Keep getting "enter your user name and password for the folllowing server" pop up

Question

A month ago.

I kept getting this popup and cant load any of my emails

Please help

Answer 1

Hi Jay, 

I understand how frustrating it is to have that "Enter your user name and password" pop-up appear repeatedly. This usually happens because Windows is holding onto an outdated or incorrect credential for your email server, which conflicts with your current password. 

To resolve this, please clear the stored credentials and force Outlook to re-authenticate: 

Step 1: Clear old credentials: 

1. Close Outlook completely. 
2. Open your computer's Control Panel, then go to User Accounts > Credential Manager. 
3. Click on Windows Credentials. 
4. Look through the list and locate only the specific entries that mention your email server

Step 2: Re-enter your credentials: 

1. Close the Credential Manager and open Outlook. 
2. The "Internet Email" password pop-up will appear again. 
3. Carefully type your current password, ensure the box for "Save this password in your password list" is checked, and click OK. 

This should refresh the connection and stop the recurring prompts. 

I hope these steps resolve the issue and allow you to work without further interruptions. Please let me know if you continue to see the pop-up after trying this! 

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Answer 2

The repeated prompt means Outlook cannot successfully authenticate to the mail server, even though credentials are saved. The most common causes in the provided material are:

1. Incorrect or outdated username/password
   • Verify the email address and password are correct by signing in to the account using the provider’s webmail (if available).
   • If sign-in fails there as well, reset the password with the provider, then enter the new password in Outlook.
2. Cached/incorrect credentials in Windows Credential Manager
   • Open Control Panel → Credential Manager → Windows Credentials.
   • Remove any entries related to Outlook, Microsoft Office, or this mail server.
   • Restart Outlook and enter the correct username and password again when prompted.
3. Account password or username no longer valid at the provider
   • If the account password has been changed elsewhere (phone, webmail, another client), Outlook’s stored password will be wrong and will keep prompting.
   • Update the stored password in Outlook’s account settings after confirming the correct one with the provider.
4. Server settings or domain details required
   • If the server cannot be auto-discovered or its settings changed, Outlook may keep asking for credentials.
   • Confirm with the mail provider (or mail-server administrator) that the server name, username, and any domain field are correct, and update Outlook’s account settings accordingly.

If the username and password are confirmed correct but the prompts continue, contact the mail-server administrator or provider to verify the account is active and that the server is accepting logons from this client.

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References:

• Outlook 2016 keeps asking for username and password
• [Exchange] Why do I get the message "Please check your email and password and try again"?
• My username and password have stopped working
• Do you know how to fix the issue where Outlook keeps prompting for a password even though credentials are saved - Microsoft Q&A