |
| 7 | HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Outlook\Options\Calendar | Change the value of the “EnableDirectBooking” key to 0. |
| 8 | HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Outlook\Cached Mode | Change the value of the “DownloadOAB” key to 0 and restart Outlook. |
| 9 | HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Outlook\Options\Mail | Change the value of the “DisableCrossAccountCopy” key to 1. |
| 10 | HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Outlook\Options\Calendar | Change the value of the “EnableDirectBooking” key to 0. |
| 11 | HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Outlook\Profiles\Outlook | Set the “PromptSimpleMAPISend” key value to 2. |
Enable Outlook Anywhere/Exchange Proxy Settings
| Enable Outlook Anywhere/Exchange Proxy Settings | |
|---|---|
| Step 1 | Open Outlook and click on File |
| Step 2 | Click on Account Settings and select Account Settings from the drop-down menu |
| Step 3 | Select the email account that is experiencing sign-in errors |
| Step 4 | Click on Change and select More Settings |
| Step 5 | Select the Connection tab and check the box for Connect to Microsoft Exchange using HTTP |
| Step 6 | Click on Exchange Proxy Settings |
| Step 7 | Enter the URL for your Exchange server in the field labeled Use this URL to connect to my proxy server for Exchange |
| Step 8 | Check the box for Only connect to proxy servers that have this principal name in their certificate and enter msstd:<your exchange server> in the field |
| Step 9 | Check the boxes for On fast networks and On slow networks |
| Step 10 | Select Basic Authentication from the drop-down menu under Proxy authentication settings |
| Step 11 | Click OK to save your changes and close all open windows |
Allow Exchange to configure account
To allow Exchange to configure your account, go to the Control Panel and select “Mail” or “Mail (32-bit).” Click “Show Profiles,” then “Add” to create a new profile. Follow the prompts to enter your account information, including your email address and password. If you’re still experiencing sign-in errors, try clearing your browser cache and cookies, or try updating Outlook to the latest version if you’re using an older version. If you’re using Outlook on an Android device, make sure you’re using the official Outlook app and that your Android phone is up to date. If you’re still having trouble, contact your email provider for assistance.
Edit Outlook accounts .xml file
To edit your Outlook accounts .xml file, follow these steps:
1. Close Outlook and locate the .xml file on your computer.
2. Create a backup of the file before making any changes.
3. Open the file in a text editor.
4. Find the Authentication section and make changes as needed.
5. Save the file and reopen Outlook.
If you’re experiencing sign-in errors with Outlook, editing this file can help resolve the issue. This is especially useful if you’re having problems with outlook android, outlook com, outlook mobile, not receiving emails, or using Outlook on an android phone or app. It can also help if you’re having issues with AOL mail or email, Outlook 365, sending emails, or using Exchange Online. Remember to be cautious when editing files and make sure to back up your data.
Rename local Outlook folder
To rename your local Outlook folder, follow these simple steps:
1. Close Outlook.
2. Go to your File Explorer and navigate to the folder where your PST files are stored.
3. Right-click the Outlook folder and select Rename.
4. Type in a new name for the folder, such as “Outlook Backup.”
5. Press Enter to save the new name.
6. Reopen Outlook and select File > Account Settings > Account Settings.
7. Under the Data Files tab, click Add to add your newly renamed Outlook folder.
8. Select the new folder and click Set as Default.
9. Close and reopen Outlook for the changes to take effect.
Renaming your local Outlook folder can help solve sign-in errors, such as those that occur when using Outlook Android, Outlook Com, Outlook Mobile, Outlook 365, or AOL Mail. This solution can also help with problems related to not receiving emails or sending emails through Exchange Online or the AOL app.
Update DNS records
- Check for DNS errors: Make sure there are no errors in your DNS records that could prevent Outlook from connecting to the server.
- Update your DNS settings: If your DNS settings are outdated, update them with the correct information.
- Clear your DNS cache: Clear your DNS cache to ensure that Outlook can access the correct server information.
- Flush your DNS: Flush your DNS to clear any cached information that could be causing sign-in errors.
- Restart your router: Restart your router to refresh your network connection and ensure that Outlook can connect to the server.
- Disable firewall and antivirus software: Temporarily disable any firewall or antivirus software that could be blocking Outlook from accessing the server.
- Check your account settings: Make sure your Outlook account settings are correct and up-to-date.
- Reset your email password: Reset your email password to ensure that you’re using the correct login credentials.
- Update Outlook: Make sure you’re running the latest version of Outlook to avoid any compatibility issues.
- Try a different email client: If all else fails, try using a different email client to see if the sign-in errors persist.
- Contact support: If you’re still experiencing sign-in errors, contact Outlook support for further assistance.
Use/reset navpane parameter
- Use the navpane parameter to reset the navigation pane in Outlook
- Open the Run command by pressing the Windows key + R
- Type “outlook.exe /resetnavpane” in the Run dialog box
- Press Enter to execute the command
- Wait for Outlook to restart and for the navigation pane to reset
- If the sign-in error persists, try clearing the Outlook cache
- To clear the cache, go to File > Options > Advanced > Outlook Data File Settings > Offline Settings
- Click on the “Clear Offline Items” button
- Restart Outlook and try signing in again
- If the error still persists, try repairing your Outlook installation
- Go to Control Panel > Programs and Features
- Find Microsoft Office in the list, right-click on it, and select “Change”
- Select “Repair” and follow the prompts to repair your Outlook installation
Use a professional Outlook repair tool
Fix Outlook Sign-In Errors with a Professional Repair Tool
Using a professional Outlook repair tool is a reliable way to fix sign-in errors. These errors can occur due to a range of issues, from outdated software to incorrect login details. Download a reputable Outlook repair tool that can scan for and fix any errors in your Outlook application.
Before running the repair tool, ensure that your internet connection is stable and that your login details are correct. Close your Outlook application and run the repair tool, following the prompts to fix any errors.
After completing the repair process, restart your computer and open Outlook to see if the sign-in error has been resolved. If you are still experiencing issues, consider contacting your IT support team or Microsoft support for further assistance.
Remember to keep your Outlook software updated and to regularly clear your cache and cookies. This can help prevent sign-in errors from occurring in the future.
While these tips are helpful for fixing sign-in errors specifically, if you are experiencing other problems with your Outlook application, such as problems with an Android app or AOL email, consider seeking additional resources for troubleshooting.
