SharePoint keeps asking for credentials when the browser, Windows sign-in, or Entra ID token state does not match the access method. Fix the layer that owns the prompt first, then clear stored sign-ins. Ignoring the loop can break access, trap users in repeated MFA, and point you to the wrong fix.

Fixing cached tokens and account conflicts in SharePoint

Why does SharePoint keep asking for my credentials?
A SharePoint logo and browser settings window appear beside a stop sign

The prompt loop often means SharePoint Online cannot reuse the sign-in data already stored by the browser or Windows. The fastest first step is to clear saved site sign-in data for the exact access path you are using, then try again with only one Microsoft account signed in.

Likely causes

Most often, stale cookies or cached tokens are the problem. Less often, the issue is multiple Microsoft accounts in the same browser, a password or MFA change, or a Windows/WebDAV credential mismatch. On managed PCs, a domain zone setting or policy can keep forcing the prompt.

If your browser opens SharePoint, shows the login box, then sends you back to the same page after a successful sign-in, the browser state is at fault, not the SharePoint site itself. If File Explorer asks again only when you open a document library, the issue is Windows and WebDAV, not Chrome or Edge.

Likely causes ranked from most to least common

  1. Stale cookies or cached tokens in the browser.
  2. More than one Microsoft account signed into the same browser profile.
  3. Password change, MFA change, or a sign-in policy update.
  4. Windows Credential Manager entries, Internet Options zone settings, or WebClient settings.
  5. Device trust or corporate policy on managed PCs.

Browser sign-in prompts: Chrome and Edge

If the prompt appears only in a browser, fix browser state first. That usually means clearing SharePoint and Microsoft login data, then checking whether cookie blocking or extra signed-in accounts are stopping the session from sticking.

  1. Open the browser and go to the SharePoint site.
  2. Clear site data for the SharePoint domain and Microsoft sign-in pages from the browser settings.
  3. Sign out of every Microsoft account in that browser profile, then sign back in with the account that should open the site.
  4. Check tracking prevention and third-party cookie settings. If the browser blocks them, allow cookies for the Microsoft and SharePoint sign-in flow.
  5. Retry in a private window. If it works there, the saved browser profile data is still the likely cause.

Do not jump to Windows Credential Manager for a browser-only loop. That fix targets Windows-authenticated access paths, not a browser profile that keeps reusing the wrong session.

Windows File Explorer prompts: WebDAV and saved credentials

Windows File Explorer prompts: WebDAV and saved credentials
A Windows File Explorer settings screen shows a WebDAV credential dialog

If the prompt appears in File Explorer or when opening a synced library, treat it as a Windows access problem first. WebDAV uses Windows components and saved credentials differently from a browser, so a common fix order starts with Credential Manager, then Internet Options, then WebClient.

  1. Press Win+R, type control keymgr.dll, and open Windows Credential Manager.
  2. Review Windows Credentials and Generic Credentials. Remove entries tied to the SharePoint site, Office, MicrosoftOffice, or old work accounts.
  3. Open Internet Options, go to the Security tab, and add the SharePoint site to the Local Intranet Zone if it is an internal address.
  4. In the same dialog, add the site to Trusted Sites with the Sites button if your environment uses that zone for sign-in behavior.
  5. Set automatic logon with current user name and password for the relevant zone only if your organization allows it.
  6. If WebDAV still fails, check the WebClient service and the AuthForwardServerList value under HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\WebClient\Parameters. Create the value as a Multi-String Value only when policy allows registry changes.

Use registry edits carefully. On managed devices, this is often the wrong first move because policy may control the setting and replace your change later.

Why the prompt started after a password change

A password change can leave old tokens, stored credentials, and open sessions out of sync. That mismatch often keeps the prompt loop going until the browser session and Windows saved sign-in data are refreshed in the right order.

  1. Sign out of Microsoft 365 in the browser and close every browser window.
  2. Open control keymgr.dll and remove any saved credentials for the old account name or old tenant.
  3. Return to the browser and sign in again to SharePoint Online before opening File Explorer or Office files.
  4. If File Explorer still prompts, restart the WebClient service from Services or reboot the PC.
  5. If MFA was changed at the same time, complete the new verification flow before retrying the library or site.

A common first-time mistake is changing the password and then opening a synced library right away. That reuses the stale Windows path before the new browser token can replace it.

SharePoint sign-in decision table

SharePoint sign-in decision table
A Microsoft sign-in prompt with Sign In and Not now buttons
Scenario Most likely cause Safest first fix Do not use When to escalate
Browser-only prompt Stale cookies or multiple accounts Clear site data and sign out of extra Microsoft accounts Registry edits or Windows Credential Manager If private window works but the profile does not
Windows File Explorer/WebDAV prompt Saved Windows credentials or WebClient path Open Credential Manager with Win+R and control keymgr.dll Browser-only cookie cleanup as the only fix If File Explorer still prompts after clearing saved credentials
Prompt after password change Old tokens and cached credentials Sign out everywhere, clear old credentials, sign in again Repeated manual password entry If the same password works in browser but not in Explorer
Prompt on one device only Local profile, zone, or trust mismatch Check the browser profile and the Windows zone settings on that device Changing tenant settings first If another device signs in normally
Prompt in Chrome or Edge Browser session or cookie blocking Allow the sign-in flow and remove conflicting Microsoft sessions Editing WebClient or Internet Options first If private browsing works and the normal profile does not
Prompt on managed corporate PCs Policy, conditional access, or device trust Contact IT and check whether the device is domain joined or compliant Unapproved registry changes If the issue appears only on managed endpoints

What to try next if it still asks

If the first-line fixes do not stop the loop, move one layer up the stack. Test another browser or a private window, then check whether the device is on VPN, joined to a domain, or subject to conditional access that expects a trusted sign-in state.

  1. Open the same SharePoint site in another browser profile or a private window.
  2. Try the site from a second device on the same network. If the second device works, the issue is local to the first PC or browser profile.
  3. On a managed device, ask IT whether the site is covered by conditional access, device compliance, or a security zone policy.
  4. If the prompt happens in File Explorer and browser sign-in is normal, escalate the WebClient and AuthForwardServerList review to support.

Keep the browser profile and Windows account aligned, and remove old Microsoft sign-in entries after a password or MFA change.

Keep reading

Frequently asked questions

How do I stop Microsoft from asking for credentials?

Start with the access path that shows the prompt. In a browser, clear SharePoint and Microsoft site data and sign in with one account only. In File Explorer, open Win+R, run control keymgr.dll, and remove stale saved entries before signing in again.

Why does SharePoint keep asking for my password?

The password is often valid, but the saved session is not. Old cookies, cached tokens, or a stale Windows credential can keep replaying the prompt. Sign out everywhere, clear the saved site data, and try again from a fresh browser session.

How do I fix SharePoint site prompting for credentials every time?

Use the right layer first. Browser prompts call for cookie and account cleanup; File Explorer prompts call for Credential Manager, Internet Options, and sometimes WebClient review. If the prompt started after a password or MFA change, refresh those saved sign-ins before trying anything else.

Why does SharePoint keep asking for login credentials in Chrome?

Chrome often loops when cookies are blocked or another Microsoft account is already signed in. Clear the SharePoint and Microsoft login data, check third-party cookie settings, and use a private window to confirm whether the normal profile is the cause.

How do I stop SharePoint Online from prompting for credentials?

For SharePoint Online, the most reliable fix is to match the sign-in method to the access path. Browser issues need browser cleanup; WebDAV and File Explorer issues need Windows credentials and zone settings reviewed. On managed PCs, ask IT before editing policy-controlled settings.

Why does SharePoint keep asking for credentials on Mac?

On Mac, the usual fixes are browser-specific: clear SharePoint and Microsoft site data, sign out of other Microsoft accounts, and retry in a private window. Windows steps such as control keymgr.dll, Internet Options, and WebClient do not apply to macOS.