Short answer
Do not keep guessing. Verify the password on the provider's official website, then check security alerts and the device's saved account settings.
What this usually means
A password prompt can be legitimate, but it can also be a fake popup. If webmail accepts the password, the problem is on the device. If it does not, secure the account before changing app settings.
Safe things to try
- 1
Close unexpected prompts
If a window appeared without you opening email, close it. Open the provider's site yourself and sign in there.
- 2
Test the password
If the official website accepts it, do not change it just because an app keeps asking. If it fails, use the official password reset path.
- 3
Complete security checks
Approve a sign-in only when you started it. Review the device and location shown before accepting.
- 4
Update the saved account
After the password is confirmed, update the email app or remove and re-add it only after checking that mail is stored safely.
What not to do
- Do not provide a verification code to a caller or popup.
- Do not keep entering a password into an unfamiliar window.
- Do not delete the account before confirming whether mail is synced or stored locally.
When to get help
If the prompt returns on multiple devices, check the account's security page and recovery details. If it happens on only one device, the app or saved credential is the more likely cause.
Common questions
- Why does the password work online but not in Outlook?
- Outlook may have an old saved password, a blocked sign-in, or an account setup that needs modern verification.
- Can a virus cause password prompts?
- It can, but repeated prompts are more often a saved-password or account-security issue. Never trust an unexpected prompt without checking its source.
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Computer Diagnostics & Repair
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