Hidden Dialog Box - Outlook

Majuba 61 Reputation points
2022-09-22T15:22:56.907+00:00

Having an issue with Two-Factor Authentication, where returning to the computer after the VPN times out, Outlook has a dialog box open, requesting a choice for two-factor authentication. However the window is usually hidden and can't be selected from the task bar. Alt-Tab doesn't help, Outlook is inaccessible with the dialog box open, though other software works. Problem persists even after VPN is restored.

I have found a work-around - hitting ALT-ESC does some kind of cycling that will pull the dialog box to the foreground.

It would be nice to eliminate the problem however.

Outlook Management
Outlook Management
Outlook: A family of Microsoft email and calendar products.Management: The act or process of organizing, handling, directing or controlling something.
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Accepted answer
  1. syed semefex 80 Reputation points
    2023-02-23T03:30:10.53+00:00

    I have similar issue and its quite annoying. I manage to get the two-factor authentication tab upon clicking on Reminder Tab.

    1 person found this answer helpful.

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  1. Majuba 61 Reputation points
    2022-09-23T22:14:03.92+00:00

    ALT-ESC is an effective solution [edited to be answer]

    Yes, the VPN times out, and when I return the pop-up box is hidden and not selectable by most means.

    There is no access when not connecting by VPN, and I do not use other VPNs.

    Keeping Outlook in safe mode does not seem like a useful solution (and restarting it at all is part of what I'm trying to avoid). I'll consider leaving it in safe mode over a weekend or something though, to see if it happens the same.
    I do not have control over my build.
    I do not believe the Recovery Assistant would be helpful in this case - nothing is "broken" strictly speaking.

    3 people found this answer helpful.
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  2. Faery Fu-MSFT 16,821 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor
    2022-09-23T06:16:43.4+00:00

    Hi @Majuba ,

    Welcome to our forum and thanks for posting here.
    We are glad that you currently have a workaround to temporarily reduce inconvenience.

    From your description, it looks like when the VPN times out, the verification pop-up box will be hidden, right?
    Is there such a problem when not connecting to VPN? Or when connecting other VPNs?
    Given this case, you may use the following troubleshooting:

    • Start Outlook in safe mode by running Outlook.exe /safe to see if the issue continues.
    • Update Office products to the latest build(File > Office Account > Update Options > Update Now)
    • To diagnose and automatically fix several common Office sign-in issues, you can download and run the Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant

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