How to Fix Microsoft Teams Sign In Problems
Applies to
Microsoft Teams for Windows, macOS, web, work, school, and personal accounts
Last updated
6 July 2026
Problem
Microsoft Teams will not let you sign in, keeps asking for your password, shows an error after authentication, or signs you in to the wrong account. You may also see messages about your account, organisation, licence, network, or security settings.
This can happen because of cached credentials, an expired session, the wrong account type, browser sign in conflicts, multi-factor authentication issues, or a Microsoft 365 account restriction.
Solution
Check you are using the correct account, sign out fully, clear stored credentials, try Teams on the web, and confirm your Microsoft 365 licence or organisation access if you use a work or school account.
Step by step instructions
Check you are using the correct account
Before changing settings, confirm which account you should be using.
For work or school Teams, this is usually your organisation email address.
For personal Teams, this may be a personal Microsoft account such as Outlook, Hotmail, or Live.
If you use both personal and work accounts, make sure you are selecting the correct one at the sign in screen.
Try signing in through Teams on the web
Open a browser and go to:
Sign in with the same account.
If Teams works in the browser, the issue is likely with the desktop app or cached credentials.
If Teams does not work in the browser either, the issue may be account, licence, MFA, or service related.
Fully sign out of Teams
Open Teams if possible.
Select your profile picture or initials.
Choose Sign out.
Close Teams completely, then reopen it and sign in again.
If Teams keeps reopening with the wrong account, continue with the next steps.
Clear saved Teams credentials on Windows
Close Teams completely.
Open the Windows Start menu and search for Credential Manager.
Open Windows Credentials.
Look for saved entries related to Microsoft Teams, Office, Microsoft 365, or your work account.
Remove outdated or incorrect entries.
Restart your computer and try signing in again.
Clear browser sign in conflicts
If Teams opens a browser during sign in, your browser may already be signed in with another Microsoft account.
Open your browser.
Go to:
Sign out of accounts you do not need.
Close the browser, reopen Teams, and try signing in again.
Alternatively, try signing in using a private or incognito browser window.
Check multi-factor authentication
If your organisation uses MFA, make sure you can complete the approval prompt.
Check your authenticator app, SMS messages, phone call approval, or security key.
If you changed phone recently or lost access to the authenticator app, contact your IT administrator to reset your MFA method.
Check your licence and organisation access
For work or school accounts, Teams access may depend on your Microsoft 365 licence.
If you can sign in to other Microsoft services but not Teams, ask your IT administrator to confirm:
- Your account is active
- You have a Teams licence
- Your password has not expired
- Your account is not blocked
- Conditional Access policies are not preventing sign in
Repair or reset the Teams app
On Windows, open Settings.
Go to Apps.
Find Microsoft Teams.
Open Advanced options if available.
Select Repair.
If that does not work, select Reset.
Open Teams and sign in again.
Reinstall Microsoft Teams
If the desktop app still will not sign in, uninstall Teams.
Restart your device.
Download Teams again from the official Microsoft page:
Install Teams and sign in with the correct account.
Optional methods or tools
- Use Teams on the web while fixing the desktop sign in issue
- Try a private browser window to avoid account conflicts
- Use Credential Manager on Windows to remove old sign in entries
- Ask your IT team to check Microsoft 365 licence and account status
- Check whether your organisation requires MFA, compliant devices, or a trusted location
Best practices or tips
- Use one Teams account per browser profile where possible
- Keep your password manager updated if your password changes
- Do not remove credentials unless Teams and Office apps are fully closed
- Keep MFA recovery methods up to date
- Use the official Teams download page when reinstalling the app
Microsoft Teams sign in problems are often caused by cached credentials or confusion between personal, work, and school accounts. Clearing old sign in data and confirming the correct account usually resolves repeated login prompts or wrong account errors.
For organisation accounts, Teams access also depends on Microsoft 365 licensing, MFA, and security policies. If Teams fails on every device, the issue is more likely to be account related and should be checked by your IT administrator.
