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How to Fix Outlook “Need Password” Loop (EnableADAL Registry Fix)

It is Monday morning. You open Outlook. It asks for your password. You type it in. It disappears for a second, then pops up again.
“Need Password”
You type it again.
“Need Password”

This infinite loop is one of the most maddening bugs in Modern Authentication (OAuth). It typically happens when the local authentication library (ADAL or WAM) gets desynchronized from the Exchange Online server.

Here is the definitive registry fix to force Outlook to reset its authentication flow.

The “Exclude” Fix

Sometimes, Outlook tries to use a “Modern” flow that your specific tenant or OS version is struggling with. We can force it back to basics or reset the Modern Auth detection.

  1. Close Outlook completely.
  2. Open Regedit.
  3. Navigate to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Common\Identity
  4. Right-click > New > DWORD (32-bit).
  5. Name: EnableADAL
  6. Value: 1
    • Note: If 1 doesn’t work, some users report success with 0 to disable Modern Auth temporarily, though this is a security risk.

The “DisableWAM” Fix (The Heavy Artillery)

If EnableADAL doesn’t work, the issue is likely the Web Account Manager (WAM) in Windows 10/11.

Navigate to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Common\Identity
Add these DWORDs and set them to 1:
* DisableADALatopWAMOverride = 1
* DisableAADWAM = 1
* DisableMCFFUInAAD = 1

What this does: It tells Outlook “Stop using the Windows 10/11 native login broker and just use your own internal login window.” It usually breaks the loop instantly.

Clearing Stored Credentials

If the registry hackers don’t work, a stale credential might be stuck in the Windows Vault.

  1. Open Control Panel > Credential Manager.
  2. Select Windows Credentials.
  3. Look for anything starting with MicrosoftOffice16_Data:SSPI... or Outlook.
  4. Remove them all.

Restart and Login

Open Outlook. It should prompt you ONE last time. Enter your password (and MFA code). It should now stick.