Home How-To-Guides A Step-by-Step Guide to Resetting Passwords, Disabling Authentication Protocols, and Managing Credentials

A Step-by-Step Guide to Resetting Passwords, Disabling Authentication Protocols, and Managing Credentials

Posted: December 18, 2023

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Using the password reset option

If you've been locked out of your Microsoft account because you forgot your password, don't worry. Microsoft offers an easy-to-use reset password feature that keeps you in control of your account in no time. It's an easy process that only requires you to follow a few steps, as highlighted below.

The first thing you need to do is to close all running Microsoft applications on your device. This is to avoid any potential interferences during the process. Once this is done, you can proceed to the next step.

Launch your preferred web browser and navigate to the Microsoft Account Recovery page. It's the platform that Microsoft provides for account recovery, where you would initiate the password reset process.

Once the page opens, you will find a blank box asking for your account identification details. Here, you are required to fill in the blank box with the email address or phone number you used during the account registration. Once you do that, click the "Next" button to proceed.

The process will move to the next step, the verification stage. At this stage, you can use the Microsoft Authenticator app to receive the verification code. If, for some reason, you don't have access to the app, you can always select the "Use a different verification option" to receive verification through an alternative method, e.g., your email.

The most crucial part of the account recovery process is resetting your password. This is done using a security code that Microsoft sends to your linked email ID or through other methods chosen in the verification stage. Enter the code on the Account Recovery page, set a new password, confirm it, and voila, you've regained access to your Microsoft account once again.

Disabling the modern authentication protocol

Modern Authentication Protocol on Windows offers a secure sign-in experience to Office 365 apps. However, there are instances where these protocols might pose challenges, leading to error messages such as "You can't get there from here."

Here is a detailed guide on disabling the modern authentication protocol by modifying the registry values.

First, you need to open Registry Editor. To do so, press the Windows + R keys to open the "Run" program. Type in "regedit" and hit Enter. This will open the Registry Editor interface, where you can make various changes in your Windows Operating System.

Once the Registry Editor is open, navigate to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Common\Identity. This path is where the authentication protocol configurations are located, and the modifications will be made.

After successfully navigating to the location, you need to create a new DWORD (32-bit) Value. To create this new DWORD, right-click anywhere in the white space of the Registry Editor interface, select New, and then DWORD (32-bit) Value.

Immediately after creating the new DWORD (32-bit) Value, a renaming prompt will appear. Rename the newly created DWORD as "EnableADAL" and then press Enter.

The next step is to change the value of the newly created EnableADAL DWORD. By default, the value will be set to "0." Double-click EnableADAL, and in the Value data field, ensure it is set to "0." This change effectively disables the modern authentication protocol.

Once you've made the necessary changes, the final step is to restart your computer. Remember that you need to restart your device for most changes made in the Registry Editor to take effect. After the machine restarts, the modern authentication protocol will be disabled, helping to alleviate any issues caused by it.

Managing stored Microsoft Office credentials

Microsoft Office stores your user credentials in the operating system to provide a seamless user experience. However, there are instances where you may need to manage these stored credentials, such as when experiencing errors or changing your password. The process of managing these credentials is straightforward and outlined below.

The procedure to manage stored Microsoft Office credentials begins by accessing the Credential Manager. You can access the Credential Manager by clicking the Start button, typing "Credential Manager" on the search bar, and clicking the Credential Manager icon.

Once the Credential Manager is open, you will see the "Windows Credentials" tab. This tab contains all the saved credentials related to your Windows Operating system. It includes your various login details for apps and network services. Click on this tab to access the stored Microsoft Office Credentials.

Upon clicking the "Windows Credentials" tab, you will see a list of stored credentials. You should find the Microsoft Office credentials associated with your Microsoft Account. These credentials may be prefixed with "MicrosoftOffice16_Data" or a similar prefix. Upon locating these credentials, click on the arrow next to them and choose "Remove" to delete these stored credentials.

After successfully removing the Office credentials associated with your Microsoft account, the last step is to restart your computer. Remember, restarting your machine ensures the changes made take effect. Upon reboot, the stored Microsoft Office credentials you just removed will no longer exist, and you may have to provide your credentials again when required by a Microsoft Office application.

Resetting work or school account password

If you've forgotten your Microsoft account password for your work or school account, resetting it is simple and quick. The Microsoft Online Password Reset portal has a well-guided password reset process. Here's a breakdown of how to navigate this process.

Firstly, you need to visit the Microsoft Online Password Reset portal. This portal has been designed to help users of Microsoft services retrieve their accounts if they cannot log in due to a forgotten password or similar issues.

Once at the portal, glance for a blank field requiring user account details. In this box, you need to input the work or school mail ID associated with your locked Microsoft account. Typing these details accurately is crucial to ensure the success of password recovery.

After entering the mail ID, Microsoft will prompt you to enter the email ID you want to use to receive a verification code. This is a part of the verification process to confirm your identity and prevent unauthorized persons from accessing your account. After keying in the correct email, you will receive a security code from Microsoft. Check your email for this code, which is usually sent almost immediately.

After receiving the security code, you need to return to the Password Reset portal and input the exact code in the verification panel's provided field. Once Microsoft has confirmed the code, you will be given the chance to reset your password. Enter a new password and confirm its correctness. Remember, for security purposes, your new password should ideally be strong, consisting of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Finally, use this new password to log in to your Microsoft account and access your work or school productivity resources.

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