Need to resolve a "Sign in Required" continuing issue.

JMC 0 Reputation points
2025-12-12T16:46:25.3866667+00:00

Error message: "sign in required - can't upload or download changes because cached credentials have expired."

Microsoft 365 and Office | Excel | For home | Windows
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  1. Q&A Assist
    2025-12-12T16:46:40.7933333+00:00
    AI generated content. This question contains an answer created with AI from Q&A Assist. Learn more

    To resolve the "Sign in Required" issue where you cannot upload or download changes due to cached credentials having expired, you can follow these steps:

    1. Sign out of Office: Open any Office application (like Word or Excel), go to File > Account, and select Sign out.
    2. Remove the user account: In the same Office application, go to the upper-right corner, select your name, and then choose Switch Account. On the Accounts screen, select Sign out for the account you want to remove.
    3. Clear cached credentials: You may need to edit the registry to remove cached credentials. Open the registry editor by typing regedit in the Run dialog (Win + R). Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\15.0\Common\Identity\Identities and delete the relevant Office account entries.
    4. Sign back in: Restart the Office application and sign in again using your credentials.

    These steps should help clear the expired cached credentials and allow you to sign in successfully.


    References:

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  2. EmilyS726 189K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2025-12-12T17:19:02.9533333+00:00

    Hello

    Is this regarding a work/school account?

    Can you go to your Windows Settings > Accounts > Access Work or School (note, it is the briefcase icon, not the envelope icon). Then see if the organization email address is still listed? If so, click on it and then disconnect it.

    Restart the computer, and see if you still get the error?

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