Microsoft account keeps asking for pin

If Windows keeps asking you to enter a PIN or password, the issue is usually with the sign-in method or the account that is currently selected. A repeated password prompt usually means the app cannot verify the saved account password. Use the steps below to match the fix to where the prompt appears.

What the PIN prompt means

A PIN prompt at the Windows sign-in screen is usually tied to Windows Hello on the device. A password prompt inside Outlook, OneDrive, or another Microsoft 365 app is usually tied to the account sign-in used by that app.

That distinction matters because the fix is different. If the prompt appears before Windows opens, start with the Windows Hello sign-in options. If it appears inside an app, start with the account settings in that app and the saved Windows credentials.

Why the same prompt can appear in Windows, Outlook, and Microsoft 365

Windows Hello signs you in to the device itself. Microsoft 365 apps can prompt again when the app needs you to confirm the account you are using or re-enter the password for that account. The same password prompt can also appear more than once if more than one account is signed in on the device.

For example, if you can sign in to Windows but Outlook asks again when you open it, the issue is likely in the app sign-in or saved credentials, not the Windows lock screen.

📊 Microsoft 365 sign-in guidance covers Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and web. Source: Sign in to Microsoft 365.

Likely causes, from most to least common

Start with the place where the prompt appears. The most common issues are a Windows Hello PIN that needs to be reset, a saved sign-in entry that needs to be removed, or the wrong account being used in the app.

Decision matrix

Is this a Windows Hello problem?

If the prompt appears before Windows opens, treat it as a Hello issue first. Windows Hello PIN is tied to that device and can need a reset or re-enrollment. If the prompt appears only inside Microsoft apps, start with the app sign-in instead. (Microsoft Learn)

1. Go to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options.
2. Follow the verification prompt that Windows shows, then create the PIN again.
3. If fingerprint or face sign-in is enabled, remove and add that Windows Hello method again after the PIN works.

Common first-timer mistake: trying to fix Outlook before the PC sign-in method. If the lock screen is the only place that complains, start with Windows Hello.

If that did not work, try this next

If the prompt keeps coming back, remove the Windows Hello method, restart the PC, and add the PIN again from the same Sign-in options page. If the device is managed by work or school policy, that policy may block the change and you may need help from your organization.

Why does Outlook keep asking for PIN?

In Outlook, the prompt is usually for the account sign-in, not the device PIN. If Outlook keeps asking, first open the account view and check which account is signed in. Then remove any saved Microsoft credential that belongs to the affected account and sign in again.

1. In Outlook, open File > Account or Office Account on Windows.
2. Check the account shown there and make sure it is the one tied to the affected mailbox or subscription.
3. Open Credential Manager in Windows and remove the saved Microsoft entry for that account if it is present.
4. Close Outlook, reopen it, and sign in again with the current password.

If Outlook keeps prompting after you changed your password or security settings, the saved sign-in entry may still be out of date. Removing that stored credential and signing in again is a standard Windows fix.

If that did not work: if Outlook still loops, remove

If Outlook still loops, remove the account from Outlook and add it back again. If the account is a work or school account, check whether your organization allows that change before you remove it.

Why does Microsoft 365 keep asking for password?

Microsoft 365 apps can each store their own sign-in state, so one app may ask again even if another stays signed in. The first things to check are whether you are using the right account, whether the app is signed out, and whether a saved Windows credential needs to be removed.

1. Open the affected app and choose Sign out from the account menu.
2. Close the app completely, then reopen it.
3. Sign in with the email address and password used with Office.
4. Complete any MFA prompt or security check that appears.
5. If the prompt repeats, remove the saved Microsoft credential from Windows Credential Manager and sign in again.

If more than one account is signed in on the device, the app may keep asking because it is trying to use the wrong one. Check the account name shown in the app before you enter the password again.

If that did not work: remove the account

Remove the account from the affected Microsoft 365 app and add it back. If you use a work or school account, confirm that the device and account are allowed by your organization before you try again.

Which account should I check first?

Do not assume every Microsoft prompt uses the same account. A personal Microsoft account and a work or school account can both be signed in on the same device, but they may be tied to different apps, subscriptions, and sign-in rules.

1. Check which account appears in Windows, Outlook, or the Office app before changing anything.
2. If you have more than one account, pick the one tied to the affected app or subscription.
3. For a work or school account, check whether the device is enrolled and whether your organization allows account removal and re-addition.
4. If policy allows it, remove the work or school account, then add it back and sign in again.

A common first-timer mistake is changing the wrong account. Make sure the account you are fixing matches the app or subscription that keeps prompting.

Prevention

After you fix it, keep the account list simple. Remove old Microsoft accounts you no longer use on the device, and sign in again after password or security changes so Windows and Office do not keep using old stored information.

Still not working?

If the prompt survives a PIN reset, credential removal, and app sign-in again, try removing the account from the affected app and adding it back one more time. If Windows itself keeps prompting, use the Windows Sign-in options page again and recreate the PIN from scratch.

If the device is managed by an employer or school, contact the organization’s support team before repeated resets. If the account itself may be blocked or suspended, use the provider’s account recovery or support process instead of repeating the same local steps.

Frequently asked questions

Why is my microsoft account asking for a pin?

If the request appears during Windows sign-in, the device is asking for a Windows Hello PIN. If it appears inside Outlook or another Microsoft app, the app may need you to sign in again with the correct account. Check where the prompt appears first, then use the matching fix.

Why does microsoft keep asking for my pin?

Repeated PIN prompts usually mean Windows Hello needs to be reset or recreated. Open Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options, remove or reset the PIN, then create it again. If the prompt only appears in apps, check the account sign-in there instead.

Why does my microsoft account keep asking for password?

A password can still be requested again if the app is using an older saved sign-in entry or the wrong account. Verify the account name on the device, sign out of the affected app, close it, and sign in again with the current password. If needed, remove the saved credential in Credential Manager.

Why does outlook keep asking for my pin?

Outlook on Windows usually needs the account password, not the device PIN. If Outlook keeps prompting, open File > Account or Office Account, check the account in use, remove the saved Microsoft credential if needed, and add the account back. If the account was recently changed or protected with MFA, complete that step again.

Why does microsoft 365 keep asking for password: office apps can each store?

Office apps can each store their own sign-in state, so one app may fail while another stays signed in. Sign out of the affected app, close it, reopen it, and sign in with the email address and password used with Office. If the prompt continues, remove and re-add the account on the device.

How do I stop microsoft from asking for a pin every time?

Match the fix to the prompt location. At Windows sign-in, reset the Windows Hello PIN in Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options. Inside Microsoft apps, sign out, clear the saved credential if needed, and sign back in with the current password. If you have both personal and work accounts, confirm the correct one first.

Is this a microsoft account problem or a windows hello problem?

If the prompt appears at the lock screen, it is usually a Windows Hello problem. If it appears in Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or Microsoft 365, it is usually an app sign-in problem. The location of the prompt tells you which reset path to use first.

What do I do if outlook keeps asking for pin?

Open File > Account or Office Account in Outlook, check the account shown there, then clear saved Microsoft entries in Credential Manager if needed. Add the account back with the current password and complete any MFA prompt. If the account is work or school managed, check policy before removing and re-adding it.