After changing your email password, Outlook still tries to use the old password. This causes authentication failures — emails get stuck in Outbox, you see "sending/receiving error" messages, and new emails won't go out. Here's how to fix it for Outlook 365, 2021, 2019, and older versions.
⚡ Quick Fix Checklist
- Close Outlook completely
- Clear old credentials from Windows Credential Manager
- Reopen Outlook — enter new password when prompted
- If not prompted, update password in Account Settings
- Check if 2FA requires an App Password
Fix 1: Let Outlook Prompt for New Password
- Close Outlook completely (check Task Manager — end any Outlook processes)
- Reopen Outlook
- Outlook should prompt you for your new password
- Enter your new password
- Check "Remember my credentials"
- Click OK → Outlook should reconnect and send any queued emails
💡 If Outlook doesn't prompt for the password, continue to Fix 2.
Fix 2: Clear Windows Credential Manager
This is the most reliable fix — it forces Outlook to ask for the new password:
- Close Outlook
- Open Control Panel (search in Start menu)
- Click Credential Manager
- Click "Windows Credentials"
- Look for entries related to your email:
MicrosoftOffice16_*, outlook.office365.com, outlook.com, your-email-domain - Click each one → Remove
- Open Outlook — it will prompt for the new password
Fix 3: Update Password in Account Settings
- In Outlook, go to File → Account Settings → Account Settings
- Select your email account
- Click "Repair" (Outlook 365/2021) or "Change" (older versions)
- Update the password field with your new password
- Click Next → Done
- Restart Outlook
| Outlook Version | Password Update Path |
|---|---|
| Outlook 365 / New Outlook | Settings → Accounts → Manage → Sign out and back in |
| Outlook 2021/2019 | File → Account Settings → Repair |
| Outlook 2016/2013 | File → Account Settings → Change → update password |
Fix 4: Generate App Password (2FA Users)
If you have two-factor authentication (2FA) enabled, Outlook may need an App Password:
- Microsoft 365: Go to mysignins.microsoft.com → Security info → App passwords
- Gmail: Go to Google Account → Security → App passwords → generate for "Mail"
- Yahoo: Go to Yahoo Account → Security → App password
- Copy the generated app password
- Use this app password instead of your regular password in Outlook
Fix 5: Clear Stuck Emails from Outbox
- Go to Outbox folder in Outlook
- If emails are stuck, try to open each one
- Close the email (this sometimes releases it)
- If you can't open/delete them, switch to offline mode: Send/Receive tab → Work Offline
- Now delete the stuck emails
- Switch back to online mode
- Re-send the emails
Fix 6: Repair Outlook Profile
- Close Outlook
- Open Control Panel → Mail (Microsoft Outlook)
- Click "Email Accounts"
- Select your account → click "Repair"
- Follow the wizard — it will re-verify your account settings
- Enter the new password when prompted
- Click Finish and reopen Outlook
Fix 7: Remove & Re-Add Account
If nothing else works, removing and re-adding the account is the nuclear option:
- Go to File → Account Settings → Account Settings
- Select the problematic account → Remove
- Close and reopen Outlook
- Click "Add Account"
- Enter your email address and new password
- Outlook will auto-configure the account settings
⚠️ If you use POP3 (not IMAP/Exchange), exporting your emails first is recommended — POP3 removal may delete local emails.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can't Outlook send emails after I changed my password?
Outlook caches your old password. When you change it (on the email provider's website or via your organization), Outlook still tries the old one. You need to update the stored password in Outlook or Windows Credential Manager. Until then, Outlook can receive (sometimes) but can't authenticate to send.
Where do I update my email password in Outlook?
In Outlook desktop: File → Account Settings → Account Settings → select your account → Change/Repair. In Outlook 365/New: Settings → Accounts → select account → Manage. Outlook may also prompt you for the new password on its own — if it does, enter the new password and check 'Remember password'.
What is Windows Credential Manager and why does it matter?
Windows Credential Manager stores passwords for email, websites, and network resources. If Outlook's stored password is outdated, Go to Control Panel → Credential Manager → Windows Credentials → find entries for your email (outlook.com, office365, etc.) → Edit or Remove them. Then restart Outlook and enter the new password.
Why are my emails stuck in the Outbox?
Emails get stuck in Outbox when Outlook can't authenticate with the SMTP server (the server that sends emails). After a password change, the SMTP authentication fails silently and queues emails instead of sending them. Fix the password issue and the stuck emails will send automatically.
Do I need an app password for Outlook?
If you've enabled two-factor authentication (2FA) on your email account (Gmail, Yahoo, Microsoft), you may need an 'App Password' instead of your regular password. Go to your email provider's security settings → App Passwords → generate one specifically for Outlook. Use this password in Outlook instead of your regular one.
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