Home How-To-Guides 5 Essential Steps to Troubleshoot and Fix Microsoft Account Issues for Office 365

5 Essential Steps to Troubleshoot and Fix Microsoft Account Issues for Office 365

Posted: December 21, 2023

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Verify Microsoft Account Credentials

When logging into your Windows 10 device, encountering issues can be frustrating. Most log-in issues stem from incorrect user credentials or problematic settings. To fix these, the first step is to verify your Microsoft account credentials. It's important to note that your Windows account isn't necessarily the same as your Microsoft Office 365 account. If you're receiving errors while trying to log in, use the right account.

Check who's logged in on your current Windows account. This can be found by going to 'Settings'> 'Accounts'. If you discover that the account logged in differs from the one you wish to use for Microsoft Office 365, you need to add this account.

Here's how to do it: In the 'Accounts' section, look for 'Email & Accounts'. Click on this, followed by 'Add an account'. At this point, enter the ID of the Microsoft account you wish to use and the corresponding password. You usually use these credentials while logging in to your Microsoft Office 365, Xbox Live, Skype, or Outlook.

Upon successful addition, open any Microsoft Office 365 application. A prompt will come up asking you to choose a profile for personalization. Pick the newly added Microsoft account. After successfully logging in, you should be able to access all MS Office 365 services using this account on your Windows device.

Log in with the Local Account

When you continually receive 'can't sign in' errors with your Microsoft account, a clever workaround is to use a Local Account. Local accounts are unique profiles that exist solely on your Windows device and do not require the internet to function. You can log in using these credentials if these were set up before your current issue.

To use a Local Account:

  1. Go to the log-in screen.
  2. When prompted to enter your Microsoft account credentials, look for the 'Local Account' option.
  3. Pick that, type in your local account username and password, and press Enter.

Check Microsoft Account Sign-in Assistance Service

Windows 10 has a built-in service to assist with Microsoft account sign-ins. If you're experiencing log-in issues, this service may be turned off.

To check, press the Windows key and 'R' together. This brings up the 'Run' dialog box. Type' services.msc', and click 'OK.' This will open the 'Services' window. Scroll down until you find the 'Microsoft Account Sign-in Assistant Service.' Double-click it.

Under the section 'Service status,' ensure it says 'Start.' If it doesn't, click on 'Start'. Going further, check the 'Startup type.' Ensure it's set to 'Automatic' or 'Manual'. After these modifications, click 'Apply' and then 'OK'. These settings will be saved.

Lastly, restart your computer. Attempt logging in again to your Windows 10 device using your Microsoft account. If this doesn't work, consider contacting Microsoft Support or exploring other solutions.

Run Troubleshooter for Microsoft Store Apps

If you're still unable to sign into your Microsoft account even after checking the Sign-in Assistance Service settings, it might be due to some issues with your Microsoft Store apps. Luckily, Windows 10 has a built-in troubleshooter for these apps, which can be a detailed analysis tool.

First, access the 'Settings' menu. You can do this by clicking on the start button and choosing 'Settings' (represented by a gear icon) from the list of options, or you can use the shortcut keys by pressing 'Windows+I' together.

In the 'Settings' menu, you need to look for 'System'. Inside system settings, locate 'Troubleshoot.' Clicking on this will open up a wide range of troubleshooting programs for various issues related to your system.

You will find' Other troubleshooters on the right-hand side of the 'Troubleshoot' settings. Clicking this will lead you to a directory of different troubleshooters for individual aspects of your system. Here, you want to look for 'Store Apps'. This troubleshooter is specially designed to fix issues related to Windows Store apps, including Microsoft Office 365 apps.

Running the 'Store Apps' troubleshooter typically involves clicking on it and following the prompts. The system tries to diagnose the issue and offers steps to resolve it. Follow through the steps and wait till the troubleshooting process is complete.

Once the troubleshooting process is completed, restart your system. Now, try logging into your Microsoft account again. If the issue was related to Store apps, you should be able to log in now. If you are still receiving errors, the issue might stem from something else, and further troubleshooting might be needed.

Update Microsoft Office 365 App

Another useful approach to resolving persistent Microsoft account log-in issues lies in updating your Microsoft Office 365 app. Often, outdated versions of an app may cause compatibility issues with the current state of other integrated systems, particularly something as deeply interwoven with your device as your Microsoft account.

To update your Microsoft Office 365 app, access the Microsoft Store. You can do this by clicking on the 'Start' button, scrolling through the list of applications, and clicking on 'Microsoft Store'. Alternatively, a shortcut to the Store should be on your taskbar, usually represented by a shopping bag icon.

Once in the store, look for the 'Search' bar, usually placed at the top right side of the screen in the Store. Type in 'Office' and hit the 'Enter' key. A list of Microsoft Office-related apps will appear in the search results.

In the search results, find and click 'Microsoft Office 365'. This will take you to the individual page of the Microsoft Office 365 app on the Microsoft Store. Here, you want to look for an 'Update' button. If available, it will be prominently placed next to the app icon. Click on 'Update '. The Microsoft Store will then start downloading all available updates for the app. Wait until this process is fully completed.

Once completed, open any Office 365 application and try logging in with your Microsoft account again. With the update installed, the chances of experiencing problems should be significantly reduced. However, if the problem persists, there may be an error or issue that requires more advanced troubleshooting or assistance from Microsoft Support.

Reset Microsoft Store

If you have been facing continuous errors while trying to log in to your Microsoft account, another potential solution you can try is resetting the Microsoft Store. Like any other software, the Store may encounter bugs and glitches that disrupt its proper functioning, such as preventing successful log-ins.

To reset the Microsoft Store, you need to access the 'Settings' menu. You can do this by clicking the 'Start' button and selecting 'Settings,'' or use the 'Windows+I' shortcut keys. Once inside the Settings, click on the 'Apps' category. This will open a new screen listing all the apps installed on your device.

Scroll down this list until you find 'Microsoft Store.’' Click on it to reveal more options. Alongside options such as 'Uninstall' and 'Modify,' another option should be labeled 'Advanced options'. Click on this.

'Advanced options' will provide you with an array of settings associated with the Store. Here, look for 'Reset'. It will have a warning stating that it will delete the app's data on your device. While this may sound alarming, it primarily means your user settings on the app will be reverted back to defaults, and not that it will delete your purchases. Click 'Reset,' and a warning will prompt you to confirm your decision. Hit 'Confirm' and wait for the process to complete.

Once the Store has been reset, try opening it again. The Store should now revert to its default settings. Try logging in again with your Microsoft account. More often than not, this trick helps to solve log-in problems associated with Microsoft Store apps.

Repair Office Package

If the problem of being unable to log in to your Microsoft account persists even after trying all the solutions listed above, the issue may stem from a problematic Office package installed on your system, particularly if the problematic account is linked to Microsoft Office 365. In this case, repairing the Office package can be an effective solution.

To begin the repair process, first, open the Windows search box. You can do this by either clicking on the 'Magnifying glass' icon on your taskbar or using the Windows shortcut 'Windows + S.' Once the search box is open, type in 'Microsoft Office.' Here, note that if you are using a version of Office other than Office 365, you should type that version instead.

The search results should feature the installed Office package on your system. Click on it and choose 'Modify'. This option prompts Windows to identify any errors in the installation files and repair them.

When you click on 'Modify,' you will be presented with two options for repair: Quick Repair and Online Repair. Choose 'Online Repair'. The Quick Repair option usually tries to fix issues without needing an internet connection and is often quick but less thorough. On the other hand, Online Repair requires an internet connection, as it redownloads the entire Office package, ensuring a comprehensive check and repair of all files.

After selecting 'Online Repair,' start the repair process. Windows will then automatically start scanning and repairing the Office package. Once the operation is completed, try logging into your Microsoft account again. This repair process often resolves any unnoticed file errors that disrupt the log-in process.

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