While adding an account to Outlook in Windows 11/10, if you see an error message saying that the Authentication or initialization failed with an error code AUTHHEALTHCHECKFAILED, here is how you can fix the problem. Even if it happens with other Microsoft 365 apps, you can troubleshoot it with the same solutions.
Microsoft 365 authentication or initialization failed
To fix the Microsoft 365 authentication or initialization failed error, follow these solutions:
- Verify your internet connection
- Check your account credentials
- Disable two-factor authentication temporarily
- Clear Outlook cache
- Repair Microsoft 365
To learn more about these solutions, continue reading.
1] Verify your internet connection
It is the very first thing you need to do since Outlook requires a valid internet connection to verify your credentials and connect to the email server. To verify, you can use the ping tool.
Press Win+R to open the Run prompt. Type this:
ping 8.8.8.8 -t
and hit the Enter button. If it displays continuous results without any Request timed out or Destination host unreachable message, your internet connection is fine. However, if it displays any such message or loses packets at times, you need to check your internet connection.
2] Check your account credentials
It is the most common reason why you might encounter this problem in Outlook. Before hitting the Enter button, you must verify your account credentials. If you use an app-based password, make sure that you have typed it correctly.
3] Disable two-factor authentication temporarily
At times, Microsoft 365 apps might not be able to fetch your account when you have enabled two-factor authentication. That is why we would suggest that you disable it temporarily and check if it resolves the issue or not. For that, do the following:
- Visit this microsoft.com webpage in your browser.
- Log in to your account.
- Click on the Two-step verification option.
- Click the Next button.
- Click the Finish button.
4] Clear Outlook cache
To delete Outlook cache, follow these steps:
- Open the Run prompt and enter this: %localappdata%\Microsoft\Outlook
- Please select all the files and delete them.
Once done, restart your computer and check again.
Read: How to clear Outlook cache in Windows 11
5] Repair Microsoft 365
To repair Microsoft 365, follow these instructions:
- Press Win+I to open Windows Settings.
- Go to Apps > Installed apps.
- Find Microsoft 365 and click on the three-dotted icon.
- Select the Modify option.
- Select the Quick Repair option and click on the Repair button.
Give it a few moments until it finishes the process. However, if it doesn’t work, you need to choose the Online Repair option.
Read: How to repair Microsoft 365 using Command Prompt
How to solve Microsoft authentication problem?
To solve the Microsoft authentication problem, you need to enter the authentication code. You can find it in an authenticator app that you have authorized earlier.
How do I authenticate my Microsoft 365 account?
To authenticate your Microsoft 365 account in Windows 11/10, you have two options. First, you can get the code via SMS or email. Second, you can find the code in the authenticator app. However, the second option works only if you have enabled it earlier.
