Fix Skype Error: Exchange Needs Your Credentials

Skype for Business may sometimes ask you to enter your credentials again although you already did that several times. This issue becomes even more annoying when the app is continuously prompting you to type in your credentials.

Not only that, but the app also informs you that until you enter your credentials again, you might see outdated info in Skype for Business. Let’s see what troubleshooting methods you can use to fix this problem.

Fix “Exchange Needs Your Credentials” Skype Error

Clear Your Credentials

Try deleting the credentials you saved on your computer and check the results.

1. Open the Control Panel, type ‘credential‘ in the search bar, and press Enter.
2. Click on the Credential Manager and select Windows Credentials.
3. Start by removing your Skype and Office credentials. Check if the issue is gone. If it persists, remove all your Office and Microsoft-related credentials.
4. Launch Skype again, log in to your account and check if the app prompts you to enter your credentials again.

Don’t forget to check for updates. Install the latest version of Skype for Business and check if the issue still occurs.

Remove Local AppData

Your local AppData folder is the place where Skype stores the app cache and all the temporary files generated during your online sessions. Try removing the local AppData folder and check if the issue is gone.

1. Double-click on This PC and navigate to C:\Users\UserName\AppData\Local.
2. Then locate and remove the Skype folder.
3. Restart the app, log in and check if Skype still asks you to enter your credentials.

Check Your UPN, Primary SMTP, and SIP Addresses

Ensure you’re using the same address for your SMTP (Outlook) address, SIP (Skype for Business), and UPN (User Principale Name).

1. Go to the Exchange admin center and select Mailbox. Contact your admin if you don’t have access to the admin center.
2. Then select the problematic mailbox and the email address you want to edit.
3. Your Outlook and Skype for Business address should be the same as your UPN address. Ensure they’re configured correctly.
4. Restart Skype for Business and Outlook, and check if Exchange still needs your credentials.

Additionally, ensure your Personal Information Manager syncs your Skype and Exchange contact info.

1. To do that, launch Skype for Business and select Tools.
2. Then navigate to Options and click on Personal.
3. Enable the option that allows your computer to Sync contact info between Skype for Business and Exchange.
4. Start Skype for Business again and check if this method solved the problem.

Flush the DNS

1. Exit Skype completely and then launch Command Prompt with admin rights.
2. Enter the ipconfig /flushdns command and press Enter to remove the DNS cache.
3. Then, run the gpupdate /force command as well to force the update on the Group Policy.
4. Launch the app again and check the results.

Use the Correct Proxy Settings

1. Exit Skype for Business.
2. Type ‘Internet Options‘ in the Windows Search bar and select the Connections tab.
3. Then click on LAN settings.
4. Enable Automatically detect settings if the option is disabled.
   • Note: If your organization uses specific proxy server settings or a special configuration script, contact your IT admin.
5. Launch the app again and check if it still prompts you to enter your credentials.

Delete the sip_user@domain.com Folder

1. Close Skype for Business and navigate to %UserProfile%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Office\15.0\Lync.
2. Locate the folder that starts with sip_user@domain.com. 
3. Delete it and don’t do anything for one minute.
4. Then start Skype for Business again, sign in and check if the problem persists.

Additionally, try using the email ID as the username instead of your domain\username. Delete your Skype password from your password manager as well.

Enable ADAL Authentication

A number of users solved this issue by enabling Azure’s Active Directory Authentication Library (ADAL) authentication.

1. Type cmd in the Windows Search bar, right-click on Command Prompt, and select Run as Administrator.
2. Enter the following command and then press Enter – reg add HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Lync /f /v AllowAdalForNonLyncIndependentOfLync /t REG_DWORD /d 1
3. Launch Skype again.

Conclusion

If Skype for Business fails to connect to the Exchange Web Services, the app may constantly prompt you to enter your credentials. To fix this issue, clear your credentials, and allow Skype for Business and Exchange to sync contact info.

Let us know if Exchange still needs your credentials after following all the steps listed in this guide.