Hi,
There is also this article:
Microsoft Account Sign-in Failure Across Windows Apps (Error 0x800704cf)cf
![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(22.400000000000002, 77%, 12%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3EVW%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Valerie Wong
35
Reputation points
I am experiencing a persistent issue where I cannot sign into Microsoft services within Windows applications, despite having a working internet connection.
Symptoms:
- Unable to sign into Microsoft Word, Excel, all other office apps (error code: 0x800704cf)
- Office apps (word) do not appear properly in Installed Apps / cannot be uninstalled normally
Browser-based Microsoft account sign-in works without issue
Troubleshooting already attempted:
Restarted device multiple times
Tested on different network (including mobile hotspot)
Reset Windows network stack (winsock, IP, DNS flush)
Disabled proxy / confirmed no VPN in use
Cleared Windows Credential Manager entries related to Microsoft accounts
- Signed out of Office apps and attempted re-login
Attempted Microsoft Store reset (wsreset)
Issue persists across all attempts
Key Observations:
Issue affects multiple Microsoft services (Store + Office), not just one app
Problem appears isolated to Windows authentication components rather than account or connectivity
No recent intentional system changes prior to issue onset
Additional Context:
I am currently using a Windows Insider build
Microsoft Support indicated this may be related to Insider build instability
Request:
Looking for confirmation whether this is a known issue with the current Insider build, and whether there is a fix or workaround short of a full clean install.
Windows Insider program | Apps on Insider preview
Answer accepted by question author
Answer accepted by question author
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CrazyKats 15,330 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator2026-03-21T16:42:34.1933333+00:00 -
Valerie Wong 35 Reputation points
2026-03-21T16:49:56.43+00:00 Hi,
Yea you are most likely right, and the article seems to be the issue I am experiencing, but I have restarted with an active internet connection multiple times now. I plan to just leave it for a few days and retry later on. My work account actually still functions fine, it is seem to be my personal one (which I use for basically everything) that shows up with the error.
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![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(204.8, 44%, 29%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3ECD%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Cheryl Durham 20 Reputation points2026-03-27T12:43:22.47+00:00 I don't need more links to information that I do not understand. I need someone to fix the problem
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5 additional answers
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CrazyKats 15,330 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
2026-03-22T22:30:06.0333333+00:00 Hi Valerie,
Microsoft released an overnight update
that fixes this issue.
26200.8039
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![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(214.4, 90%, 30%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3ERC%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Ray Cosner 10 Reputation points2026-03-23T16:47:42.45+00:00 How about us poor users on the dev channel running 26300.8085?
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CrazyKats 15,330 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
2026-03-23T17:02:55.9733333+00:00 I have no issues at all on Dev.
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CrazyKats 15,330 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
2026-03-21T16:23:56.45+00:00 Go to Settings, Windows Update, Windows Insider Program
and check if you're in the Release Preview Channel.
Usually when this build is released it goes to both
Release and Release Preview.
Both these builds are usually very stable and
it doesn't sound as is your issue is MS Account related.
Maybe Noel's solution in this thread can help:
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/5628638/how-to-fix-error-code-0x800704cf
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Ray Cosner 10 Reputation points
2026-03-23T22:17:25.2533333+00:00 I'm in the dev channel, running the recent update 22300.8085 released last Friday 3/20/2026. I received a recommendation in a different forum which looks like it fully resolved my problem:
- Shift to Terminal (admin)
- Enter the following shell commands:
- netsh winsock reset
- netsh int ip reset
- ipconfig /flushdns
- Restart the computer
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CrazyKats 15,330 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
2026-03-21T16:06:25.7866667+00:00 Use WIN+R, type winver for the build #.
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Valerie Wong 35 Reputation points
2026-03-21T16:10:36.52+00:00 It is Version 25H2 (OS Build 26200.8037). I honestly have no clue if I am in the insider program cause I have no recollection of signing up. Thank you for responding so far.
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CrazyKats 15,330 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
2026-03-21T15:57:22.81+00:00 Hi,
Which Insider build and Channel are you on?
I'm on a Dev and Canary build and have had
no issues.
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Valerie Wong 35 Reputation points
2026-03-21T16:04:06.6433333+00:00 Hi,
I didn't actually know I was in the insider program till just now through windows support. So, I honestly have no clue but they tried trouble-fixing and the other thing they could think of was windows insider.
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