Windows 10 Outlook 2016 issues when connecting to Outlook.com: Random crashes and repeated credential prompts [Troubleshooting Guide]

Have you ever encountered an issue in which you are prompted to log-in multiple times when connecting your Outlook.com account to Outlook 2016 or Outlook 2013 in your Windows 10 computer? If so, then this content might be able to help. Read on to learn why these problems occur on your Windows 10 Outlook 2016 and what needs to be done in order to fix them.

The latest Outlook version (Outlook 2016), also known as Office 360 for Windows comes with all tools and functionality found in prior Outlook versions, along with new and improved features for calendar, contacts, professional email, and task management to help users communicate faster and easier. Indeed it is a must-have tool especially for Windows users who considered email processing as part of their daily routine.

Microsoft windows 10 officially supports Outlook 2007, Outlook 2010, Outlook 2013 and Outlook 2016 (Office 365). That being said, there shouldn’t be any issue when using any of these Outlook versions on the latest Windows platform. But not everyone has positive experience with the latest Outlook program on Windows 10. As a matter of fact, previous reports have surfaced particularly on random crashes and repeated credential prompts by Windows 10 users while using Outlook 2016.

Before we jump into our troubleshooting, if you found this page because you were trying to find a solution to a different problem, then visit our Windows 10 troubleshooting page for we have already addressed some of the most common Windows 10 problems and errors. Try to find issues that are similar with yours and use the solutions and troubleshooting methods we suggested. If they don’t work for your or if you need further assistance, fill up our PC issues questionnaire and hit submit to contact us.

Why does my Windows 10 Outlook 2016 keep crashing?

Some users have reported that the program keeps crashing on their Windows 10 computer. These random crashes are often accompanied with an error message saying that something went wrong. As a result, users aren’t able to use the program and are likely missing some important emails for that day.

It then turns out that this problem has something to do with some Advanced Settings on the Outlook program that need to be configured or re-configured. And this could be main reason as to why you are facing the same dilemma when using Outlook 2016 on your Windows 10 pc.

How to fix random crashes on Windows 10 Outlook 2016?

An Outlook 2016 user has shared a working solution recommended by a Microsoft technician. And here’s how it was fixed:

  1. Go into Outlook.
  2. Click on File.
  3. Select Options from the drop-down menu.
  4. Click Advanced to access advanced settings options.
  5. Look for Display option.
  6. Select or place a check mark on the option to Disable Hardware graphics acceleration. Selecting that option should keep Outlook 2016 stable.

In this case, the user’s computer is running SB with the NVIDIA GeForce graphics adaptor and for some reasons the Outlook 2016 is not blending well with the hardware graphics acceleration. While that workaround is able to fix the problem, the real cause is yet to be determined.

Microsoft Support has also suggested a temporary workaround to deal with the same problem on the Outlook 2016 that is randomly crashing, while they are still working on a definite fix. Users who are facing the same problem can use the Control Panel Mail Applet as an alternative for adding an account. Here’s how it’s done:

  1. Open the Control Panel on Windows 10 by clicking on the Windows Search Bar and then type “Control Panel” on the given field.
  2. Go to the Search box at the top of the window, type “Mail” and click on the Mail icon to launch the program.
  3. On the Mail Setup – Outlook screen, click the Show Profiles button under Profiles section.
  4. Click Email Accounts to continue.
  5. Go to the Account Settings dialog box and click New…
  6. Select Email Account.
  7. Enter your name, e-mail address and password of the account you want to add or set up.
  8. Retype your password to confirm and then click Next.
  9. You will be prompted with the Congratulations window. Click Finish to complete the process.

Why am I getting repeated credential prompts when connecting to Outlook.com to Outlook 2016 on my Windows 10 PC?

Another prevalent issue with the Outlook 2016 that is affecting several users is on repeated credential prompts.

As what Microsoft Support has explained, the problem on repeated credential prompts in Outlook 2016 usually occurs if you are connected to an Exchange 2013 server. This could happen even though you are logged in to your computer using your network credentials and Outlook should log you in automatically.

Other possible reasons as to why Outlook keeps prompting for password would are as follow:

  • Outlook is configured to prompt you for credentials.
  • Incorrect password is cached in the credential storage.
  • Outlook profile is corrupted.
  • Antivirus or security programs.
  • Shared calendars
  • Unstable or slow network connection.
  • Required Authentication Settings for outgoing server and incoming server.

 

Now that we already have identified the possible causes, it’s time to try some workarounds to deal with the main issue.

Potential Solutions and Recommended Workarounds to fix repeated credential prompts with Windows 10 Outlook 2016

The following solutions are gathered from pertinent sites and forum postings. There is no guarantee that each of the given solutions would bring positive result as causes may vary between users and Windows platform in use.

First Workaround: Update Office

Unlike the problem on Outlook 2016 random crashes, Microsoft Support has tagged the repeated credential prompts issue as fixed. And the solution is to update Office. That being said, you may follow these steps to fix the problem on your end:

  1. Open Office.
  2. Go to File.
  3. Click Account.
  4. Select Update Options.
  5. Click Update Now to begin installation of new update.

Once the update installation is finished, reboot your computer and then open Outlook again to see if the problem has already been resolved. Otherwise, try another workaround.

Second Workaround: Force Outlook to remember your credentials

Another suggested workaround to deal with the same issue is by forcing Outlook to remember their credentials. You can find this option on the password prompt dialog box that appears when you attempt to connect Outlook to an Exchange Server mailbox for the first time. All you have to do is put a check on the box next to the option to force Outlook to remember credentials. Once you do that, you shouldn’t be seeing the password prompt again until the next time you change your password. But if ever the Outlook password prompt shows up again, you can enter the new password and once again select the checkbox to force Outlook to remember your credentials.

Third Workaround: Fix your Outlook Profile using Mail option

Another possible reason as to why you are getting repeated credential prompts is that when you failed to select the option to “save the user’s password” on your POP3 account. This is especially true when Outlook 2016 is connected to a POP3 account on your computer. Failure to select this option will prompt Outlook to request the password each time you send a message. And in order to fix it, open the Control Panel and use the Mail option to fix your Outlook profile.

Fourth Workaround: Delete Generic Credentials

One more alternative workaround you can try on to fix the repeated credential prompts issue on Outlook 2016:

  1. Quit or close Microsoft Outlook program on your computer.
  2. Click on Start.
  3. Type “Credential” in the search box.
  4. Go to Generic Credentials and look for Outlook name. Delete the name or delete all the entries in the Generic Credentials.
  5. Close/exit Credential Manager Window.
  6. Open the Microsoft Outlook program on your computer.
  7. If you’re prompted to enter a password, type in your password and check the box to force Outlook to remember the password you’ve entered.

A new entry will then be created and saved in the credential storage with your latest login and password. That should fix the problem.

Fifth Workaround: Set the option to ‘Encrypt data between Outlook and Exchange’

One of the users who have dealt with the same problem was able to fix it using these steps:

  • Open Outlook.
  • Go to your Account Settings.
  • Click on the option to Change Settings.
  • Go to More Settings.
  • Click the Security tab.
  • Check the option to “Encrypt data between Microsoft Outlook and Microsoft Exchange.”

Selecting this option will somehow resolve the underlying cause.

Sixth Workaround: Move or rename .XML file in Microsoft Outlook directory.

This is quite more advanced but a straightforward fix you can try on. Here’s how it’s done:

  • Go to the credential manager and manually enter the password again in all of the locations where the users email password is saved.
  • Go to this directory: “C:\Users\*user*\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook\”
  • Look for the “f0a4256167a8597a89das6hf01c6bb1b – Autodiscover.xml” or something like this.
  • Move this file or rename it.

The Autodiscover.xml file will automatically be recreated. Now open the Outlook 2016 program again and there shouldn’t be any more credential prompts after that.

Seventh Workaround: Set username to UPN.

This method is only applicable to those who are using basic authentication with a Load Balancer in front of Microsoft Exchange 2010 Servers or non-domain Windows 10 computers with Outlook 2016 connecting to Microsoft Exchange 2010.

Using UPN that is [email protected] instead of domain\username will stop the password prompt from re-appearing.

It wouldn’t hurt to try this on your end as well, especially if you are already running out of options.

Hopefully, any of these methods would work some wonders and fix the repeated credential prompt issue with your Windows 10 Outlook 2016 application.

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