Cannot sign-in to Outlook

Question

When signing into Outlook I am successful and see emails for about 10 seconds. I am then prompted to log in. When I do I receive the following:

Session Id: 0acdd4855-46ad-5b4f-81b4-deaa0c38f266

Timestamp : 1762784711650

Answer 1

It sounds like you're experiencing a sign-in issue with Outlook where you can initially access your emails but are then prompted to log in again shortly after. This can be caused by several factors, including issues with security software, network settings, or problems with the authentication process.

Here are some steps you can take to troubleshoot this issue:

1. Check Security Software: Ensure that your firewall or antivirus software is not blocking any necessary processes. Specifically, check that the following processes are allowed:
   • C:\Windows\SystemApps\Microsoft.AAD.BrokerPlugin\_cw5n1h2txyewy\Microsoft.AAD.BrokerPlugin.exe
   • C:\Windows\System32\backgroundTaskHost.exe
2. Network Settings: Make sure that your network environment does not block access to https://login.microsoftonline.com, as this is essential for authentication.
3. Event Viewer: You can check the Event Viewer for any errors related to the sign-in process. Look under Applications and Services Logs > Microsoft > Windows > AAD > Operational for any relevant error messages that might indicate what is going wrong.
4. Clear Cached Credentials: Sometimes, clearing cached credentials can help. You can do this by going to Control Panel > User Accounts > Credential Manager and removing any stored credentials related to Outlook or Microsoft 365.
5. Update Software: Ensure that your Microsoft Office applications are updated to the latest version, as updates can resolve many issues.

If the problem persists after trying these steps, you may want to contact your system administrator or Microsoft support for further assistance.

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References:

• Can't sign in to Microsoft 365 desktop applications
• "Sorry, but we're having trouble signing you in" when a user signs in to Microsoft 365, Azure, or Intune

Answer 2

Hi James,

Thank you for sharing your questions. I understand how annoying it is when Outlook keeps booting you out right after you log in. Sounds like you’ve done everything right, so it's easy to be frustrated when things act up. Let’s sort this together.

Based on my knowledge this issue can happen on both the web and desktop versions of Outlook. A few things can cause it, like problems with your browser's saved info, issues with your login info, or your account security settings. Sometimes, it's also tied to two-factor authentication or if you recently changed your password, and things haven't synced up across Microsoft.

Please follow these steps.

Use a private/incognito window. These skips saved session data and can help figure out if that's the problem.

Try a different browser or device. Some folks have had luck switching from Firefox to Edge or Chrome for a bit.

Log in through another Microsoft thing first. Like, sign in at portal.azure.com or office.com, then go to Outlook. This can refresh your session and let Outlook load right.

Check your account activity. Go to account.live.com/activity to see if anything fishy is going on with your logins.

May I also ask did you changed your password recently or turned on 2FA? Also, are you using Outlook in a browser, the desktop app, or on your phone?

I hope this answer is helpful, if you have any questions, feel free to reply.

 

Best Regards,

Noel