HTTP error 401

Question

Everytime I login I use my email address and Passkey, and I get "This page isn't working right now, contact the site owner, HTTP error 401". I then use the back arrow, and it goes to my emails, and everything is good. This has been happening for a while.

Answer 1

Hi!

Which browser are you using to access Outlook?

Please try using a different browser, such as Chrome or Edge, by going to the following URL: https://outlook.live.com/mail/.

Also, try accessing it in an Incognito/private browsing window (open your browser, press CTRL + SHIFT + N, and then go to the URL mentioned above).

Answer 2

Open Outlook.com directly in a private browser window and sign in with your password instead of the passkey; if that avoids the 401 error, replace the saved passkey using the safe sequence below.

1. Isolate the sign-in path

1. Open an Incognito/InPrivate window.
2. Go directly to https://outlook.live.com/.
3. Enter your email address and select Sign-in options → Use your password.
4. Check whether Outlook opens without displaying HTTP 401.

This test matches the recommended diagnostic for the same Outlook.com behavior—passkey sign-in produces 401, but going back still opens the mailbox.^1^

• If password sign-in works normally: the problem is isolated to the saved passkey or browser sign-in data. Continue below.
• If the 401 also occurs with a password in private browsing: skip to If the error persists.

2. Replace the passkey safely

Do not delete the existing passkey first. Microsoft recommends creating and testing a new passkey before removing obsolete ones.^2^

1. Sign in to your Microsoft account’s Advanced Security Options: https://account.live.com/proofs/manage
2. Add a new passkey.
3. Sign out, open a new private window, and test the new passkey at Outlook.com.
4. After the new passkey works, return to Advanced Security Options.
5. Expand the old passkey and select Remove.
6. Clear the saved site data for Outlook.com and Microsoft sign-in pages in your normal browser, close the browser, reopen it, and test again.

Also install current browser and operating-system updates. Older browser or OS versions may not fully support passkeys.^2^

If the error persists

Check Outlook.com’s service status. If its status is not green, wait for service restoration before changing more account settings.^3^

If service status is normal and the 401 occurs with both password and passkey in private browsing:

1. Access the mailbox using the back-arrow workaround.
2. In Outlook.com, select Help from the top menu.
3. Search for HTTP 401 after passkey sign-in.
4. Scroll to Still need help? and select Yes to contact Outlook.com support by email.^4^

Include the browser, operating system, whether password sign-in works in private browsing, and that navigating back successfully opens the mailbox.

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References

1. 401 error on signing - Microsoft Q&A
2. Troubleshoot signing in with a passkey | Microsoft Support
3. How to sign in to Hotmail | Microsoft Support
4. How to get support for Outlook.com | Microsoft Support