How to Fix Unable to Sign into Microsoft Account in Settings

[barry777]

Troubleshooting Steps

1. Check Network Connection
- Ensure the device has a stable network connection, and confirm that you can browse other websites.
- Try restarting your router or switching to an alternative network, then attempt to sign in to your Microsoft account again.

2. Verify System Date and Time Settings
- Incorrect date and time settings may prevent Microsoft account verification.
- Go to Settings > Time & Language and ensure the Date and Time are correct. Enabling "Set time automatically" is recommended.

3. Restart the Device
- Restart the computer, as a simple reboot can resolve temporary issues or system cache problems that may prevent Microsoft account sign-in.

4. Update Windows
- Ensure Windows is up-to-date to avoid compatibility issues.
- Navigate to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update to check for and install any available updates.

5. Run Windows Troubleshooters
- Windows has built-in troubleshooters that can automatically detect and fix common issues.
- Go to Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot and select Windows Store Apps or Network Adapter under "Additional troubleshooters" and follow the system prompts.

6. Clear Credentials
- Occasionally, stored or outdated credentials may cause sign-in failures. Clearing these credentials and retrying can help.
- Steps:
1. Open Control Panel > User Accounts > Credential Manager.
2. Under either "Windows Credentials" or "Web Credentials," find and delete any entries related to your Microsoft account.
3. Restart your computer and try signing into the Microsoft account again.

7. Create a New User Account
- If previous steps haven’t resolved the issue, try creating a new local user account in the system and attempt to sign in to the Microsoft account within that new account.
- Steps:
1. Go to Settings > Accounts > Family & other users.
2. Choose "Add someone else to this PC" and create a new user account.
3. Log into the new account and try signing in with the Microsoft account.

8. Disable VPN or Proxy
- VPNs and proxies may interfere with Microsoft server connections.
- If a VPN or proxy is active, temporarily disable it and try signing in again.